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2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG5230M Professional Development

15 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Paul Kay
Email: p.kay@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG5811MGIS in the Workplace (WUN)

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This core module aims to practically develop students' professional skills and awareness. It achieves this through seminars, talks by professional body reps., invited talks by external speakers, external visits, careers centre interaction and attendance at School seminars or research cluster meetings. There are options to either complete a work-based project, either in industry in in an academic project, or to complete some advanced skills training.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to ...
To deliver a range of information regarding professional 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 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 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

Depending on the option taken, students will have experience of:
Undertaking a work-based project to a professional or similar relevant standard.
Undertaking an academic-based project.
Undertaking advanced level practical skills acquisition.
Minute taking, note taking, and activity logging, and of reflecting on progress.

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

Seminars likely to include:
CV, proposals, applications, budgeting, scoping, personal image (e.g. LinkedIn, ReseachGate), CPD-style portfolio.

Talks likely to include:
Talk by professional body membership staff, such as CIWEM and RGS-IBG)
Talk by Careers centre staff.
Talk about RPG from SoG or Faculty RPG director.
Talks from alumni or professional persons working in relevant industries.
Visits to Jeremy Benn Associates, Yorkshire Water and Environment Agency.
Attendance at a mixture of departmental seminars, research cluster meetings, RPG conference.
Industry-based or academia-based project, OR, advanced skills training.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Workshop16.006.00
Presentation14.004.00
Supervision21.002.00
Seminars101.0010.00
Fieldwork34.0012.00
Private study hours116.00
Total Contact hours34.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

Private study and independent learning will include:
Work-based project (70 hours)
Compilation of project report including the research and reflective skills log
Compilation of CPD-style portfolio
Project presentation
Group learning: attendance at SoG seminar or research cluster seminar
Plus,
Reading directly related to project or advanced skills training
Wider reading around project or advanced skills training

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student attendance and progress will be monitored because this is a pass to progress module. Monitoring will be:
At seminars
At presentations

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
ReportWork placement/academic/skills report and reflective log100.00
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: 13/09/2019

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