This module aims to:
Give students the opportunity to study a subject of their choosing related to their specialist area of study;
Develop students’ expertise over that subject area;
Support students developing techniques which will improve their research skills in problem definition, information collection, analysis, synthesis and reasoned argument;
Develop students’ research methods skills;
Develop individual initiative and judgement;
Develop writing and other communication skills.

(LO1) Students will be able to design and undertake an individual research project with supervision

(LO2) Students will be able to defend the research proposal using written communication skills

(LO3) Students will be able to present a logical, critical and sustained argument in the final submission

(LO4) Students will be able to collect, analyse, and evaluate secondary quantitative and qualitative data

(LO5) Students will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding on research methods

(LO6) Students will be able to demonstrate n in depth understanding on a variety of business and international business theories/concepts relevant to their selected topic

(S1) Ethically aware

(S2) Excellent verbal and written communicator

(S3) Lifelong Learning Skills

(S4) Research skills including digital platforms and tools (GenAI)

Semester 1
Teaching Method: Lecture
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 20 (10 lectures of 2 hours each)
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Seminar
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 6 (6 seminars 1 hour each)
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching method: Individual Supervision meetings (3 supervision meetings, 1 hour each)

Semester 2
Teaching Method: Lecture
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 16 (8 lectures of 2 hours each)
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Seminar
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 4 (4 seminars 1 hour each)
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Individual Supervision meetings (4 supervision meetings, 1 hour each)

Total Self-Directed Learning Hours: 247

Skills Mapping

Skill: Ethically aware
How is it Developed: In the lectures via dedicated topics and while developing the dissertation
Mode or Assessment (if applicable): Research Proposal and Final Dissert ation

Skill: An excellent verbal and written communicator
How is it Developed: During the lectures and seminars and via the assessment
Mode or Assessment (if applicable): Research Proposal and Final Dissertation

Skill: Lifelong learner
How is it Developed: By producing an independent piece of work
Mode or Assessment (if applicable): Research Proposal and Final Dissertation

Skill: Research Skills
How is it developed:
Mode of Assessment (if applicable):

In this module students need to work on an individual piece of work, related to a specialist element within the International Business programme, undertaken by the student with supervisor support on an individual basis.

Supervision will involve supporting students with respect to
-scheduling the production of the dissertation and its key stages;
-how to formulate research aims, and how to express these aims in the form of appropriate research questions or a research hypothesis;
-evaluating what makes a good independent study project,
-evaluate pertinent academic and non-academic data and sources;
-time management,
-research design and using, appropriate research methods; analysing data;
-drawing conclusions and suggesting policy and research implications.

To meet the above students will receive extensive research methods training through a series of lectures and seminars. The topics we suggest will delivered across both semesters. Topi cs to be covered include:
1. Introduction to academic research and research methods
2. Introduction to research philosophies and approaches
3. Research ethics
4. Selection of the research topic and development of research questions
5. Critical thinking and critical writing
6. Searching for literature (academic databases)
7. Ethical use of GenAI tools for your dissertation
7. Critically reviewing the literature
8. Formulating the research design
9. Developing a research proposal
10. Quantitative data collection (macro-economic and firm-level databases)
11. Qualitative data collection (case studies, social media, and other secondary sources)
12. Analysing quantitative data (regression analysis)
13. Analysing quantitative data (software, excel and stata)
14. Analysing qualitative data
15. Presenting and discussing research findings
16. Implications for policy and practice