SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION Module Background Information This module is distinct from the traditional undergraduate dissertation and is taken by all Newcastle Business School (NBS) students, both in the UK and overseas, who gain direct entry into final year (Level 6) honours study. The module is supported by academic staff through a programme of workshops and the use of an eLearning portal. A major feature of the module is in the use of "learning sets" were students support and motivate each other's personal and professional develop. Through the module students will be given opportunities to develop key academic competences along with the opportunity to reflect upon their individual learning style and its implication for current and future study and how it may impact upon their future career planning. As part of the professional project each student will be required to identify and investigate through the use of academic/professional literature some business related issue related to their degree title and career aspirations. The target length for the professional project is 11,000 words +/- 5% Learning Outcomes This module is intended to be taken by direct entry final year students to an undergraduate programme of study at NBS. At the end of the module students will be able to: 1. Apply key intellectual competences at level six and critically appraise their employment competences to support continuing professional/career development. 2. Conduct a literature review involving the critical evaluation of appropriate theories, models, frameworks and principles and apply those principles to a particular business problem or issue drawing appropriate inferences and conclusions. Aims The Professional Project aims to support students in developing key competences appropriate to honours degree level study within the field of business and management. In addition it aims to prepare students to enter the graduate job market. In particular the Professional Project aims to develop and empower each student to become a critical and reflective thinker with respect to both their future academic development and to their future career planning. The module will draw from current research within the students chosen field of study and, and, where appropriate, to that specifically carried out by staff of Newcastle Business School and its partner institutions. Approaches to Teaching and Learning and Formative Assessment The teaching programme has been developed so that new entrants to final year honours study progressively take more and more responsibility for their own learning. This approach is consistent with developing students to become "independent learners", who have the skills and resources to support much of their own future learning. In part this can be seen through the front loading of teaching within the module. The module is formally assessed through the submission of a 11,000 word Professional Project however there are a number of opportunities for students to gain formative feedback. Workshop Support Programme This is a taught programme with three workshops during the second semester followed by three and four workshops in the third and fourth semesters respectively. The Project will not be individually supervised. Instead the students will be expected to work in learning sets supported by a tutor. However, it must be noted that the final project is to be an individual piece of work. SECTION 2 – SECTION A OF THE PROJECT The Professional Project is intended to link personal and professional career development with an academic piece of work in the form of a critical literature review. The appreciation of professional, career and personal development should not be underestimated. It should provide evidence to support that development with critical reflection by the student. A series of psychometric tests are available via BlackBoard to support your self-analysis. The outline of Section A of the project should take the form seen below with supporting evidence shown in the appendices. Part 1: Who I am as a learner? • Implications for your learning • Family & friends to comment Discuss the implications of the questionnaire findings and show how these relate to how you learn. Appendix A – VARK, Myers Briggs, Belbin Inventory, Honey and Mumford and other relevant tests/indicators you consider appropriate Part 2: Implications for career choice • Lifelong learning • Transferable skills • Justify chosen career choice Discuss how your personality type and learning style affect your choice of career. Appendix B – curriculum vitae, two job adverts, a standard application form Appendix C – PowerPoint Presentation SECTION 3 – TOPIC SELECTION (SECTION B) Section B (the literature review) requires each student to develop a critical literature review of some business problem/issues relevant to their degree title and career aspirations identified in section A of their professional project. Students studying for general business and management degrees may choose any area of business of management for further investigation. Students studying for specialist degree such as human resource management or logistic and supply chain management must choose a literature review topic consistent with their degree title. A small number of electronic examples of recent professional projects (from 2014) which achieved marks of 60% or more will be made available through your eLearning site. The purpose of these electronic projects is to allow you to gauge the required standards for the Professional Project. Originality It is the student's responsibility to verify with their workshop tutor that the proposed title and subject area of their section B literature is acceptable to Newcastle Business School. It is critical that each student works independently; however, no student may claim exclusive rights to a topic area. Please note that each professional project must be submitted to the University's electronic plagiarism detection service Turnitin prior to submission. Any identified cases of academic misconduct will be investigated under the University of Northumbria's ARNA regulations. Guidelines for Suitable Questions In keeping with research generally students should anticipate that their research area/topic/question becomes progressively more focused as their confidence and knowledge of the pertinent