| Unit name | Work Based Applied Research Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0090 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Nasrul Ismail |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The Work Based Applied Research Project is an alternative to an academic dissertation where you will work with an external local, national or international organisation that undertakes work that is relevant to a prevalent global health issue, or a determinant of health. Either alone or as part of a group you will have the opportunity to work on a co-produced research-based project using the skills and knowledge gained during your studies in ways that benefit your host organisation, while at the same time enabling you to gain significant insights into global health policy work in real-time. Practical experience, evidence of successful project management, and an awareness of the global health careers market are highly desirable assets that you can take with you from this unit once you graduate. Whilst this is an applied unit, it is expected that formative and summative work is framed within the relevant academic literature, following academic research protocols and standards.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit enables you the opportunity to directly apply what you have learned across other units such as: the role of power in relationships between and within relevant institutions and organisations, governance challenges, the production of knowledge and evidence, and health diplomacy and advocacy. You will synthesise the development of professional and research skills during your co-produced research project alongside a portfolio of theoretically informed written work that applies your learning from across the programme.
An overview of content
The unit combines classroom-based and real-world opportunities to gain insight into the institutions that comprise the global health policy landscape – including their approach to using evidence for global health advocacy. During the development of the Work Based Research Project, you will undertake set tasks to increase your own understanding of your own host organisation’s structure, its position in the field and its ethos - whether local, regional or international; charitable, commercial or publicly-funded. You will be supported to devise and lead an applied research project jointly designed with your host institution. All of this is supported by skills-based classroom training on projects and assessments (including the SPS ethics process); and theoretically guided critical reflection on the positioning of host organisations in relation to one another and the wider field of global health and policy-making.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will gain experience in collaborative learning and inquiry through application, research, and interpretation, developing research skills like critical thinking, information management, data collection and analysis, and an understanding of important issues relating to research ethics and GDPR alongside the development of other important transferrable skills in teamwork and time management.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
An application process to enrol on this unit will be initiated early in TB1 following an information session available to all students in the programme. Successful applicants will be assigned an individual academic supervisor and a host organisation, and in some cases more than one student will be assigned to the same organisation. Your regular supervisions will sometimes be individual or in a group – depending on appropriateness. You will spend time directly engaging with and embedding yourself with the host organisation, undertaking a range of tasks that make up part of your summative portfolio assessment. The unit is further supported by a series of lectures and workshops and will make use of synchronous and asynchronous modes of delivery. A significant element of your own independent contribution to learning will be your planning and collation of resources and data related to your applied work-based project (this may take place independently or in collaboration with other students based at the same host organisation). You will also undertake a significant amount of independent work on your Applied Research Portfolio assessment.
You will maintain a schedule of routine supervision sessions with your academic supervisor throughout your time working with the host organisation and afterwards. They will encourage you to discuss highlights and support you to problem-solve. Together with the Unit Director and the Professional Liaison Network administrator your supervisor will offer support to help manage any difficulties or complications arising through your working relationship with the host organisation.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
For the work-based project element, students may work independently or in groups depending on student numbers at each host –organisation.You are expected to:
During initial engagements with your host organisation you will be expected to collect information about: the organisation’s structure and ethos, how it engages with Global Health Policy, and understanding its location within a wider framework of institutions. Classroom discussions and peer/tutor feedback will support your development of the Organisation Situation Report for the summative Portfolio.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
All summative work will be prepared and submitted by individual students working independently.
Applied Research Portfolio comprising:
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, unsuccessful students may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit and where appropriate, you may submit an alternative assessment in the same format as the original.
Where there have been serious problems with engagement with the host organisation that are outside your control and that prevent the applied research portfolio from being completed, an alternative assessment will be set. Each case would need to be considered by the unit coordinator, programme director and PGT team in collaboration, and the resubmission arrangements would be agreed by the School Exam Board. Where possible, this assessment will contain the same parts as the Applied Research Portfolio, but the Situation Report and Thematic Engagement element may be based on information supplied to you about a different organisation (if necessary).
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0090).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
