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BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 1 Programme: BA (Hons) Business Management (Part-time Top Up) Module Code: BAMG1109 Module Title: Academic Development and Professional Practice Academic Year: 2021-2022 Credit Value: 15 credits Module Coordinator: Alan Poon (Hong Kong) Email: [email protected] Room: P6511, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong Advice and Feedback hours: By appointment Module Overview Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Type Annotated Bibliography 50% (Individual) Reflective Practice Report 40% (Individual) Engagement in seminars 10% (Individual) Length 1,500 words + / - 10% Reflection – 1,200 words + / - 10% Weighting 50% 50% Deadline 12 November 2021 (Friday) 23:59 HKT o Via Turnitin (Canvas) only 8 April 2022 (Friday) 23:59 HKT o Via Turnitin (Canvas) only Return date No later than 20 working days succeeding the final submission date Note: All coursework must be submitted electronically via Turnitin by the deadlines, unless there are mitigating circumstances. Information on penalties and late submissions can be found at http://www.dmu.ac.uk/dmu-students/the- student-gateway/academic-support-office/deferral-of-assessments.aspx. The Faculty is committed to a 20-day turnaround time for the marking and return of coursework. The turnaround time does not include weekends, bank holidays, and university closure days. http://www.dmu.ac.uk/dmu-students/the-student-gateway/academic-support-office/deferral-of-assessments.aspx http://www.dmu.ac.uk/dmu-students/the-student-gateway/academic-support-office/deferral-of-assessments.aspx BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 2 CONTENTS 1. Teaching team 2. Module aims 3. How it is going to be taught 4. How this module relates to your programme of study 5. How this module enhances your employability 6. Your responsibilities 7. Tentative module schedule 8. Module resources 9. Canvas and module communication 10. Assessment Briefs BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 3 1. Teaching team STAFF NAME TELEPHONE EMAIL Advice and Feedback date, time and location Alan Poon 34427422 [email protected] By appointment Surgery hours are available throughout the two semesters, and we would encourage you to utilise the tutor meetings on a regular basis. It is your allocated time and opportunity to discuss any issues arising in real time. If you have concerns regarding your understanding of any topics discussed within the lectures, seminars, academic practice, and/ or assessments, please visit us to talk through this. If we know what your issues are, we can solve them without them impacting on your time going forward on the module. This service is offered on a first-come-first-served basis, therefore we would advise, whenever possible, that you write your teacher an email to confirm your attendance in order to allocate you a time slot. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 4 2. Module aims Welcome to BAMG1109 Academic Development and Professional Practice. This module is designed to support you in the development of your academic study skills. It aims to compliment the professional practice opportunities available throughout the course and to provide you with the skills necessary to maximise on your graduate employability. This module also ensures that you have adequate access to your personal tutor, with the same personal tutors teaching the seminars. Academic and pastoral support will be provided by your personal tutor on an on-going basis. Entering higher education creates a number of challenges for first year learners. Alongside your course’s core topics, you are required to develop your academic skills. This enables you to research and present your assessments in a formalised manner. This module provides learners with a foundation in DMU’s core academic skill requirements with the intention of improving the standard of your work across all modules. The module also focusses on employability skills as well as developing and enhancing your current capabilities. Your experiences in line with the United Nations sustainable development goals will give you the opportunity to work on a proposal for an activity in teams, and you will reflect on your participation and development plans. This will aid you in establishing a career path, which can then be clarified and nuanced over the duration of your degree, supporting you to become ready to work upon graduation. Objectives and learning outcomes By the end of this module, students will 1. develop the ability to analyse and evaluate a range of business data and sources of information and use appropriate methodologies in determining the causes of a problem and making evidence-based decisions about its solution (annotated bibliography), 2. develop awareness of professional practices: focussing particularly on planning, organising, and managing time, being flexible and resilient, and the ability to effectively communicate their ideas (individual reflective practice report), and 3. demonstrate awareness of the social and environmental responsibilities of business (individual reflective practice report). BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 5 3. How it is going to be taught Assessment Lectures Tutorials 1. Annotated Bibliography Models, theories, assignments, and academic requirements - Lecture Weeks 1 - 6 Application practice through tasks and case