VA7060 - Preventive Conservation Project-Dissertation

This module is designed to be flexible, accessible, and student-led, reflecting the ethos of the programme and the demands of distance learning. As a postgraduate learner, you will be at the centre of the process, driving your research forward through independent enquiry, critical thinking, and reflective practice.

The module supports your development as a self-directed researcher by providing structured and adaptable learning materials. You will access six recorded lectures via Blackboard Ultra, available on demand to suit your personal schedule and learning style. These online recorded lectures guide you through each stage of the dissertation process—from defining your research question and conducting literature reviews, to designing methodologies and writing up your findings. Each lecture is designed to build your confidence and competence as an independent researcher and competent academic writer.

You will also benefit from personalised one-to-one supervision with an assigned dissertation tutor, who will provide expert guidance tailored to your research topic. Your supervisor will support you in selecting and applying appropriate research methods, developing ethical research practices, and structuring your dissertation effectively.

The development of your dissertation begins early in the programme, allowing you to gradually refine your research interests and approach. As a distance learner, you’ll have continuous access to digital libraries, academic resources, and learning support services, ensuring a high-quality learning experience regardless of location.

By learning at your own pace and taking responsibility for your academic development, you’ll gain essential research and project management skills that underpin professional success in preventive conservation and the wider heritage sector.

Academic support is provided through multiple structured channels to ensure your success throughout the experience:



Support is centred around comprehensive guidance from your module tutor, ensuring you succeed in mastering both the essential principles in professional practice in heritage preservation.



Module Tutor Guidance: Your module tutor serves as your primary academic mentor throughout the learning journey, providing expert knowledge in collections care and preventive conservation. They offer personalized support for understanding theoretical concepts, interpreting scholarly information, and developing your analytical skills. Regular communication channels ensure you can access guidance when navigating challenging topics or technical procedures.



Structured Learning Support: The sequential nature of weekly topics allows for progressive skill building, with your tutor monitoring your development through formative knowledge checks. These assessments provide early identification of any learning gaps, enabling targeted support before concepts become more complex.



Practical Guidance: Your tutor provides comprehensive guidance how to study at level 7 and use the electronic learning platform , ensuring you can effectively navigate the system, interpret and critically analyse what you read, and extract meaningful insights for your assignments.



Assignment Development Support: For written assignment, your tutor offers guidance on research methodology, writing standards, and data interpretation approaches. They help you connect theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring your work meets academic standards while demonstrating professional competency.



Feedback : Written feedback on formative assessments ensures continuous improvement and academic development, with your tutor providing constructive guidance to enhance your understanding and analytical capabilities.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Here is a revised list of module learning outcomes for the Preventive Conservation Dissertation module, with a strong emphasis on academic research, writing skills, and the values underpinning professional heritage practice. These outcomes align with postgraduate expectations and reflect intellectual independence, scholarly rigour, and ethical awareness in research.

Shape

Module Learning Outcomes:



Knowledge & Understanding (K&U)

Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of current academic and professional debates in preventive conservation and apply this to an original research question.

Critically evaluate and synthesise relevant primary and secondary sources to develop a theoretically and methodologically sound research project that contributes to the wider understanding of cultural heritage care and conservation.

Intellectual / Professional Skills & Abilities (IPSA)

Design and conduct an independent research project, using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies, and produce a coherent, well-structured dissertation that reflects high-level academic writing and critical thinking skills.

Demonstrate the ability to manage a complex research process: identifying a viable topic, refining research aims, developing research questions, undertaking a literature review, collecting and analysing data, and drawing evidence-based conclusions.

Take responsibility for personal learning and development by using academic feedback, digital resources, and supervisory guidance to enhance research quality, self-management, and scholarly communication.

Personal Values & Attributes (PVA)

Conduct research with intellectual curiosity, integrity, and professionalism, demonstrating sensitivity to ethical considerations in heritage research and practice.

Formative:

The submission of a written dissertation proposal and ethics clearance form to your module tutor (1,2,3,4,5,6)



Summative:

Either:

1. A 15,000-word written dissertation, OR

2. A project-based dissertation comprising of 7500 words written dissertation and 7500-word equivalent project-based report.

100% of the module mark

(1,2,3,4,5,6)



Submission & Feedback


Your proposal and dissertation are submitted via the online platform Turnitin. To ensure fairness and transparency, dissertations are double marked and blind marked by two members of the academic department. A representative sample is then moderated by an external examiner. Provisional marks and written feedback are provided to you typically within 20 working days of the submission in line with university guidelines. Final marks are then awarded at the University Programme Assessment Board and are posted to your student portal.

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The Preventive Conservation Project-Dissertation is your opportunity to produce a substantial, original piece of research that contributes to the evolving field of heritage preservation. Building on your interests and career goals, you will develop and refine advanced research and academic writing skills that are directly transferable to professional practice in museums, archives, and cultural institutions. Through a combination of flexible online learning, one-to-one supervision, and structured recorded lectures, you will be fully supported in designing and completing an independent research project that reflects your intellectual curiosity and ethical awareness.



This research-rich module fosters critical thinking, project management, and evidence-based reasoning - key skills sought by employers in the heritage sector. With consistently high student satisfaction in academic support, you will benefit from personalised feedback and expert guidance throughout. By graduation, you will be equipped with the confidence, rigour, and reflective insight to shape conservation practice through thoughtful, culturally informed, and professionally relevant research.