KE7003 - Subject Exploration in Disaster and Development

What will I learn on this module?

You will be given the opportunity to critically explore a topic of your choice into a specialised cutting edge dimension of disaster management and sustainable development drawing on contemporary themes and sub themes. This may be theoretical / philosophical / ethical in nature, or into an applied professional area in disaster management and sustainable development. The latter may be, if you so prefer, related to exploring the trend of professionalisation, enterprise and entrepreneurship in the disaster and development field, but there are no pre-selected topics due to the tailored individualised learning concept of this module.

Real scenarios and case studies will be engaged with during the module through directed learning activities, but for the predominate part of the module you will be working individually on your chosen topic which will need to be agreed with the module leader as appropriate. This topic of yours could be a virtual or real research or advisory / consultancy project (widely defined).
You will individually reflect on your interaction and learning with the issues focussed on, but also benefit from peer learning. You will take your findings into a mode of communication to share this more widely, which ordinarily would be a report but a negotiated alternative mode of presentation (website, visualisation etc) can be negotiated with the module tutor if equivalent to the report in length and effort.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a guided but largely independent learning process, supported by a number of seminars and workshops.
This module comprises of a journey that you will largely shape yourself through your specialised interests taken further and deeper here, and which then should have real employability and career relevance.
Directed reading, guided and independent study will be used to enable you to gain a more sophisticated awareness of your chosen specialised cutting edge study topic focus.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Tutorials and workshops will assist your contextualisation of the subject content and its applicability to your areas of enquiry, to assist the assimilation of knowledge from theory to practice and provide you with opportunity for discourse, debate, evaluation and synthesis of ideas.
You will be expected to reflect and communicate your findings, insights and reflections individually in an engaging way, and be supported to do so through formative feedback and assessment
Seminars and tutorials will provide you with guidance and informal formative assessment.
Resources will be made available through the ELP and through TEL for communities further afield.
You will also be supported through your peers on this module and will be encouraged to develop an active and participatory dialogue and reflection and sharing culture amongst fellow students to facilitate peer learning and informal structures of support.
Teaching staff operate an ‘open door’ policy for students meaning you can approach them anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.

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. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO 1: Appraise definitions and conceptions of the cutting edge aspect you place under investigation.
• MLO 2: Interpret the nature and context of the shifting epistemological foundations of the specialised issue explored.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO 3: Assess professional issues connected with and arising from your specialised topic under investigation.
• MLO 4: Evaluate organisational and institutional dimensions / issues connected with and arising from your specialised topic under investigation.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO 5: Situate your own positionality within mixed (culturally influenced) definitions and interpretations of processes of change and factors of influences and their consequences in the interests of civic and ethical behaviour in the public, commercial and voluntary sector.

How will I be assessed?

There is one piece of individual assessment for this module:

An individual 3,000 word report – or in an equivalent professional format of the same length and effort.

Formative feedback will be used to enable you to develop your focus for the proposed area of investigation (1 page proposal in Wk2) and in 1-1 tutorial interaction with your tutor for your summative assessment. This feedback will also enable you to develop your academic and reflective skills.
You are encouraged to discuss and reflect upon the lessons learnt through this process.

Summative feedback will be both in written form on the one individual assessment for this module, and a debrief meeting also for forward learning from this.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

You will critically explore in depth a cutting edge aspect of disaster management and sustainable development of your choice, either theoretical in nature, or into an applied professional area, developing the contemporary but diverse climate change and environmental themes and sub themes introduced via earlier modules in this programme, their potential (or real) impacts, tactical and/or strategic responses, engagement and impact responsibilities as examples. Exploration topics may be diverse under these themes and could be as wide as being related to exploring the trend of professionalisation, enterprise and entrepreneurship in the field. You will be expected to undertake an individual critical exploration of your chosen topic calling on your individual academic curiosity and motivation. You will engage with real scenarios and case studies during the module through directed learning activities. You will work on your topic, agreed with the module tutor, with directed learning guidance and a high proportion of independent learning with tutor feedback. This could be a virtual or real research or advisory / consultancy project. You will reflect individually and benefit from peer learning. You will take your findings into a mode of communication to share this more widely, which ordinarily would be a report but an alternative mode of presentation can be negotiated with the module tutor if equivalent to the report in length and effort.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 2 years Full Time (with Advanced Practice in the second year)
1 other options available

Department Geography and Environmental Sciences

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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