literature growths. This "fine tuning" is to be welcomed as evidence of personal and professional growth within your subject area. SECTION 4 - REFLECTIVE STATEMENT A central element of the project is critical reflection by the student. It is important therefore to produce a reflective statement which will link the two sections (A & B) of the project together. Part of this reflective statement should relate to how you have changed in response to your experiences on the Professional Project. This is a very important area of the project and should be a considered and well thought out element of the final piece of work. To aid this process of reflection it might be useful to keep a log of your experiences, feelings and skills development as you study towards your degree. The workshops will provide guidance and support on critical reflection as part of the programme. SECTION 5 - WRITTEN PRESENTATION FORMAT Length The target length of the professional project is 11,000 words plus or minus 5%. Please note that if the word count exceeds the upper 5% (i.e. 11,550 words) limit then a 5% deduction will be made to your provisional mark. No specific penalty applies to students who are short of the word count target of 11,000 words since they are unlikely to meet fully the modules learning outcomes and will naturally suffer a reduced mark. The word count does not include abstract, title page, contents page, glossary, tables, figures, illustrations, reference list and appendices. Referencing The use of appropriate referencing represents a critical academic skill that will be assessed through this module. Failure to reference material properly and consistently could leave you open to charges of academic misconduct including plagiarism under the ARNA regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have referenced all secondary material appropriately. There is more on this in section 6 of this handbook. Structure and Components of the Professional Project TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Declaration and Word Count Abstract (to cover both sections) Acknowledgements Contents Page List of figures Glossary (if appropriate) Section A Part 1: Who I am as a learner? Implications for your learning Family & friends to comment Part 2: Implications for career choice Lifelong learning Transferable skills Justify chosen career choice Appendix A – VARK, Myers Briggs, Belbin Inventory, Honey and Mumford's LSI and other relevant tests/indicators you consider appropriate Appendix B – Curriculum vitae, two job adverts, a standard application form Appendix C – PowerPoint Presentation Section B Part 1 Introduction Reason for choice of topic Academic objectives of Project Outline of sections Part 2 Setting the Scene – (if required) Part 3 Literature Review Rationale for literature reviewed Critical review of literature relating to academic objectives Part 4 Summary and Conclusions References Bibliography Appendices A Appendices B Appendices C Reflective Statement Last Page ø ø It is useful to specify the last page so that the reader may ensure that no pages have been omitted in error. Title - The title should be succinct yet clearly specify the content of the report. This should be descriptive and explicit rather than poetic or implicit. Twelve words is normally the maximum length. It should be agreed and finalised as part of the final draft. It may be different from the original proposed title. Acknowledgements - The student may wish to thank those people who have been particularly helpful in the preparation of the project. Consideration of persons external to the NBS is particularly appropriate. Facetious acknowledgements are not acceptable. Abstract - The purpose of the abstract is to summarise the entire project, including a description of the problem, the student's contributions, and conclusions. Four keywords are required. (See sample Appendix C.) Declarations, Word Count and Turnitin Similarity % - To be included (See sample Appendix B). Do not forget to sign. No signature: No Mark. Introduction - The purpose of this section is to contextualise the study. This means that the significance or importance of the subject is set out. If there is no apparent importance to the study to any external reader, the topic may not be appropriate. Personal interest may inspire selection of the project topic, but ultimately, its importance to others should be specified. This can often be done by positioning the project in relation to other work that has been published, either as an advancement, continuation, compilation or verification. This part should also tell the reader how the topic will be unfolded and the order of forthcoming material. Literature Review – A critical review of the current academic (and professional) literature surrounding the question or issue should provide a clear understanding. It should be up-to-date and relevant. Conclusion - This section explains the relationship between the body of knowledge and the question. It should present the case for the project's success in meeting its goals, as well as any shortcomings and limitations that apply. It may suggest further work or study needed on the question or issue, as well as ways the new work can be used or applied in other cases. It is not meant to be a summary or restatement of the entire project, which belongs in the abstract. If the student has developed any strong personal opinions about the subject which seem appropriate to relate, this is the place where such content is appropriate. Appendices - Often the concepts of the study can be clarified in graphic form, or data presented in tabular form. Normally, this material should be entered into the text at or near the place it is referred to in the text. Where such material would be inconvenient to include in the text itself, it can be included in an appendix. As a general rule, if figures, tables, charts or quotes are less than a full page and can be conveniently included in the text, you will want to do so, since reference to appendices is awkward for the reader. All such material, in the text or at the end, should be titled and sequentially numbered. Tabular material which is presented in landscape format should be bound with the top of the table to the spine. Appendices are labelled alphabetically, although if there is little such material and it is all of a similar nature, it may