LD7123 - Academic and Professional Skills

Entering Postgraduate higher education requires specific skills and attributes to both manage your studies, and to communicate effectively your ideas within the academic community. This module aims to support this development at a level appropriate for where you join your programme of study.

You will develop the underpinning skills which support independent study and research, and which thereby support the remainder of your programme. These skills will also benefit you in the workplace and are transferrable in terms of undertaking business related communications and research.

You will develop your academic and intellectual skills, through applying criticality and communication skills, secondary and primary research and the development to new knowledge.

The outline syllabus will be based on the following themes:

• Learning styles and academic literacies – how these influence research and communication approaches
• Research rich learning and teaching
• Managing academic projects – how to plan effectively and appropriately
• Searching for information to support effective study - conducting primary and secondary research
• Academic Writing – in particular the presentation of research, and the development of critical literature reviews
• Professional Writing - in particular the presentation of research and management reports
• Presentation skills – in particular the persuasive presentation of research
• Developing criticality – the critical analysis of both secondary sources and primary data, and of your own independent research
• Citation and referencing skills – how to appropriately acknowledge the sources of the information that you use
• Ethics – the importance of ethics in your own and other’s research and NU Ethics Policy
• Profession Skills and Behaviours - resources to support the development and practice of a range of skills to support your professional impact in the workplace
• Personal Development and career planning – How to plan your personal and professional development and develop approaches to career planning
• Digital Portfolio Building - Building your Portfolio of Practice using Pebble Plus

You will learn through a model that combines an academic knowledge base, online support and engagement with your peers and tutors on your programme. This unique learning model is designed to enable you to rapidly develop new skills and knowledge and apply them to challenging leadership contexts.

As such a mixture of lecture, seminar and workshop sessions will be delivered supported by on-line learning materials and activities.
In order to develop your capacity and confidence as an effective learner, you will also engage in a substantial amount of independent learning. This will be supported by tutor-guided activities reflected in a learning plan, including prompted reading, activities to undertake and questions to address. Independent study requirements also entail reading beyond the learning materials/reading list provided, reflecting on its potential relevance for your own development.

An initial workshop will introduce you to the module and core topics. Subsequent to this you will be guided through a range of subject specific topics delivered over the period of the programme. Key messages from these sessions will be available by video/podcast to support your learning outside of the classroom.

The virtual learning environment will be used to encourage individual and group contributions to critical debate on key topics and issues. Materials and discussion group work will be available on the e-learning portal to support and engage you. To support and embed the learning, provide the opportunity for reflection and encourage effective communication, you will engage in discussion forums via the University’s e-Learning platform.

This will include posing and answering topic specific questions posed by the tutor and peer group and providing peer group formative feedback. You will also be encouraged to use email and discussion board tool to clarify issues.

As a part time student the workplace will form a significant element of your learning. This will include regular directed activities outlined in the module learning plan. These activities will enable reflection on learning from taught sessions and subsequent application through research into practice.

Furthermore, you will participate in a learning set with your peers to facilitate a deeper discussion of the personal impact of the module contents on your individual professional practice and the application of learning into your own work organisation.

You will learn through a model that combines an academic knowledge base, online support and engagement with your peers and tutors on your programme. This unique learning model is designed to enable you to rapidly develop new skills and knowledge and apply them to challenging leadership contexts.

As such a mixture of lecture, seminar and workshop sessions will be delivered supported by on-line learning materials and activities.
In order to develop your capacity and confidence as an effective learner, you will also engage in a substantial amount of independent learning. This will be supported by tutor-guided activities reflected in a learning plan, including prompted reading, activities to undertake and questions to address. Independent study requirements also entail reading beyond the learning materials/reading list provided, reflecting on its potential relevance for your own development.

An initial workshop will introduce you to the module and core topics. Subsequent to this you will be guided through a range of subject specific topics delivered over the period of the programme. Key messages from these sessions will be available by video/podcast to support your learning outside of the classroom.

The virtual learning environment will be used to encourage individual and group contributions to critical debate on key topics and issues. Materials and discussion group work will be available on the e-learning portal to support and engage you. To support and embed the learning, provide the opportunity for reflection and encourage effective communication, you will engage in discussion forums via the University’s e-Learning platform.

This will include posing and answering topic specific questions posed by the tutor and peer group and providing peer group formative feedback. You will also be encouraged to use email and discussion board tool to clarify issues.

As a part time student the workplace will form a significant element of your learning. This will include regular directed activities outlined in the module learning plan. These activities will enable reflection on learning from taught sessions and subsequent application through research into practice.

Furthermore, you will participate in a learning set with your peers to facilitate a deeper discussion of the personal impact of the module contents on your individual professional practice and the application of learning into your own work organisation.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During your induction, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals)

The Teaching and Learning plan will provide a number of prompts and guidance to support you academically. Support will also include opportunities to gain feedback from workshop tutors, guidance tutors and peers.

Your module is also supported by ane-learning portal, which houses all the module learning materials, workshop resources, interactive activities, self- assessment details and various other support facilities which are provided by the University.

For those of you studying on a Degree Apprenticeship you will also be supported by an Executive Coach who provides your consistent support throughout your Degree Apprenticeship. This Executive Coach will support with:
• Helping you to understand the requirements of this module and how it relates to your workplace context
• Helping you to understand how you can apply and evidence the knowledge, skills and behaviours covered in the module to your own practice in the workplace
• Visiting you at work and engaging with your manager and/or mentor to ensure alignment between your learning and opportunities for applying and demonstrating a positive impact in your work organisation.

E-Reading Lists
The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to repositories, journal articles and other academic sources. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.

You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the duration of your programme.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During your induction, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals)

The Teaching and Learning plan will provide a number of prompts and guidance to support you academically. Support will also include opportunities to gain feedback from workshop tutors, guidance tutors and peers.

Your module is also supported by ane-learning portal, which houses all the module learning materials, workshop resources, interactive activities, self- assessment details and various other support facilities which are provided by the University.

For those of you studying on a Degree Apprenticeship you will also be supported by an Executive Coach who provides your consistent support throughout your Degree Apprenticeship. This Executive Coach will support with:
• Helping you to understand the requirements of this module and how it relates to your workplace context
• Helping you to understand how you can apply and evidence the knowledge, skills and behaviours covered in the module to your own practice in the workplace
• Visiting you at work and engaging with your manager and/or mentor to ensure alignment between your learning and opportunities for applying and demonstrating a positive impact in your work organisation.

E-Reading Lists
The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to repositories, journal articles and other academic sources. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.

You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the duration of your programme.

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)

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)

Knowledge & Understanding:
Your knowledge of effective academic communication and research processes (ML01)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
Your application of research, of communication and presentation approaches (ML02)

Your ability demonstrate a range of professional skills to improve your personal impact within your work organisation (ML03)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
Your application of ethical considerations of academic and professional research (ML04)

Mapping to SLMDA Outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding:

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
1.6 Able to undertake research, and critically analyse and integrate complex information
7.1 Has high levels of self-awareness
11.1 Reflects on own performance, demonstrates professional standards in relation to behaviour and ongoing development
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
10.1 Engaging with all – is ethical and demonstrates inclusivity, recognising diversity, and championing, enabling cultural inclusion.

Knowledge & Understanding:
Your knowledge of effective academic communication and research processes (ML01)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
Your application of research, of communication and presentation approaches (ML02)

Your ability demonstrate a range of professional skills to improve your personal impact within your work organisation (ML03)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
Your application of ethical considerations of academic and professional research (ML04)

Mapping to SLMDA Outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding:

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
1.6 Able to undertake research, and critically analyse and integrate complex information
7.1 Has high levels of self-awareness
11.1 Reflects on own performance, demonstrates professional standards in relation to behaviour and ongoing development
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
10.1 Engaging with all – is ethical and demonstrates inclusivity, recognising diversity, and championing, enabling cultural inclusion.

This module has no summative assessment, but will contribute to your personal learning report.
You will be expected to engage with quarterly reviews of your development of these academic skills with your line manager and academic coach. Evidence of this engagement should be included in your Pebble pad portfolio. This will address ML01-ML04.