| Unit name | Policy and Management Consultancy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GEOGM0072 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Fox |
| 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 of Geographical Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit brings a practical dimension to postgraduate study by providing an opportunity for students to work in small teams to address real life policy and management challenges facing external clients, including public, private and non-profit organisations.Past clients have included the United Nations, international think-tanks, ecologically-minded companies, public policy consultancies and local government.
The Unit Director, in collaboration with other research institutes within the University (e.g. Cabot Institute, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, Perivoli Africa Research Centre) and the Public Engagement Team, will solicit project proposals from external clients such as non-governmental organisations, government agencies, private companies and large development research consortia. These will be vetted by the Unit Director and then presented to students as options. Projects will be allocated to small teams based upon student preferences. Over the course of the term, students will negotiate a terms of reference, undertake research, produce a report and make a final presentation to their assigned clients. This research component of the course will be complemented by a seminar series oriented around critical reflection on the key skills required by policy and management consultants.
Overall, the unit aims to give students the skills required to become effective influencers. Specific unit objectives include:
Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
The unit will be taught through a blended combination of in-person and online teaching, delivered by University of Bristol staff with contributions from expert practitioners, including:
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Participation in seminar and workshop/tutorial sessions and activities throughout the unit.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Group Project (100%) [ILOs 1-5]
When assessment does not go to plan
Students will be offered an alternative report-based assessment (100%) for completion in the summer reassessment period, that is individual rather than in a group.
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. GEOGM0072).
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.