all be included in one Appendix. Appendices are referenced in text in parentheses (Appendix A) not (see appendix A). Writing Style The level of writing must be appropriate to the level of the Bachelor's degree. Specifically, acute attention should be paid to correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and clarity of style. Also, it is the student's responsibility to edit the text for typing errors, uncover all spelling errors even if the document is, typed by another party. Note that a spell-check programme does not uncover all spelling/grammatical errors, e.g. principal v principle. Normally, there should be no first person references (i.e. I) in Section B of the project. However the use of "I" is to be expected in Section A. Page Layout Pages should be numbered in sequence at the top right hand corner, starting with and including the title page (Appendix A). Margins and headings: the specifications are 1½" left margin, 1¼" on the other three sides. The page number should be above the top margin line. The right margin should be unjustified (left ragged), since the spacing between words used to make the right margin even inhibits readability greatly, while adding little aesthetically. Headers and footers are to be used with discretion. Please do NOT include your name in any header or footer. Tables and charts should be numbered in sequence by chapter, e.g. Table 3.1 is the first table in Chapter 3. Each figure should be properly referenced and accompanied by a descriptive title which completely explains the contents of the figure. It is not acceptable to insert photocopies of tables into the body of the project. Tables should be word processed into the project. In broad terms this principle also applies to diagrams – no photocopies from books etc. There will, of course, be occasions when a photocopy of a table or a diagram is specifically required in order to illustrate points peculiar to the original. Use of such photocopies must be cleared with the supervisor. Similar principles apply to the appendices with regard to tables and diagrams. It is recognised that there will be circumstances (e.g. a project on advertising) where photocopies are necessary. The project must be word-processed, and final copy must be printed single sided on A4 paper. Spacing may either be set at double or one and a half line spacing. Spacing greater than double spacing is not acceptable. The body of the project should be in Font size 12 (This is written Font Size 12) or similar. Arial is the preferred font face. Legibility Both the draft and final copies of the project must be produced in such a manner that the text is entirely legible. This means an image suitable for good reproduction from a photocopier. Colour Printing Black printing is the norm. Colour printing must be used with discretion. There are no extra marks for colour. The University makes no guarantee as to the provision of colour printing facilities. Retention of Working Papers The working documents (e.g. notes, any photocopies of articles used, drafts etc) used for your project MUST be retained by the student until formally notified of the award of their degree. As part of the NBS quality control a stratified sample of students will be asked by letter (after projects have been handed in) to submit their working papers. Please ensure you keep you working papers so that if called for they can be produced. The University tries to be reasonable over this. We do not expect you to keep every scrap of paper. We do expect you to keep the bulk of the important working papers. Thus students would normally (for example) be expected to include in their working papers some (but not necessarily all) successive drafts of the project. Any photocopies of library material etc you use should also be kept. Working Papers MUST be accessible. i.e. DO NOT pack them away in some inaccessible place such as luggage you are shipping home. If your project includes calculations, the working papers for those would be expected. And if your project includes a survey or questionnaire the original papers for those should be kept - along with names and addresses of any firms or individuals involved. Keep all computer based material in digital format, CD, etc. Production of "working papers" includes being able to produce the discs. Do not keep material on the hard drive. Failure to produce working papers when requested by the University to do so constitutes an Academic Irregularity, which may adversely affect the awarding of the students' degree. If it is not possible to establish, by inspection of the working papers, the sources of material in the project the award of the degree will be delayed until the matter is resolved. SECTION 6 - REFERENCE SPECIFICATIONS AND FORMAT Plagiarism and Citation The intellectual work of others which is being summarised in the project must be attributed to its source. It is assumed that all ideas, opinions, conclusions, specific wordings, quotations, conceptual structures and data, whether reproduced exactly or in paraphrase, which are not referenced to another source is the work of the student. If this is not the case, an act of plagiarism may have occurred, which is cause for disciplinary action under the University's ARNA regulations Plagiarism Please pay particular attention to originality and the proper acknowledgement of your sources. It is important that the work you submit: • Is original in as far as the Project constraints allow • Gives proper acknowledgement to any work by others which is used in completing your project Originality means that the project subject is presented in a way which differs from any other: • Published works • Study guides • Dissertations/Projects of other students, past or present This does not preclude the use of the same material from wider reading (to support it with examples, or relevant opinions and ideas, or to place it within the context of existing knowledge). In fact, credit is specifically given for references in the assessment scheme. It does mean, however, that the sources of any such material MUST be identified. You should ensure that: • Words or phrases taken verbatim from published works are placed in quotation marks and the source acknowledged. • Quotations take the form of brief relevant extracts (only exceptionally exceeding 100 words in length). Where lengthier use of a published