What will I learn on this module?
This module is a practical hands-on application of business principles. It aims to put you – and a group of your peers - into the real-world situation of solving problems for businesses. This will include contacting the client to negotiate, agree and confirm initial project requirements and then working towards a deliverable that is acceptable to the client within the given time frame. This process requires the application and development of several key skills associated with project management and consultancy such as team organisation, working with others, planning and timekeeping. Employers are looking for students with these transferable skills who can adapt and work as individuals and as members of a team in analysing problems and applying effective solutions.
The consultancy projects vary year-on-year; many are organisational or technology-based and, therefore, students are expected to use and develop their own expertise in this area. At the end of the module, each group will be expected to present their findings in report format and to give a formal presentation for the benefit of the tutors and the client. The projects will be supplemented by lectures and seminars introducing the skills required for such consultancy and project management work especially during the first third of the module.
How will I learn on this module?
At The Bridge you learn through a blended approach where short, focused and interactive face-to-face sessions are underpinned by guided and independent online learning. Your attendance for scheduled activities is monitored regardless of whether you are on campus or joining the session remotely. This ensures you access all of the learning opportunities which have been purposefully designed for your success.
A range of teaching and learning approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.
During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
Teaching schedule
Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module
References to data sources and details of lab activities
You will also receive the assessment brief which sets out the formative and summative assessments throughout the module.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
There are three key sources of academic support available to you during your time at the Bridge in addition to Ask4Help who are available 24/7 for general queries related to your studies.
Your Module Tutor
Your module tutor is responsible for your learning outcomes on the module. They deliver the workshops and provide guidance in relation to learning and assignments. They develop all of the key resources and make them available through the eLP (electronic learning portal module) Blackboard, which is used to provide support materials, interactive learning tasks and give you regular opportunities to test and get feedback on your learning. You will be given both written and verbal feedback and guidance on your work and progress during the semester by your module tutor.
Your Learning Mentor
On programme, you will have your in-person and online engagement activity tracked against the learning plan with key check-in points built into the academic calendar to ensure you maximise your learning potential. Engagement with formative assessments will also be used by the learning mentor to discuss any action planning required to ensure success.
Academic Skills Team
The Bridge aspires to build a range of student skillsets, including digital skills, academic writing and discourse, working alone and in teams. Your learning mentor may refer you a dedicated academic skills team which is based in the centre. Here you can attend drop-ins or schedule 1-1 sessions on issues which have been identified at the diagnostic stages of the programme however you may also have self-identified areas for your own growth and self-refer yourself for support.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1: You will be able to recognise the role of a consultant and associated professional issues including appropriate communication standards, professionalism and privacy and security.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO2: You will learn to interact professionally with real clients and use and apply appropriate project management techniques including risk mitigation to your consultancy activity.
MLO3: You will be able to identify appropriate solutions to a range of well-defined and abstract problems to meet a business need, both on an individual and group basis.
MLO4: You will be able to present and evaluate your chosen solutions using logical and reasoned arguments.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5: You will be able to differentiate between the module requirements and the reality of business/organisational requirements.
How will I be assessed?
You will receive summative feedback on your consultancy project regularly from your module tutor. You will have the opportunity to meet as a group each week and will receive supervision. You are expected to attend these sessions and make notes on your actions and progress as this will form the basis for your reflective essay.
There are three assessed components in this module.
First a reflective essay (2,500 words) (60%) documents your approach to meeting the general and specific requirements of the project brief which you have been assigned. This should include thorough reflection on your own performance and contributions within the team.
You will then be assessed on your Group Work (10,000 report (30%) plus a 20 minute group presentation (10%)) which demonstrates your full engagement with the consultancy related activities of the module.
Students who do not wish to work in a group may apply to work independently however this is not guaranteed and is dependent on the availability of live projects. If the assessment is completed by groups of more than one student, then a rigorous Peer Assessment mechanism is employed to ensure a fair distribution of marks based upon students’ individual contributions to the project.
Module abstract
This module is designed to deepen your knowledge and enhance employability, acquiring hands on experience working on a real-life project, an experience that is directly transferrable to industry and the world of work after your graduation. You will enhance your abilities as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical skills to implement a solution as part of a multidisciplinary consultancy team. As a professional in the future you will likely find yourself working within a number of different roles and specialisms, each requiring a specific skillsets, knowledge and behaviours. You will work as a member of a team bringing your own skillset to a project with a specific set of requirements which will be negotiated with a real client. These requirements could be technical, organisational or commercial and the consultancy project will align to your degree specialism. The final deliverable will be a client-oriented solution along with a report and reflective log.