studies – Tutorial Weeks 1-6 2. Individual Reflective Report - Seminar engagement - Tutor meetings Models, theories, and professional requirements for the assignment - Lecture Weeks 7-12 Application practice through practical activities, written tasks, case studies, and discussion tasks – Tutorial Weeks 7-12 In order to enhance your learning opportunities, the class materials will be made available in advance on Canvas, along with extra resources, wider reading, links to visuals and replay recordings. The seminars will follow the lecture design, allowing you to embed your understanding through the use of both academic study and practical work. EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Minimum reading and assessment activity requirements are subject to all learners. In order to enhance opportunities, extracurricular reading and practical activities are available to those learners who want to challenge themselves. These materials are not compulsory, but will give you the opportunity to stretch your understanding and skills and in turn enhance your capabilities. 4. How this module relates to your program of study This module will enable you to understand and undertake academic requirements across all of your modules throughout your studies. 5. How this module enhances your employability You will learn from different guest speakers from sizeable commercial enterprises about business management and job application processes. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 6 6. Your responsibilities Students are expected to attend and participate in all timetabled activities, including lectures, seminars, and practical sessions. Students are also encouraged to fully participate in the academic and cultural life of the university, including guest lectures, seminars, public debates, and external visits. As students, your responsibilities are Preparation: Complete the required readings before coming to each timetabled session on this module and undertake the required follow-up work. Participation: Participation in class is based on participation in lectures and seminars as well as group activities in class. To assist your engagement in class, you should come prepared by writing down ideas, quotes, or concepts from the reading list that you find interesting as well as thought provoking. You should come prepared so that you can fully engage in class discussions and activities. If you are late to class, then please settle yourself as quietly as possible. Respect: Throughout your studies, it is important that you treat other students with respect and engage in a respectful manner with our academic staff. It is imperative that you listen to others and treat their contributions with respect, even if you disagreed with them. In particular, it is important that  you are respectful of your peers’ learning and resist talking in seminars, workshops, and lectures,  you do not answer your phone call, unless it is an emergency, and  you settle yourself as quietly as possible, if you are late. The module teaching and assessment team will contribute to this environment by  treating all students with respect,  welcoming diverse viewpoints, experiences, and interpretations of the class materials, and  challenging your thinking, beliefs, and analyses of issues, concepts, and ideas in this class. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 7 7. Tentative module schedule (subject to modifications by the Module Leader) Term Week Number Lectures (L) and Seminars (S) 1 (Development of academic skills) Week 1 Introduction to Module; Module Assessments; An annotated bibliography Analysing texts (evaluation of their relevance and reliability) Week 2 Research Written Materials (Part One) (L) Research methods and critical thinking (S) A1 preparation (see Assessment 1): Online research exploring the sustainability goals and localised social issues Week 3 Research Written Materials (Part Two) (L) Harvard (Cite Them Right) referencing; Researching through the E-library (S) A2 preparation (see Assessment 1): Online research exploring successfully implemented solutions to social problems Week 4 Research Video clips (news sites) (L) Listening/ Note-taking skills (S) A3 preparation (see Assessment 1) Identifying key issues and themes and analysing the level of impact/ significance Week 5 Business Report and Essay Writing (Part One) (L) Evaluating layout/ Presentation and language; Paraphrasing, summarising, and synthesising skills (S) A4 preparation (see Assessment 1) Week 6 Business Report and Essay Writing (Part Two) (L) Business plan writing; team collaboration (Guest sharing) (S) A5 preparation (see Assessment 1) 12 November 2021 (Friday) 23:59 HKT Deadline of submission of Assignment 1 BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 8 2 (Enhancement of professional practice) Week 7 Assessment 2 preparation (L) Writing a business proposal (S) Formation of student groups and identification of a social or environmental issue; Identification of roles and allocation of tasks; Discussion of a business proposal outline template Week 8 Assessment 2 preparation (L) Primary surveys (interviews or/ and questionnaire distribution); Preparation of a business proposal (S) Investigation of career and employability opportunities: Introducing placement opportunities for graduates; Investigating job ad specifications Week 9 Assessment 2 preparation (L) Job-hunting writing skills development: CV specifics; Cover letter writing (S) Company research: Devising questionnaires; adaptation of CV; Writing a cover-letter Week 10 Assessment 2 preparation (L) Communication and interpersonal skills: Primary research interview techniques (S) Practising mock interviews/ Business proposal pitches: Interviewing contacts, following-up, and evaluating correspondence Week 11 Assessment 2 preparation (L) Reflection of business writing Skills (S) Reflection on the individual contribution, team-work (planning and implementation), and evaluation of process for successes and/ or challenges in business Week 12 Guest career sharing 8 April 2022 (Friday) 23:59 HKT Deadline of submission of Assignment 2 BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 9 8. Module resources Assignment 1 It is advised that the following books be studied thoroughly regarding topics that you feel you are less capable in. Cameron, S. (2016) The Business Students Handbook: Skills for Study and Employment. 6th Edition. Harlow: Pearson. Cottrell, S. (2003) The Study Skills Handbook. 2nd Edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Cottrell, S. (2011). Critical Thinking Skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Greetham, B. (2018). Study Skills, how to write better essays. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2016). Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide. 10th Edition. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Reid, M. (2012). Pocket Study Skills: Report Writing. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Wider readings: It is advised that that the following books be read to support further understanding. Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007) Business Research Methods. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University. Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Methods. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Creswell, J. W. (2009) Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 3rd Edition. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications. Girden, E.R (2001) Evaluating Research Articles from Start to Finish. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications. Silverman, D. (2005) Doing Qualitative Research. 2nd Edition, London: SAGE Publications. Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2010) Cite them Right – The Essential Referencing Guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 10 Extra-curricular readings: It is advised that the following books be read to gain a deeper insight into the module topics within an organisational context. Belbin, M. (2004) Management Teams: why they succeed or fail. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. Blundel, R. and Ippolito K. (2008) Effective Organisational Communication: Perspectives, principles and practices. 3rd ed. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall. Rouse, M.J. and Rouse, S. (2002) Business Communications: A Cultural and Strategic Approach. London: Thomson Learning. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 11 Assignment 2 It is advised that the following books be studied thoroughly regarding topics that you feel you are less capable in. Cameron, S. (2016) The Business Students Handbook: Skills for Study and Employment. 6th Edition. Harlow: Pearson. Cottrell, S. (2003) Skills for success - the personal development planning book. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Wider readings: It is advised that that following books be read to support further understanding. Moon, J. (2004) A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning. London: Routledge- Falmer. Megginson, D. and Whitaker, V. (2007) Continuing Professional Development. 2nd Edition. London: CIPD. Moon, J. (2004) A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning. London: Routledge- Falmer. Tamkin, P. (1996) ‘Practical applications for personal development plans’, Management Development Review, Vol. 9 (7): 32-36. Tamkin, P. (1996) ‘Practical applications for personal development plans’, Management Development Review, Vol. 9 (7): 32-36. Taylor, D. and Edge, D. (1997) ‘Personal development plans: unlocking the future, Career Development International, Vol. 2 (1): 21-23. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 12 Extra-curricular readings: It is advised that the following books be read for those wishing to gain a deeper insight into the module topics within an organisational context. Beausaert, S., Segers, M. and Gijselaers, W. (2011) ‘The use of a personal development plan and the undertaking of learning activities, expertise-growth, flexibility and performance: the role of supporting assessment conditions’, Human Resource Development International, Vol. 14 (5): 527-543. Bennett, B. (2006) ‘Personal development plans: evidence from research on their use’, Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 20 (6): 13-15. Rigopoulou, I. and Kehagias, J. (2008) ‘Personal development planning under the scope of self- brand orientation’, International Journal of educational Management, Vol. 22 (4): 300-313. Watson, G. and Reissner, S. (2010) Developing Skills for Business Leaders. London: CIPD Websites: De Montfort University Study Skills http://www.dmu.ac.uk/dmu-students/student-resources/dmu-library/study-skills.aspx DMU Global: De Montfort University Guide to Global Experiences https://www.dmuglobal.com Business- and Study-related Twitter sites: The Economist @EconBritain The Economist @TheEconomist