RA3S43 - Professional Practice and Employability 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: RA3S43
Module Title: Professional Practice and Employability
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Music and Drama
Faculty Sub Group: Drama
Module Leader: Marta Minier
Module Team: Thania Acaron, Ian Staples, Matthew Davies, Ian McNish
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To introduce students to the challenges facing graduates and help them develop strategies to plan this transition;
To encourage students to explore a selection of potential career paths based on informed and realistic choices;
To support students to develop an action plan of their experience and skills developed within the context of graduate recruitment processes and informed by their career plans and aspirations.

Content Summary

The module offers strategies for gaining graduate level employment within and beyond the fields of theatre, drama and performance. The module will situate theatre, drama and performance skills in context of the theatre and creative industries, primary and secondary teaching and more. This will be supplemented by analysis of the role of and/or exposure to organisations that support and/or employ artists, practitioners and/or teachers including Arts Councils, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, schools, Voluntary Arts Organisations, Local Authority Arts Development Teams, Health agencies, BBC, S4C, BFI, Equity, Agents. Students will be asked to be active learners, to engage in wide reading and viewing (where relevant) and apply material learned in one context to another. Where possible, students will base their research on work experience within pertinent organisations. Alternatively, they may carry out equivalent ‘live briefs’. Assessment is by a presentation and set exercises simulated professionalisation project (a mock job application or mock interview/funding application).

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 18
Practical classes and workshops 18
Work based learning 70
Independent Study 72
Directed Study 22
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Reflect on the nature of professional practice in their discipline and identify the gaps between their work related capabilities and disciplinary expectations.
LO2 Reflect upon the way their work experiences or role has contributed to their professional practice, using this to develop future personal/professional development.
LO3 Develop and critically appraise an action plan of their experience and skills developed within the context of a graduate recruitment process and informed by their career plans and aspirations.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Set Exercise - Not Time Constrained (CW) Set Tasks - not-time constrained 1 Simulated professionalisation exercises 0 N/A 50 No 40
Oral Assessment (CW) Presentation (CW) 1 Individual presentation 20 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Set Tasks - not-time constrained 1
Presentation (CW) 1

Reading List

Elkin, Susan (2013), So You Want to Work in Theatre? Nick Hern.
Fisher, M. (2012) The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide, How to make your show a success. London: Methuen Drama.
Foreman, Gill (2009), The Practical Guide to Working in the Theatre, London, Methuen.
Hill, L. & Paris, H. (2004) The Guerilla Guide to Performance Art How to make a living as an Artist. London: Continuum.
Holmes, K. (2011) What Employers Want: The work skills handbook. Richmond: Trotman
Seabright, J. (2010). So you want to be a Theatre Producer? London: Nick Hern Books.
Tefula, Michael (2016), Graduate Entrepreneurship: How to Start Your Business after University? Palgrave Career Skills series, Macmillan Education UK.
Tidmarsh, Andrew and Swart, Tara (2011), An Attitude for Acting: How to Survive (and Thrive) as an Actor. Nick Hern.
West End Producer (2013), Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Acting (but Were Afraid to Ask, Dear). Nick Hern.
Woodcock, Bruce (2016), Excel at Graduate Interviews: How to make the Best Impression with Recruiters. Palgrave Career Skills series, Macmillan Education UK.
http://www.artswales.org.uk/
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/
http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/
http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
http://www.perspectives.creativescotland.org.uk/
http://www.audienceswales.co.uk/public/index.cfm
http://www.a-m-a.org.uk/
http://www.audiencessw.org/
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/
http://www.creativeconomy.org.uk/