1. Articulate a professional digital profile and value proposition that demonstrates graduate-level readiness for applied research, employer engagement, and professional practice.

Digital Literacy, Personal Development

and Entrepreneurship,

2. Synthesise contemporary academic, professional and industry perspectives relevant to business, digital marketing or visitor attraction practice, demonstrating informed professional judgement.

Critical Reasoning & Collaboration

3. Synthesise detailed and systematic knowledge and understanding of business and management theory appropriate to your specialism

Knowledge and Understanding, Reflection

4. Investigate a complex business issue and generate evidence-informed insight.

Research Skills, Communication,

5. Critically evaluate the effectiveness, impact and limitations of a practice-based project,

Application and problem-solving

Assessment 1: Professional Profile

You will develop and present a professional profile designed for employer engagement and placement readiness. This assessment supports the transition into a professional work environment.

You will produce a professional portfolio, which may include:

A tailored CV or digital portfolio

A professional online profile, such as LinkedIn

A concise statement outlining skills, interests, values and proposed project capability


This assessment focuses on professional communication, employability, and employer engagement in preparation for the contemporary practitioner research project.

Formative feedback opportunities include:

Professional profile workshops
Tutor-led sessions focusing on CV development, professional online presence and articulation of skills, values and project interests.

Employer engagement preparation activities
Guided preparation for employer-facing activities, including networking strategies, professional communication and self-presentation.

In-session feedback from tutors and employers
Verbal formative feedback provided during Business Bootcamp activities, speed interviews and group challenges, focusing on professional readiness and employability strengths.

Peer feedback activities
Structured peer review of draft profiles or value propositions to support confidence and clarity.

These activities support you in refining their professional identity and readiness for employer engagement and applied research activity.

Assessment 2: Conference Engagement Reflection

You will complete a critical reflective piece based on engagement with contemporary academic and professional perspectives, by attending a live Business School Conference.



Engagement activities may include:

Industry or research conferences

Guest lectures or practitioner panels

Curated academic and professional resources

Live or recorded knowledge exchange events



You will critically reflect on key ideas, debates, and insights, considering their relevance to their discipline practice and their emerging professional identity. Reflection should demonstrate critical awareness rather than description.



This assessment supports reflective learning and ethical awareness ahead of the contemporary practitioner research project.

Formative feedback opportunities include:

Pre-conference briefing session
Guidance on how to engage critically with academic and professional events, including note-taking strategies and identifying relevant themes.

Reflective writing workshops
Tutor-led sessions introducing reflective models and supporting you in moving from description to critical reflection.

Discussion-based feedback activities
Small-group discussions following conference engagement to share insights, challenge assumptions and test emerging reflections.

Optional formative feedback on reflection structure
Tutor feedback on reflective outlines or draft sections, focusing on critical engagement and professional insight.

These activities support the development of reflective thinking and ethical awareness ahead of the practitioner research project.

Assessment 3: Practitioner Research Project Report

You will complete one of the following pathways. Selection of pathway is subject to opportunity and approval by the module team. Pathways are assessed against the same learning outcomes and marking criteria and an element of reflection is considered essential as part of your journey.



Pathway 1: Practice-Based Project

Tailored to your pathway or discipline you will complete an individual practice-based project in collaboration with an employer to identify an area of research which is valuable to the organisation and your future aspirations.



The project will address a real organisational challenge or opportunity, agreed with the organisation and approved by the module team. You will operate within professional and ethical boundaries appropriate to the project context.



The final submission will take the form of a dissertation-style project report, which will normally include:

Organisational context and project rationale

Situational and stakeholder analysis

Review of relevant academic literature and professional sources

Project aims and objectives aligned to organisational needs

Research and or practice-based methodology, including ethical considerations

Findings and analysis informed by placement activity

Evaluation of impact, value, and limitations

Practical recommendations for the organisation



This assessment enables you to demonstrate research-informed practice within a live professional environment.



Pathway 2: Academic Dissertation

Tailored to your pathway or discipline you will complete an independently designed practice-based research dissertation on an approved scenario, inclusive of either organisational, sectoral, or entrepreneurial context.

Projects may be based on:

A real organisation using secondary data and publicly available information

A simulated or case-based organisational scenario

A student-led entrepreneurial or consultancy-style project



The project proposal must be approved by the module team to ensure appropriate scope, realism, and academic rigour.



The final submission will take the form of a dissertation-style project report, which will normally include:

Project context and justification

Situational analysis informed by secondary research

Review of relevant academic literature and professional sources

Project aims and objectives

Research and or practice-based methodology, including ethical considerations

Analysis and development of evidence-informed solutions or recommendations

Evaluation of feasibility, impact, and limitations

Practical recommendations grounded in analysis



This assessment enables you to demonstrate independent, research-informed practice.

Formative feedback opportunities include:

Project pathway and topic approval meetings
One-to-one or small-group supervision sessions to agree project scope, pathway selection and feasibility.

Research design and methodology workshops
Guided activities focusing on applied research methods, ethical considerations and professional practice contexts.

Supervision and milestone feedback
Ongoing formative feedback during scheduled supervision sessions on project progress, analysis and alignment with learning outcomes.

