Theme: Placements
We've been listening to Students, and we shared this listening at the assembly…
“Concerns were raised over the cost of travelling to placements… managing financially and the experience of being on placement.”
“Placements that clash with their group presentations or lectures.”
“Students receive placement timetables too late to plan work, travel or accommodation.”
“Student parents… time off must be ‘made up’… timetables come out so late… hard to sort childcare.”
“Some placement sites (e.g., hospices, MFOP evenings, Cygnet) provide limited learning value, reducing opportunities to complete required skills.”
“Overcrowding on placements and inaccurate supervisor contact information makes it hard to complete sign-offs.”
“Vet school has nearly 25 weeks of placements… must get accommodation which can be expensive… strict criterion for emergency funding.”
At the assembly, we heard powerful stories from students about the challenges they faced with:
Student 1 – Third Year Mental Health Nursing, Mature Student
The people on their course, including them, experience a lack of support with issues that occur during placements. Some people have negative experiences, as their papers were not signed off on despite chasing up lecturers and placement mentors to secure the placement. Additionally, students received no responses to emails. Staff did not appropriately listen to and respond to complaints. Placement is required to progress to the next year; however, students did not feel supported in acquiring placements. Students feel like they have done everything in their power, and yet things are not progressing for them.
Student 2 – Veterinary Medicine
Wishes their placement supervisor were more present to approach and answer questions. The majority of Vet placements, the supervisor who was assigned to them did not make them feel seen, and students did not feel comfortable sharing their experiences with them. On placement, there was no assigned supervisor, whom the student would have needed to discuss experiences.
Student 3 – Medicine Student
They are experiencing overcrowding at placements, where up to 78 students were placed within one ward, in total, more students than clinicians. They are questioning why the university increases the student intake if there are no facilities that can be provided for them. They say: Increase the placement sights or decrease the places offered to students!
Student 4 – Veterinary Medicine
They are left not knowing where to apply for placements due to not being signposted to potential placements by the course. Over the years, the requirements for veterinary medicine placements have changed the amount of hours needed for accreditation; however, the school’s communication of this has been lacking. Third-year students feel disadvantaged, as they have completed fewer hours than newer students, and feel like they will struggle with obtaining a job and building skills. Additionally, they are feeling like there are no regular updates and an inability to get the support they need.
We can see from this insight that students are experiencing issues with:
• The cost of placements, including travel and accommodation
• Late placement timetables, making it hard to plan work, travel, or childcare
• Placement schedules clashing with teaching and assessments
• Limited learning value and overcrowding at some placement sites
• Lack of supervision and support while on placement
• Difficulties completing required sign-offs and placement paperwork
• Poor communication and signposting about placement requirements and opportunities
(These examples come directly from student stories and listening sessions. They are shared as insight to inform how you might vote on the future priorities of the Union. Following this vote, we will bring together those students interested in progressing work and taking action on the priorities to decide the issues and next steps.)