This week our 3rd and 4th year students will begin a 5 week placement. These placements will take place in a number of Churches, most in Scotland, one in Canada, one student will be involved in a RE Department in a school, and one student will undertake their placement in a hospice setting.
The students will be involved approximately 18 hours a week on placement activity but with additional time spend on writing their reflective theological journal and a project on practical ministry related to their placement situation.
Placements are not just about 'doing' things and gaining experience, although they are both. They are also designed to be learning experiences where students can reflect theologically on what they are experiencing through their own thinking, reading, and discussion with their supervisor and others.
Because of the way they are designed these placements are part of the course and each placement is equivalent to a modules work for which the student gets the appropriate academic credit and are assessed upon a written journal, the project, and an oral exam.
Placements take place in years 2, 3, and 4 of the 4 year Honours BD and also form an important part of our Graduate Diplomas.
They form an important and not insignificant part of the course in terms of the time given to them. The College indeed through its staff are involved in contributing to and benefitting from the emphasis that is put on what is called Work Based Learning in the University of the West of Scotland. This University of course among others things is very involved in the training of teachers and nursing staff and we can draw from the experience of these other disciplines in delivering a training that is a mixture of class room and practice activities. This is one of the many benefits we have from our relationship with the University.
The College depends upon and is very grateful to the ministers and others who give of their time and energy to supervise these experiences for the students.
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