Overview
This is a project unit that draws upon your area of specialisation and wider knowledge of innovation in business and applies what you have learned in a practical context. This unit enables you to demonstrate the synthesis of knowledge, business research methodologies and professional skills that you have acquired in your course of study. Under the guidance of the unit coordinator you will plan and complete a report on an original research project or a work integrated learning project which will address a significant issue in business and social environments, both locally and globally.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- develop and conduct a planned research project and manage any practical problems in its implementation
- critically evaluate published academic research, identify secondary data sources, and review extant literature, to develop a business case for a business problem or opportunity;
- set benchmarks and critically analyse the findings of the research project in the context of the defining objectives
- demonstrate the ability to develop a practical action plan for implementation including consideration of ethical issues
- communicate the findings and results from the research project in a professional document and critically reflect on outcomes
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 60% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 60% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
No textbook required. Additional reading will be provided in consultation with your project supervisor.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
o.muurlink@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Research planning. This unit offers the student the opportunity to do a guided research or work-integrated learning project with the support of a supervisor, in the field of social innovation.
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
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No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
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Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
PROJECT PROPOSAL Due: Week 4 Wednesday (3 Apr 2019) 7:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
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No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
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No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
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No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
Module/Topic
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No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Research Project, Delivery Due:
Review/Exam Week
Regularly consult with supervisor/unit coordinator on progress of project.
FINAL PROJECT SUBMISSION Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (11 June 2019) 7:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
No fixed readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation and Written Assessment
This project is an opportunity for students to develop and submit a relatively substantial 'mini thesis' or develop and document an applied social innovation project under the supervision of the unit co-ordinator or supervisor. The project topic will be developed in consultation with the unit co-ordinator or supervisor, but the unit is primarily designed to enable the development of a topic in the field of social innovation. Each project should include a literature review that provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic proposed, and indicates an area in which further research is required (the research gap).
If the project is designed as an original research project, then this literature review should be followed by a description of the research methodology, and then a presentation of results followed by a discussion and references. The results can include, where appropriate, visual presentation of findings (e.g. in tables, diagrams or figures), but as a guide, the final submission should be presented in the manner of a formal journal article.
If the focus is on a applied social innovation project, the project should be developed as a report that includes a description of the context, the work undertaken, and the learnings/deliverables/recommendations that emerged from the process. In submitting the project for assessment, students are able (on consultation with their supervisor/unit co-ordinator) to submit a blend of multi-media elements, face-to-face reports and written material.
This initial Assessment is merely a milestone that enables the student to gain some formal feedback that will enable them to refine and develop the project. Students are expected to prepare a two page (up to 800 word + references) brief describing their progress, and have an in-person or Zoom meeting with their supervisor/lecturer to discuss their progress.
Note that projects that require the collection of new data from either human or animal participants requires ethics approval. Low risk ethics approval processes usally take around 2 to 4 weeks to process, and students need to take this timescale into account in choosing a project. The unit co-ordinator or supervisor will provide guidance on ethics application processes if required. Students planning a project that includes primary data collection should contact the unit co-ordinator in advance of the term commencement.
Week 4 Wednesday (3 Apr 2019) 7:00 pm AEST
This deadline may be shifted to earlier in the term at the request of the student.
Week 6 Monday (22 Apr 2019)
The purpose of this assessment is to enable preliminary formal formative feedback to be delivered to the student. Students will be given feedback on areas for improvement, training (where required) on strategies to improve the project, priorities and and project planning. While this component is given a ostensible weighting of 40% this is merely to give students feedback on how they are progressing. Final assessment will be made on the basis of the final submission.
- develop and conduct a planned research project and manage any practical problems in its implementation
- critically evaluate published academic research, identify secondary data sources, and review extant literature, to develop a business case for a business problem or opportunity;
- set benchmarks and critically analyse the findings of the research project in the context of the defining objectives
- communicate the findings and results from the research project in a professional document and critically reflect on outcomes
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
2 Presentation and Written Assessment
See details in Assessment 1. Previous student projects have included small research projects, the description of grant application processes for a start-up, the creation of a small social innovation, and systematic literature reviews. As a general guide, total word count should not exceed 6,000 words for purely written submissions.
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (11 June 2019) 7:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (21 June 2019)
Impact (25%)
Does the topic address an area of significant interest (e.g. a research gap or a wicked problem)?
Innovation (25%)
Does the student demonstrate the ability to add something novel to the project? Does the project offer new ideas, original analysis or add new knowledge?
Research (25%)
Does the student show sufficient familiarity with, and understanding and critical appraisal of, the relevant literature? In particular, does the student show sufficient depth and breadth of understanding of social innovation, and how it applies to their topic?
Does the submission provide a reasonably comprehensive investigation of the topic?
Has/have the recommendation(s) and conclusion(s) been persuasively linked to the scholarly and other evidence provided?
Does the student show sufficient familiarity with, and understanding and critical appraisal of, the relevant sources on which the project is built? In particular, does the student show sufficient depth and breadth of understanding of either social innovation or another disciplinary background on which the project is based?
Has the student used (and demonstrated) appropriate methods in answering the research or project aims?
Quality (25%)
Is the submission suitably and professionally set out and accompanied by adequate exposition and interpretation?
Are conclusions and implications appropriately developed and clearly linked to the nature and content of the project?
Is the quality of communication and general presentation of the submission of a suitably high standard? This criteria includes referencing.
Are the sources of information/evidence credible, and have they been accurately represented in the delivered assessment materials?
Has/have the research or project question(s) or aim(s) or been responded to in a persuasive (or in the case of a research report) scholarly manner?
- develop and conduct a planned research project and manage any practical problems in its implementation
- demonstrate the ability to develop a practical action plan for implementation including consideration of ethical issues
- communicate the findings and results from the research project in a professional document and critically reflect on outcomes
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