Draft section or chapter feedback
Optional formative feedback on selected sections (e.g. methodology, literature review or analysis) to support academic rigour and applied relevance.

Peer discussion and problem-solving sessions
Structured opportunities to share challenges, reflect on practice and test ideas in a supportive learning environment.

These activities support you in producing a substantial, independent, research-informed project demonstrating professional judgement, impact and readiness for graduate or postgraduate progression.

This module supports you in designing, conducting and evaluating a substantial practitioner-focused research project. Content is structured to guide you through the full applied research journey, from professional identity formation and project design through to ethical enquiry, analysis, impact evaluation and dissemination.

Indicative content includes:

Professional identity and employability readiness

Articulating skills, values and professional capability

Developing a professional digital profile and employer-facing presence

Positioning academic expertise within professional and organisational contexts

Practitioner research and applied enquiry

Differences between academic research, consultancy and practitioner enquiry

Research for impact and knowledge exchange

Applied research in business, digital marketing and visitor economy contexts

Project scoping and design

Identifying organisational problems, opportunities or practice-based questions

Defining project aims, objectives and success criteria

Selecting appropriate project pathways (practice-based or dissertation)

Research methodologies for applied practice

Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches

Secondary data analysis and use of industry data sources

Practice-based and evaluative research methods

Ethical considerations, consent and professional boundaries

Literature and evidence for professional practice

Conducting structured literature reviews

Integrating academic theory with professional and industry sources

Evaluating credibility, relevance and applicability of evidence

Situational and stakeholder analysis

Organisational, sectoral and market analysis

Stakeholder mapping and engagement considerations

Contextual constraints and professional realities

Data collection, analysis and interpretation

Analysing data in applied organisational contexts

Using digital tools to support analysis and insight generation

Interpreting findings to inform professional judgement

Evaluation of impact and value

Assessing organisational relevance and contribution

Evaluating feasibility, limitations and ethical implications

Measuring impact for organisations, communities or sectors

Professional communication and dissemination

Writing for professional and academic audiences

Structuring applied research reports

Presenting research outcomes clearly and persuasively

Reflective practice and professional learning

Reflecting on learning, identity and professional development

Evaluating personal effectiveness and project contribution

Preparing for graduate employment, entrepreneurship or postgraduate study

This module provides you with the opportunity to design, deliver, and evaluate a practice-based project that enables meaningful knowledge exchange between the university and external organisations. Moving beyond traditional consultancy models, the module focuses on impact, professional identity, and applied research, enabling you to demonstrate how their disciplinary knowledge and skills can create value in real organisational contexts.

The learning strategy for this module is based on you completing a total of 600 hours of learning activity in order to achieve the stated learning outcomes. This comprises 144 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities and 456 hours of guided independent study, including preparation for, and completion of, assessment tasks. Learning support materials are provided through the University’s virtual learning environment.

Face to Face Delivery

Where delivered face to face, scheduled teaching takes place on campus. Teaching is structured to combine subject-specific content with applied learning activities and includes lectures, seminars, workshops, case study analysis, group discussion and problem-solving activities. Digital resources are used to support learning and assessment, but the primary mode of delivery is in-person engagement.

Distance Learning (Top-Up)

For Distance Learning (Top-Up) delivery, teaching is delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online learning. Live online sessions are used at key points to support engagement, discussion and assessment guidance, while recorded lectures, guided learning activities and asynchronous discussion forums enable flexible study. This approach supports independent learning and accommodates the needs of you balancing study with professional or personal commitments.

Independent and Guided Study

Across all delivery modes, independent learning is a core element of the module you are supported to engage with academic literature, professional resources, digital tools and data sources via the University’s library and online platforms. Guided activities, formative tasks and structured assessment milestones encourage steady progression, critical thinking and reflective learning.

Collaborative learning is embedded through group activities, peer feedback and applied tasks, supporting the development of professional communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills appropriate to the level of study and programme context.

Simulation
You are supported to design and conduct independent research or practice-based enquiry, developing critical evaluation skills through engagement with academic literature, industry reports, and professional standards.

Accessibility and Inclusivity
Structured reflective activities encourage you to critically evaluate their learning, professional growth, and emerging identity as business, digital marketing, or visitor attraction practitioners. Reflection is used to link theory, practice, and employability.

Employability, Enterprise and Professional Practice
Where applicable, you engage directly with employers, placement providers, or external stakeholders. This supports experiential learning, professional communication skills, and awareness of workplace expectations.

Experience

This module aligns with the Experience principle of the Employability Framework by engaging you in applied leadership and change management practice. Through critical reflection on leadership styles and the development of evidence-based change strategies, you gain hands-on experience of professional workflows associated with leadership, organisational transformation and ethical decision-making.

The module supports you in developing professional confidence, judgement and reflective capability in preparation for Level 6 study and graduate employment in leadership, management and consultancy contexts

Bell, E., Harley, B., and Bryman, A. (2022) Business Research Methods, 6th Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Baaij, M. (2022) An Introduction to Management Consultancy, 2nd Ed. London: Sage Publishing.

Veal, A. (2017) Research Methods for Leisure and Tourism: A Practical Guide, 3rd Ed. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall.

Christensen, L. and Turner, L. (2024) Research Methods, Design, and Analysis. 13th Edition. Pearson.