What will I learn on this module?
This is a work based learning module that focuses your learning on the needs of your organisation and how they can be met through the initiation of change through a quality improvement project. It involves a tripartite relationship between you, your organisation and the university, facilitating your engagement with theory from the university and workplace activity concurrently. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of a range of models, concepts and theories that will help you to become engaged in well informed and meaningful work-based enquiry and project management. Through a combination of university seminar and inter-session activities in the workplace, the module will help you to develop a critical awareness of a range of appropriate approaches to project planning, implementation and evaluation appropriate to your own organisational and professional context. Learning from this module will enable you to develop a project based approach to complex issues in your practice using structured project management, change management, reflective models, leadership approaches while taking ethical, confidentiality, data protection and professional codes of practice into consideration. This module will develop a culture of project based approaches to complex issues in your practice. It will develop in you the confidence to initiate and lead change in your practice in response to challenges faced on a daily basis in organisations, effectively making you a lifelong change agent in your career. While it is a stand-alone module, taken before the 60 credit work based dissertation this module can be used to plan the major quality improvement dissertation.
How will I learn on this module?
You will learn through a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, seminars, inter-session activities, independent learning and a formative presentation to your peers and academic tutor. Activity will be negotiated between you, your tutor and an appropriate person from your organisation who will serve as a work based advisor. You will identify an issue to be addressed and an appropriate project to be implemented in your organisation with consultation and discussions with your work based advisor. With the support of your tutor you will develop a plan and identify a potential project team amongst your colleagues. You will then engage in wider reading on subjects related to your project in order to inform your choices and decisions. These will include the core subjects of project management, change leadership, reflection on practice and professional codes of practice. Your project plan will take into consideration appropriate data protection, confidentiality and ethics.
You will engage in a number of formatively assessed activities providing for an iterative process of negotiation of and feedback on evidence required to meet the assessment criteria. As the learner, you will be supported by your tutor (and workplace advisor where appropriate) to effectively engage in this dialogue.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
You will be supported by way of a series of seminars at which you will be directed and guided through the various stages of project management, including setting up a project team, considering ethics, critical evaluation and project management methodology and models. In addition you will receive tutorial support with a choice of face-to-face, skype, telephone or e mail from your academic tutor and from your work based supervisor.
You will also be able to share ideas with peers on the discussion board on the University’s eLearning Portal (Blackboard).
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will be able to critically appraise solutions for the delivery of projects based upon current and emerging research and theory relating to the workplace and the wider profession.
2. You will be able to systematically apply a range of approaches to project management and leading change.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities
1. You will effectively manage ethical issues complex issues when identifying and planning change in organisational and professional practice with consideration for commercial, confidential and data protection issues.
2 You will show an ability to critically debate the nature of team work and collaboration in professional and inter-professional contexts
3. You will be able to critically reflect upon the management processes, interpretation and analysis of information in project management
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
1. You will be able to demonstrate Leadership and collaboration skills as they apply to change management though your presentation and the discussion of the process in your summative assessment..
2 You will demonstrate Enhanced communication skills; through your presentation
3. Throughout the module, you will show their ability to work ethically, taking confidentiality and data protection issues into consideration.
How will I be assessed?
Formative Assessment:
You will present a work based enquiry project plan in an agreed format to an appropriate audience for verbal and written tutor and peer feedback.
Summative Assessment:
You will be assessed through the submission of a 4500 word portfolio that includes a project plan, a reflective evaluation of the planning process as a whole and a copy of your formative presentation.
MLOs KU1, 2; IPSA1-3, PVA 1
Pre-requisite(s)
None
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
As the title suggests, this module is designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of a range of ideas, concepts and theories that will help you to engage in a well informed and meaningful work-based enquiry and quality improvement process. Through a combination of university seminars and inter-session activities at the workplace, the module will help you to develop a critical awareness of a range of appropriate approaches to project planning, implementation and evaluation appropriate to your own organisational and professional context. For on-campus delivery, this module is delivered at our base at Coach Lane Campus where you will benefit from modern teaching facilities. Off campus delivery varies with hosting partner organisations. Research-rich learning is embedded into all our programmes, with the aim of equipping you with critical and independent enquiry skills that will last a lifetime. Such skills will enhance your career development within your current role and widen future career opportunities.
Course info
Credits 30
Level of Study Postgraduate
Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
2 other options available
Department Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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