Think with Google @ThinkGoogleAPAC Mintel Research @mintelnews Ted News @TEDNews Business Insider @businessinsider BBC News @BBCBusiness BBC News @ BBCWorld Al Jazeera @AJEnglish Telegraph News @TelegraphNews The Guardian @guardian Observer Business @innovation World Economic Forum @wef Harvard Business Review @HarvardBiz Financial Times @FT http://www.dmu.ac.uk/dmu-students/student-resources/dmu-library/study-skills.aspx BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 13 9. Canvas and module communication Important information relating to this module can be found on Canvas. This includes information about the module, lecture and seminar materials, announcements, as well as the procedure for submitting assignments via Turnitin. You can access Canvas by going to https://canvas.cityu.edu.hk. Login using the same user name and password that you have for access to the CityU’s computer services. If you have any difficulties logging into a Zoom session or any computer on campus, then you may contact the Service Desk located on the 4/F, Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong. In addition, you may contact the hotline (34428341 or 34426727) or send an email to [email protected] BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 14 10. Assessment Briefs Assignment 1: Annotated Bibliography (50%) Assignment overview You are required to undertake the creation of an annotated bibliography, which comprises 5 short texts. Each document should be discussed in no more than 300 words (1,500 word count in total for this assignment). Please ensure the respective references accompany each information source in line with the Harvard (Cite Them Right) Referencing System. Submission requirements 12 November 2020 (Friday) 23:59 Hong Kong Time via Turnitin (Canvas) Rationale Using the academic skills taught in the lectures and seminars, you will seek to understand the relevance and availability of research materials and evidence your understanding of multiple academic practices. This written assignment will enable you to understand sources of information available to you and summarise and present different main ideas in terms of reliability. You will synthesise the main ideas of different types of authoritative and recent materials. Recognising reliability of the materials enables you to understand the relevance of research sources throughout your core modules. Objectives and learning outcomes By the end of this module, students will develop the ability to analyse and evaluate a range of business data and sources of information and use appropriate methodologies in determining the causes of a problem and making evidence-based decisions about its solution. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 15 Core elements You are required to create an annotated bibliography for the following 5 sources of information: A1 – Academic Written Source Synthesise the main ideas in any ONE recent academic source (e.g. a book chapter, a journal article, a dissertation, a conference proceeding, an academic report) about the causes of the social problem in Hong Kong or any other part of the PRC region which you are going to address in Assignment 2. A2 – Academic/ Authoritative Written Source Synthesise the main ideas in any ONE recent authoritative source (e.g. an academic source or a source from BBC News, The Economics, Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Business Insider, Telegraph News, The Guardian, or Observer Business) about an enterprise’s strategy to solve the similar social problem which you are going to address in Assignment 2. A3 – Authoritative Video Clip Synthesise the main ideas in any ONE video clip from an authoritative audiovisual source (e.g. The Economics, BBC News) about the similar social problem which you are going to discuss in Assignment 2. A4 – Business Report Synthesise the main ideas in the most recent business report (e.g. an annual report, an interim report, a sustainability report, a financial report) of the social enterprise in Hong Kong or any other part of the PRC region which you will choose to work for in Assignment 2. A5 – Academic Written Source Synthesise the main ideas in any ONE recent academic source (e.g. a book chapter, a journal article, a dissertation, a conference proceeding, an BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 16 academic report) pertaining to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Format requirements Times New Roman (12 point) Word limit: 1,500 words Spacing: double line spacing Include the items as follows: 1. Cover page (the blank file to be uploaded on ‘Canvas’) 2. Annotated bibliography with the five entries (A1-A5) 3. Reference list 4. Marking Scheme NB: You need not attach the original sources to your softcopy. However, please retain all of the original sources, in case you are asked to submit any of them in future. Extensions Authorisation is required by your Module Leader in order to gain an extension. Extensions need to be requested prior to the submission date, and evidence, such as a doctor’s note, will be required, again, prior to the submission date. Extensions will not be given for the following types of issues arising: Feeling unwell, cold and flu, problems uploading to Turnitin, issues getting to campus. Remember: TIME MANAGAMENT matters. You should start your assignment as soon as the semester begins, and Turnitin will be available weeks before the deadline date. Therefore, you will be able to work systematically to complete your annotated bibliography. Reassessment Students will be given the opportunity to re-take elements of the module in which they achieved less than the required level by the University. Where the first assignment on a module is completed yet fails to achieve a mark of 40%, that assignment can be resubmitted without loss of a formal reassessment attempt. The maximum mark that can be achieved for a resubmission is 40%. Students MUST have attempted the assignment in order to benefit from in-course recovery. