Enrichment - Project and Workshadowing Week (PaWS)

Workshadowing

All first year students take part in PaWS Week, our Project and Work Placement Scheme, held in June. Students have the opportunity to participate in either a wide range of projects, designed for both enjoyment and for academic and personal development, or to spend a week shadowing and working with professionals in their possible future career areas.

Greenhead College operates one of the most extensive work placement schemes in the country. In 2009, over 575 students gained first-hand experience of the world of work across the U.K. and abroad. We have a wide range of placements that students can apply for and we employ a Placement Manager who is always on the look out for new contacts. Many students’ career paths have been decided on the strength of their work placement experience.

Comments from some of last year’s work placement students:-

“I now have a much better idea of whether I would like to pursue chemistry as a potential career and I have also gained knowledge of lab techniques, which in future I will find very useful.”
Ben, Nufarm UK

“The placement really made me consider the idea of working with disabled children after seeing not only how interesting, but also how rewarding the job is.”
Isabelle, Hollybank Trust

“Throughout the week I gained a great deal and learnt something new every day. I am now sure that I would like to study medicine and be a doctor.”
Sunil, Dewsbury Hospital

“As a result of my placement, I have decided that I would definitely like to pursue dentistry as my career.”
Imogen, Oasis Dental Care

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to get an insight into my chosen career before actually taking the course; the placement has made me more determined to get a job in this industry.”
Kieran, IT Department, Calderdale & Kirklees Careers

“One of the many things I have learnt from this experience is the extent to which IT is used within the company. The main benefit of this experience is that it has helped me realise that this is something I wish to pursue as a career.”
Samanpreet, HBOS Data Centre

“The placement has enhanced my desire to study law at university and it has provided me with a view of a different side to the profession.”
Katy, Crown Prosecution Service

“The placement helped me to understand the career I am hoping to pursue and I feel like graphic design is definitely a career for me in the future.”
Andrew, Attik

Projects

In June 2009, over 380 students were involved in over 40 different projects. Projects included workshops led by external experts in radio and television, engineering, circus skills and self defence and management courses led by the RAF and the Royal Navy; projects that gave students an opportunity to gain a recognised (non-academic) qualification in sports coaching, sailing or information technology and projects that included trips to Spain and Amsterdam.Comments from some of the students doing projects last year:-

“I worked in a group to produce a two-part radio horror drama and produce a radio show which would include combining songs that we had chosen, spoken introductions and links between pieces into a working radio show. After recording the material for our programme we then edited it. I therefore improved and developed confidence with my IT skills.”
Simon – Radio Project

“I really enjoyed participating in this project. I found self defence quite tiring but also extremely interesting and useful. It is a good way of keeping fit but also helps your self esteem and confidence. I enjoyed the project so much that I decided to join the local Taekwondo club. I hope to pursue a career in the police in the future.”
Amy – Self Defence

“The DNA project was held at Bradford University. During the project I developed my teamwork and communication skills. I had to be organised, clearly labelling everything and performing the steps correctly in the specified order. The process was complex, but having completed it has helped to boost my confidence and my interest in the field has grown. I hope to study Biology at university.”
Patrick – DNA Techniques

“I feel we all worked well as a team, and our communication skills were excellent. The project looked shaky at times, but now I believe we have produced a newspaper which even Clark Kent would be proud of!”
Rizwaan – Newspaper Project

“Writing Haiku has helped with my overall essay writing. In future I think my essays will be more logical, critical and detailed. In completing the project I have learnt a new skill which I hope to continue as a hobby.”
Rebecca – Haiku Poetry

“The skills I developed during the project were my communication skills, teamwork, interpersonal and problem solving skills. We were faced with many problems during the construction of our model of the London Eye but we managed to overcome all the challenges and managed to complete the finished project.”
Naveed – Engineering Project

“This project has benefitted me in many ways by improving my communication skills and making me more confident to speak in public.”
Leah– Law Moot