work is appropriate, you may summarise or paraphrase an author's words, but the source of the summary or paraphrase must again be fully acknowledged by textual reference. Unacknowledged use of the work of others (plagiarism) is regarded as dishonest practice and will be dealt with on that basis, as per the University's Regulations. The University has adopted the APA or American Psychological Associations referencing system to replace the Harvard system used previously. You will be advised on its use during your workshop sessions. SECTION 7 - PROJECT SUBMISSION INFORMATION STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT TWO HARD COPIES OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS Projects are to be submitted to SPEED Office. The submission deadline will be announced in due course. Students should refer to the teaching and learning plan. Failure to Submit by the deadline will result in a mark of ZERO (if submitted more than 1 day after deadline) and the likely failure of your degree unless you have an approved PEC. In exceptional circumstances late submission of the Project, up to a maximum of 2 weeks, may be sought. These must be approved in advance, with appropriate evidence, and are not meant to cover administrative difficulties. Confidentiality Although procedures exist for the handling of confidential information this should not be an issue with the professional project since it does not require the collection of primary data. If you have concerns with respect to confidentiality please raise them with your workshop tutor. Binding Requirements for Undergraduate Projects All Projects are bound in standard Business School covers. Students are required to submit TWO copies of the completed project: one copy bound in standard Business School cover and a second copy. Both copies must be properly bound, i.e. either using ring-binding or thermal-binding. Please note that each professional project is marked independently by two academics and a mark agreed. In addition both internal and external moderation of samples of professional projects takes place as part of the University of Northumbria's quality assurance processes. Please note the Declarations statement must be signed and all pages must be in the correct order. Mark Disclosure It is impossible for the prospective mark which a Project might achieve to be accurately estimated before a Project is formally marked. Every Project is double marked and samples are moderated internally and externally. Some are marked a third (or more) time(s) either by External or Internal Examiners. The mark attached to a Project is a result of this process. It is therefore simply not possible for a tutor to give a definitive view as to exactly what standard a Project might reach. This does not, of course, preclude a tutor giving general guidance as to the calibre of the students work, but such guidance should be given and taken with due consideration to the above and can not be considered a binding assurance. Students will receive a copy of the completed assessment sheet following the conclusion of the examination boards. APPENDIX A Proforma Note: This information must fit within the outline shown so that it will be visible through the window in the front cover. Please ensure your family name is in BLOCK CAPITALS Ø STUDENT No: 00123456 Project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the BA (HONS) BUSINESS MANAGEMENT of Northumbria University Appendix B DECLARATIONS I declare the following:- (1) that the material contained in this Project is the end result of my own work and that due acknowledgement has been given in the bibliography and references to ALL sources be they printed, electronic or personal. (2) the Word Count of this Project is: Section A: ....... Section B: …..... Reflective Statement: ……. Total Word Count: …….. Turnitin Similarity % ........ (3) that unless this Project has been confirmed as confidential, I agree to an entire electronic copy or sections of the Project to being placed on Blackboard, if deemed appropriate, to allow future students the opportunity to see examples of past Projects. I understand that if displayed on Blackboard it would be made available for no longer than five years and that students would be able to print off copies or download. The authorship would remain anonymous. (4) I agree to my Project being submitted to a plagiarism detection service, where it will be stored in a database and compared against work submitted from this or any other School or from other institutions using the service. In the event of the service detecting a high degree of similarity between content within the service this will be reported back to my supervisor and second marker, who may decide to undertake further investigation which may ultimately lead to disciplinary actions, should instances of plagiarism be detected. (5) I have read the University Policy Statement on Ethics in Research and Consultancy and the Policy for Informed Consent in Research and Consultancy and I declare that ethical issues have been considered and taken into account in this research. SIGNED: .......................................................... DATE: ................................................................ Appendix C TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Declaration and Word Count Abstract (to cover both sections) Acknowledgements Contents Page List of figures Glossary (if appropriate) Section A Part 1: Who I am as a learner? Implications for your learning Family & friends to comment Part 2: Implications for career choice Lifelong learning Transferable skills Justify chosen career choice Appendix A – VARK, Myers Briggs, Belbin Inventory, Honey and Mumford's LSI and other relevant tests/indicators you consider appropriate, Appendix B – Curriculum vitae, two job adverts, a standard application form Appendix C – PowerPoint Presentation Section B Part 1 Introduction Reason for choice of topic Academic objectives of the Project Outline of each part Part 2 Setting the Scene - if required Part 3 Literature Review Rationale for literature reviewed Critical review of literature relating to academic objectives Part 4 Summary and Conclusions References Bibliography Appendices: Reflective statement Last Page ø ø It is useful to specify the last page so that the reader may ensure that no pages have been omitted in error.