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 17 Frequently Asked Questions About Assessment 1 1. How do we define a social enterprise? We may see a social enterprise as a for-profit or non-profit organisation whose objective is to use business strategies in a financially sustainable way (i.e. not entirely relying on donations or government programs) in order to improve the well-being of a society and/ or the environment instead of purely maximising co-owners’ profits. The objective clearly includes a social goal, which is to promote, encourage, and make social changes. Many social enterprises worldwide can provide income generation opportunities which meet the basic needs of people who live in poverty. While social enterprise may have a conventional firm structure, it may also be a cooperative, mutual organisation, a disregarded entity, a social business, a benefit corporation, a community interest company, a company limited by guarantee or a charity organisation. 2. Which social enterprise should we opt for? It is suggested that you choose a social enterprise where you have close contact point. Knowing some existing staff inside will enable you to collect data from them for Assignment 2. Your group, of course, has to check whether or not you may get access to their most recent business report. 3. What will we have to do with the staff of the social enterprise chosen? You are going to solicit their staff’s opinions to see if they think their social enterprise will be interested in the different things proposed in your business plan. You will invite some of their staff to complete questionnaires and/ or invite some of them to conduct interviews, if needed. 4. Could we address more than one social or environmental problem? It would be a good idea for you to focus on one social problem mentioned in the ‘United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’. As long as the problem pertains to one in Hong Kong or any part of the PRC Region and is the one the chosen social enterprise has been interested in, your project is believed to be relevant and appropriate. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 18 De Montfort University Leicester BAMG1109 Academic Development and Professional Practice Semesters A and B (2021-2022) ASSIGNMENT 1: MARKING SCHEME (50%) Student’s name: ____________________________ DMU ID number: ______________________ Social problem to be addressed in Assignment 2: _______________________________________ Social enterprise to work for in Assignment 2: __________________________________________ CRITERION MARKS 5 *appropriate materials that form the annotated bibliography are included as outlined in the module guide, including consideration into own choice. (20 marks) In-text citations are correct, in line with the Harvard (Cite Them Right) Referencing System (10 marks) The 5 central themes of the materials have been examined respectively. (30 marks) The quality and accuracy of the materials have been discussed, which filter from irrelevant details and personal analyses. (10 marks) Grammar and punctuation are satisfactory. The format and word count are as outlined in the module guide. (30 marks) TOTAL BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 19 Choice of Sources for Assessment 1 * “Appropriateness” of a text for BAMG1109 Assessment 1 can be defined as being relevant, current, reliable, and objective. 1. Relevancy: Is the borrowed secondary source directly relevant to the specific issue you are discussing? 2. Currency: Is the borrowed secondary source recent and updated enough? What is the year of publication? [NB: Sources which can be considered in this assessment as ‘recent’ are those published, broadcast, or delivered within 10 years (i.e. 2011 – 2021).] 3. Reliability and Authority: What is the source of the information? Who is offering the findings? Does s/he specialise in what is being talked about? What is the publisher? Is it reputable? 4. Objectivity: Is the text heavily ideological? Can you find any background information about the writer(s) or speaker(s)? Does any writer or speaker have any purpose of reporting the findings? Have you explored the research methods? Are the data valid and reliable? NB: As choice of texts is one of the assessment criteria (on p.18 of the Module Handbook; 20 marks) for BAMG1109 Assessment 1, it would be not very appropriate for a Module Teacher to comment on this aspect direct prior to students’ submission of their Assessment 1. Alternatively, Module Teachers are recommended to answer students’ specific questions, whenever appropriate. BAMG1109 Academic Practice and Professional Development (2021-2022) 20 Assignment 2: Reflective Report (40%) Assignment Overview You are required to write a personal reflective report which builds on your experience of exploring a social enterprise in Hong Kong (e.g. Science Park, Cyberport) or another part of the PRC Region. Submission …