This module explicitly focuses on significant elements required for the achievement of the STAFFORDSHIRE GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES:
- Work-ready and employable
- Understanding of enterprise and entrepreneurship
- Understanding of global issues and their place in the global economy
- Communication skills
- Presentation skills
- The ability to interact confidently with colleagues
- Skills of team working
- Ability to carry out inquiry-based learning and critical analysis
- Technologically, digitally and information literate
- Able to apply Staffordshire Graduate attributes to a range of life experiences to facilitate life-long learning

The module will cover the following topics:
- Professional Development
* Analysis of current skills
* E-portfolio creation
* Professional development planning
* Professional work processes and issues
* Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- Study Skills
* Introduction to libraries and learning resources
* Learning outcomes, assessment and marking criteria
* Mind Maps
* Report writing, evaluation and reflection.
* Communication skills and presentations
* Use of relevant applications to support communication and collaboration
* Self and peer assessment
* Secondary research skills
- Secondary research methods, referencing
- Academic dishonesty
- Objectivity and subjectivity
- Analysis, Evaluation and reflection
- Reliability of information and Bias

Coursework item 1 weighted at 50% comprising an employability portfolio (circa 3000 words) of both individual and group tasks addressing learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4

Coursework item 2 (Final assessment) weighted at 50% comprising
Project work addressing and addressing learning outcomes 1, 4 and 5 as follows
- A research proposal (minimum 1000 words) Weighted at 20%
- A project plan, log book (Minimum 500 words Weighted at 10%
- A mid-point presentation (10 slides, 30 minutes) Weighted at 20%
- A research report (minimum of 1500 words) Weighted at 50%
Students will be required to choose an area of research, which is closely linked to aspects of their award and their action plan for future career development The proposed research area MUST be approved by the Module tutor who will ensure that it is of the right level and will enable the student to meet the learning outcomes of the module.

The contact time will be broken down as follows:
PART 1 leading to Assignment item 1: 24 lectures, 24 tutorials
Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 during tutorials to collaborate on a group case study.
There will be a reading week during which students will consolidate their group work and rehearse their presentation.
PART 2 leading to Assignment item 2: 8 lectures, 24 tutorials
The project work will be reviewed formatively during weekly tutorial sessions and summatively at a mid-point presentation. The mid-point review will also have a formative element and will include feedback and advice being given to the student.
The final 2 weeks of term will be set aside for presentations.

None

None.

The following are not essential texts but will provide useful background reading:
The Study Skills Book (Smarter Study Skills), Kathleen McMillan and Jonathan Weyers, 2012, Pearson Education Ltd, ISBN-10: 0273773313, ISBN-13: 978-0273773313 (Edition: 3)
The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave study skills), Cottrell, S. 2008, PALGRAVE, Macmillan ISBN-10: 0230573053, ISBN-13: 978-0230573055 (Edition: 3)
Pandora's Box: Social and Professional Issues of the Information Age, Andrew Adams and Rachel McCrindle, 2007, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN-10: 0470065532, ISBN-13: 978-0470065532
Ethics for the Information Age: International Edition, Mike Quinn, 2010, Pearson Education, ISBN-10: 0132134853, ISBN-13: 978-0132134859 (Edition: 4)
A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet, Sara Baase, 2012, Pearson Education, ISBN-10: 027376859X, ISBN-13: 978-0273768593 (Edition: 4)
The Literature Review - A Step-by-Step Guide for Students, Ridley, D. 2012 Sage Publications Ltd, ISBN-10: 1446201430, ISBN-13: 978-1446201435 (Edition: 2)