To engage you in an extended placement and self-directed learning in partnership with an external partner organisation, with which you will complete an agreed project, drawing on original research;

To allow you on the basis of this placement experience to describe and analyse connections between theory, standards and best practice guidance, research and practice;

To provide you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in the taught modules to an organisational environment;

To assist you to further develop your understanding of the workplace and bridge the gap between academic studies and future employment.

(LO1) Identifying a genuine record-keeping problem or issue and successfully describe its nature and scope.

(LO2) Negotiating a learning agreement.

(LO3) Developing a structured approach to research ethics and risk assessment.

(LO4) Understanding the project and its context within other academic and professional work and literature.

(LO5) Practical academic skills, demonstrated through task-based activities including compiling a bibliography, reviewing relevant literature and adopting correct citation practice.

(LO6) Reflecting on the practical problems which arose during the course of the project and outlining the solutions adopted for them. You will be able to demonstrate how decisions were revised in the light of these experiences, alongside alternative strategies and show an understanding or your own role in the project and how it affected others.

(LO7) Presenting a significant piece of independent writing showing clarity of structure and style and communicating key points to the organisation in an appropriate professional and accessible manner.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual), presentation skills – written.

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual), influencing skills – envisioning.

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual), influencing skills – persuading.

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual), influencing skills – argumentation.

(S5) Communication (oral, written and visual), report writing.

(S6) Communication (oral, written and visual), academic writing (including referencing skills).

(S7) Critical thinking – problem identification.

(S8) Critical thinking – problem solving.

(S9) Critical thinking – critical analysis.

(S10) Commercial awareness – ability to analyse/balance risk and reward.

(S11) Commercial awareness – customer service skills.

(S12) Commercial awareness – relevant understanding of organisations.

(S13) Information skills – identifying and evaluating information sources.

(S14) Information skills – information accessing and locating relevant information.

(S15) Information skills – record-keeping.

(S16) Improving own learning / performance – personal action planning.

(S17) Improving own learning/performance – reflective practice.

(S18) Personal attributes and qualities – initiative.

(S19) Personal attributes and qualities - resilience.

(S20) Research skills – all information skills.

(S21) Research skills - awareness of / commitment to academic integrity.

(S22) Time and project management – personal organisation.

(S23) Time and project management – project management.

This module comprises three elements:

Methods and practice;

Literature relevant to undertaking research and organisational support work within an organisational environment;

Reflexive learning.

Tutorials:
Students will be offered the opportunity for one-to-one supervision to discuss specific issues relating to their project and report.

Workshops:
Workshops will offer guidance on undertaking the different elements of the project, including exploring appropriate research methods and negotiating with the organisation. Workshops with other students undertaking work based dissertations may also be organised as appropriate for sharing best practice.

Work placement:
Students will collaborate with an organisation that has identified a record-keeping issue. The aim is to generate new knowledge in situ. The project should take the form of a piece of applied record-keeping research, documented via a work-based learning diary.
Attendance will be monitored by the organisation based on the mutually agreed Learning Agreement. The nature of the project will determine the length of time needing to be spent with the organisation; it is expected that those requiri ng more theoretical research will involve a shorter placement and those requiring more action-based research will require a longer placement.

Teaching will be delivered face-to-face on campus and online for students unable to travel to Liverpool.