EQUL40400 Equality Studies Research and Professional Practice Portfolio

Academic Year 2019/2020

The Equality Studies Research and Professional Practice Portfolio is a mandatory module for students who will complete their MSc in Equality Studies by choosing the pathway, Mode A: Achieving Breadth. The portfolio modules functions as a capstone module within the programme that allows students to demonstrate breadth of knowledge across modules, while also combining traditional research skills with other dissemination and public scholarship skills that will be appropriate to workplace or active citizenship requirements.

The portfolio will comprise TWO main elements:
1. A research element, in the form of a journal article or policy report (approximately 6000 words) drawing on knowledge and skills gained across the programme as a whole, including optional modules chosen.
2. A public scholarship and communication element, that translates theory into practice, and/or makes their research and analysis accessible and meaningful to non-academic, professional or citizen audiences. Formats may include but are not limited to: blogging, lobbying, documentary-making, writing ministerial briefing notes, equality proofing and equality training. The public scholarship element should be accompanied by a reflective learning discussion piece of approximately 3000 words that makes the connections between the research carried out and the attempt to translate this research and knowledge into a tangible intervention into the public sphere.

Students will be required to attend two portfolio workshops during semesters 1 and 2, which are designed to help students plan and prepare for the work they will carry out for their portfolio. Students will also be assigned an advisor for their portfolio work, who will consult with students on their intended projects. The cognate module 'Researching and Challenging Social Injustice' (EQUL40380) will be of value to students as they plan and prepare for their portfolio, as it teaches general skills relevant to researching and achieving egalitarian change).

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate specialized, detailed and advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge and understanding of the area of equality studies to which their portfolio is devoted;
2. Explain current debates at the forefront of the field with which their portfolio is concerned;
3. Use the knowledge and insights derived from their research findings to understand and illuminate wider social concerns which extend beyond the confines of their specific research question;
4. Make informed judgements about the topic of their portfolio based on complex and (necessarily) incomplete information;
5. Reflect on wider social issues raised by the topic of their portfolio;
6. Communicate their conclusions about the topic of their portfolio, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously;
7. Disseminate their learning and conclusions in formats other than the traditional academic essay, that will be accessible by and of relevance to other practitioners, professionals and non-specialist audiences with an interest in the topic.
8. Have the learning skills to be able to continue to enter higher research in equality studies in a largely self-directed or autonomous manner

Indicative Module Content:

Self-directed research and public scholarship project

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

400
Total

400
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is largely self-directed as the students work independently to complete a research and public scholarship project. Students are advised an adviser who will provide guidance and feedback on the project. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

This module is restricted to students in postgraduate programmes in Equality Studies.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Portfolio: The portfolio comprises:
1) Research element
2) The public scholarship element to include
a) public scholarship/communication
b) a reflective-learning discussion piece
c) a time-log		 Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

This module is a research module and students produce a research portfolio. Students are assigned an advisor who will provide feedback on aims, approaches and progress of the portfolio. Students will receive a report on the completed portfolio at the end of the final grading process.

Name Role
Dr Dorota Szelewa Lecturer / Co-Lecturer