Professional Skills Module for Employers

The Professional Skills Module enables Arts and Humanities students to develop their professional skills, knowledge and confidence by undertaking a work experience placement as part of their degree.

How can my organisation benefit?

• Students can provide extra capacity, perhaps working on a project you may have otherwise been unable to fulfil.
• They can contribute creativity, energy and a fresh perspective, and help with strategies for engaging young people. In fact, employers often ‘reboot’ their processes based on ideas or innovations from placement students.
• Through their degree studies, students have developed a range of skills that can benefit you, such as research, critical thinking, persuasive communication, team working, digital literacy, and organisation.
• This module typically attracts driven, ambitious and inquiring students, keen to enhance their sector knowledge, commercial awareness and career focus.
• Students have contributed to organisations in a host of ways, including: audience engagement, blog-writing, research and evaluation, impact reporting, project or production assistance, bid-writing, social media curation, web editorial, oral history research, cataloguing and collection care, videography, business development and relationship management, event and activity-planning, and magazine editorial.

Download the Professional Skills Module Example Placements leaflet [PDF, 437 KB]  to explore the many ways that students have supported organisations in the past.

"We loved hosting the two students - they were able to contribute meaningfully to the aspirations of Midland Mencap and take part in pieces of work that have been important in the organisation." Tessa Cole, Midland Mencap

"Having students on placement offers the opportunity to gain new and fresh ideas in the business and to gain support in so many different areas from young people who are driven, enthusiastic, and full of initiative to help your business succeed." Ameesha Green, The Book Shelf Ltd

"It’s been a real joy welcoming intern bloggers from the University of Birmingham into True Cadence. Their ability to capture and articulate the stories of our young people and wider creative community has helped us share our mission with greater clarity, heart and purpose. These aren’t just blog posts — they’re meaningful contributions that continue to shape our growth and identity." Manny Loveankh, True Cadence CIC

How does it work?

• Students work for a minimum of 70 hours (10 days) between late June - December.
• Placements can be full or part-time over summer, or part-time during the autumn semester.
• Placement roles offer students ownership and responsibility for a project or focus under your supervision and you can recruit more than one student to multiple projects/roles.
• Students apply for bespoke placement roles through our Placements Bank; we collate the applications and forward them to you for selection.
• The module is open to students of Art History, Creative Writing, Digital Media & Communication, Drama & Theatre Arts, Film Studies, English Literature, History & Cultures, Liberal Arts, Linguistics & Communication, Music, Philosophy and Theology & Religion.

How can I take part?

For further information, or to arrange a meeting, contact Lesley Griffiths, College of Arts and Law Placements Officer: calplacements@contacts.bham.ac.uk