2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

OLUB5302M Sustainability Leadership Research Project

45 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Ian Fouweather / Gerard Duff
Email: I.M.Fouweather@leeds.ac.uk / G.Duff@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jan to 30 Jun, 1 Jan to 30 Jun (6mth)(adv yr), 1 Mar to 31 Aug, 1 Mar to 31 Aug (6mth)(adv yr), 1 May to 31 Oct, 1 May to 31 Oct (6mth)(adv yr), 1 Nov to 30 Apr, 1 Nov to 30 Apr (6mth)(adv yr), 1 Sep to 28 Feb, 1 Sep to 28 Feb (6mth)(adv yr) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students are required to meet the programme entry requirements prior to studying the module.

Module replaces

None

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is designed to help students develop and demonstrate the skills required to carry out a substantial individual project in a chosen aspect of business and sustainability. Core skills for conducting the individual project are first developed through guided online learning. At the start of the research project students are allocated a supervisor who will work with the student on a one-to-one basis and may also facilitate some small group meetings in addition to one-to-one supervision.

Objectives

The module provides students with an opportunity to conduct an in-depth and critical investigation of an issue(s) relating to business and sustainability.

Students will have the ability to tailor the nature of their research to meet their own interests and career aspirations. In practical terms this may mean a project has a strong academic focus or equally a project could be practitioner related and investigate a specific issue facing a particular organisation or sector. For each type of project students are expected to:
- Work independently.
- Demonstrate an ability to plan and apply a suitable research process and methodology.
- Help advance scholarship and/or knowledge in the area through the research project.

The maximum word limit for the research project is 12,000 words.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Identify a research question(s) and plan a research process to address the question(s) identified.
2. Critically evaluate, synthesise and summarise literature relevant to the research question(s).
3. Conduct an independent and in-depth investigation applying relevant subject related principles and practices in order to answer the research question(s) posed, thereby demonstrating an in-depth and critical understanding of the chosen subject.
4. Demonstrate an ability to apply suitable research methodologies recognizing and accommodating relevant moral, ethical and practical issues associated with the research.
5. Advance scholarship and/or knowledge in the area under investigation through adopting a sound research process and methodological approach, and drawing appropriate conclusions and making recommendations.
6. Demonstrate project management skills (e.g., time planning, working to deadlines and producing deliverables)
7. Demonstrate effective communications and academic skills (e.g., writing, referencing, data presentation).

Syllabus

In the first part of the module students will be guided through the following areas via online learning materials supported by synchronous and asynchronous group discussions with the module leader:

- Approaches to research
- Stages in undertaking research for a project and working with an academic supervisor
- Research strategies and techniques
- Designing and executing a research project
- Searching and reviewing the literature
- Data collection and analysis
- Effective business communication and presentation
- Writing a project proposal and a research project

For the research project itself students need to:

1. Identify a business and sustainability issue(s) outlining how and why the issue(s) identified provides a suitable basis for the project. All project titles are subject to approval from the module leader.
2. Develop a realistic research question(s) related to the subject.
3. Outline a research plan which will enable them to answer the research question(s) in a rigorous and methodologically appropriate manner.
4. Conduct an appropriate literature review.
5. Collect relevant data (e.g., secondary and primary).
6. Analyse the data using suitable methods.
7. Succinctly report on the findings from the research.
8. Outline the key conclusions from the research critiquing whether the research has met the original research question(s) posed.
9. Outline and evaluate how the research has advanced scholarship, knowledge and/or business practise in the area under investigation.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
On-line Learning	7	1.00	7.00
Supervision Meetings	6	1.00	6.00
Group learning	7	2.00	14.00
Independent online learning hours			28.00
Private study hours			395.00
Total Contact hours			27.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			450.00

Private study

Independent online learning refers to non-facilitated directed learning. Students will work through bespoke interactive learning resources and reflective activities in the VLE.

Private study refers to the self-directed research and preparation of the research project.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

During the initial phase when students work through the online materials:

- The digital learning materials will provide regular opportunities for participants to check their understanding and gain feedback.
- The associated webinars and discussion forums will provide further opportunities for formative feedback from peers and tutors.

Prior to starting work on the project students submit a project proposal. The proposal is assessed by an academic member of staff and where applicable feedback is provided.

The 6 hours one-to-one supervision will enable students to receive formative feedback from their supervisor on key aspects of the research project (i.e., feasibility and suitability of the research question, research methodology, potential key pieces of literature).

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	12,000 word (max) research project	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students who fail their project are given the opportunity to improve the original submission to a pass standard capped at 50%. If a student must re-submit due to a plagiarism penalty, they are required to complete a new project.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/05/2024 17:06:29

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