2020/21 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG5022M Professional & Personal Development

30 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Luke Burns
Email: l.p.burns@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG5004M	Professional and Personal Development
GEOG5230M	Professional Development
GEOG5811M	GIS in the Workplace (WUN)

Module replaces

GEOG5230M for MSc/PGD GIS only

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This core module aims to practically develop students’ professional skills and personal awareness. It achieves this through computer practicals, seminars, talks by/about professional bodies, invited talks by external speakers, careers centre interaction and attendance at School seminars or research cluster meetings.

Objectives

To deliver a range of information regarding professional and personal development in multiple career environments, such as industrial, commercial, academic, public, voluntary and community environments.
To nurture professional and practitioner experience in students’ career aspirations.
To enhance student skillsets by widening their experience of different software and quantitative techniques.
To develop students’ skills in seeking work experience and employment.
To develop students’ professional dialogue and correspondence skills.
To foster work-based partnerships.
To develop collegiality amongst students, staff and work-based supervisors.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have:
-Practical experience of learning a range of software and quantitative techniques.
-Practical experience of employability, developing CVs, hunting for job adverts in relevant industries and / or further postgraduate study.
-Practical experience of compiling an evidence-based portfolio of skills, experiences and competencies.
-Practical experience of presenting themselves in making job applications and in face to face interviews

Skills outcomes
B Cognitive skills
B1 Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources
B2 Assessment and critical evaluation of the merits of contrasting theories, explanations, policies
B3 Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
B4 Developing reasoned arguments
B5 Solving problems and making reasoned decisions

C Practical/professional skills
C1 Plan, design, execute and report geographical research both individually and as part of a team
C3 Employ a variety of technical and laboratory-based methods for the analysis and presentation of spatial and environmental information (e.g. GIS, water chemistry, etc.)
C4 Collect, interpret and synthesise different types of quantitative and qualitative geographical data

D Key skills
D1 Learn in familiar and unfamiliar situations
D2 Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through graphical presentations)
D3 Apply numerical and computational skills to geographical information
D4 Use information technology effectively (including use of spreadsheet, database and word processing programmes; Internet and e-mail)
D5 Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources
D6 Work as part of a team and to recognise and respect the viewpoints of others
D7 Manage time and organise work effectively

Syllabus

This module will mix sessions under four themes:

i. Step-up to Masters
ii. Technical Skills
iii. Problem Solving
iv. Careers

i. Step-up to Masters:
Supporting the transition from undergraduate study (or employment) to taught postgraduate study through a range of introductory sessions, and trial tasks.

ii. Technical Skills:
Use of industry-standard software such as QGIS, MapInfo, R and Excel plus further practice using a range of vector and raster GIS techniques as well as statistical and mathematical methods.

iii. Problem Solving:
Introduction to the principles of programming, accessing and processing raw data, dealing with missing data etc.

iv. Careers:
Guidance and practice with CV development, cover letters, proposals, applications, budgeting, scoping, building a personal website and positively promoting image (e.g. LinkedIn, ReseachGate, society and professional memberships), CPD-style portfolio.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	4	5.00	20.00
Drop-in Session	2	3.00	6.00
Practical	7	5.00	35.00
Seminar	5	5.00	25.00
Private study hours			214.00
Total Contact hours			86.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Private study and independent learning will include:
Compilation of practical portfolio
Compilation of problem-solving portfolio
Group learning: attendance at SoG seminar or research cluster seminar
Plus,
Reading directly related to software and methods training
Wider reading around portfolio compilations

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student attendance and progress will be monitored because this is a pass to progress module. Monitoring will be:
During practicals
From the Unseen Practical Task
At seminars
At tutorials

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	Unseen practical task	30.00
Portfolio	Practical portfolio. To include multiple components as will be stipulated at outset but will mainly comprise practical outputs	40.00
Portfolio	Problem solving portfolio. To include multiple components as will be stipulated at outset but will mainly comprise practical outputs	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 05/08/2020 17:04:15

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD