Modiwl BIC-3324:
Postgraduate Academic Skills

Overview

The module stresses language and skills development but also aims to inform you about the postgraduate study in business you will embark on after completing the preparatory phase of the IIM. There is an emphasis on those skills which are going to be of particular benefit when you join your master’s. You are introduced to the structure of a typical master’s in business and are guided through the approaches that are adopted and are made aware, in particular, of the demands placed on and expectations of master’s students. Much is made of the need for you to engage in both individual and group exercises building your confidence as preparing for your master’s itself. You will engage in gathering and evaluating information from a wide range of written sources, including learned and professional journals and other publications and also make extensive use of the Internet as a source of material. In this module you will learn how to use the VLE and social media as a means of exchanging views, ideas and information. You will develop your written, oral and visual communication skills and learning strategies. You will reflect on your own learning as an individual but also engage in team-building and working effectively in groups, appreciating the relevance of this to both studies and the business world. You will also reflect on the need to adopt high, professional standards as an aid to employability.

Topics studied in this module include:

• strategies to avoid plagiarism
• identifying primary and secondary research
• distinguishing qualitative and quantitative research methods
• reliably using internet sources and the VLE
• developing evaluation skills and critical thinking
• creating effective PowerPoint slides for presentations
• presentation skills
• referencing and in-text citations
• structuring and writing academic essays
• paraphrasing and summarising information
• planning a semester of study
• time management and organisation
• finding reliable sources from scientific databases

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (50%–59% / C- to C+) Adequate research and referencing skills are demonstrated. Reflection makes links with personal experience but connections to academic literature may be limited or there is an over-emphasis on description.

Good (60%-69% / B- to B+) Good research and referencing skills are demonstrated. Reflection demonstrates a good depth of self-reflection on the topic and some criticality. Some good connections are made to the academic literature.

Excellent (70%-100% / A- to A*) Excellent research and referencing skills are demonstrated. Reflection is highly insightful and critical. Clever links to the academic literature are made and there is depth to the discussion.

Learning Outcomes

• Communicate information clearly using appropriate academic style and language

• Employ critically note-taking strategies and use paraphrasing and summarising skills

• Locate reputable sources and evaluate their reliability, effectively use in-text citations, and produce a reference list in Harvard style.

• Systematically reflect on own experiences and integrate them with research to produce an effective academic essay