Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

The POL3134 module is heavily research based, involving students in producing an original piece of research for their host institution, Newcastle City Council. Students therefore need a to have a high level of pre-existing knowledge regarding research methods to ensure they can cope with the demands of the placement. Therefore, POL2017 is a prerequisite to be considered for this module.

Permission to take this module is subject to the approval of the Degree Programme Director. Placement opportunities will be guided by institutional policy at the time. Permission will be conditional on students having a meeting the module convenor before the pre-registration period and attending a pre-registration briefing session.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

MODULE AIMS:

The key aim is to provide a workplace-based public policy learning environment that enables students to apply and develop their knowledge and skills acquired at Levels One and Two and to help prepare them for a career in public administration or further study. Under supervision of an academic member of staff, and a line manager in the placement organisation, Newcastle City Council, the student will produce and present a piece of independent research on a topic which is both academically sound and useful for the partner organisation.

Outline Of Syllabus

The research and work placement based nature of this module means that there is no fixed syllabus. Students will participate in an induction lecture in week 1, and will undergo an induction at their host institution, Newcastle City Council. Otherwise, teaching and contact hours revolve around close supervision from the academic supervisor, likely to be the module leader, and their host institution's supervisor. Further details are provided below.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

On successful completion of this module, students will have acquired and developed their transferable academic research skills; acquired a clear understanding of the work and operation of the relevant public administration institution; produced a body of work in the form of a policy briefing that is both academically sound and, ideally, of practical utility for the host institution; and developed and acquired a further range of skills (see below) including working within a team setting and complying with the norms and ethical standards of the relevant working environment.

Intended Skill Outcomes

SKILLS
This module will assist in developing students’ skills in a number of important areas. These include:

Intellectual skills
•       Managing & Prioritizing Knowledge: identify relevant and subject-specific knowledge, sources and data; manage such information in an independent manner
•       Analytical Thinking: identify, understand, interpret and evaluate relevant subject-specific arguments made by others; construct independent arguments
•       Critical & Independent Thinking: ability to think critically and construct one’s own position in relation to existing and ongoing debates in the field
•       Synthesising: ability to synthesise, communicate and translate analysis into policy arguments, briefing documents and recommendations

Professional and career development skills
•       Communication Skills: ability to communicate clearly with others, both orally and in writing
•       Teamwork: ability to work with others in a team, negotiate conflicts and recognize different ways of learning
•       Diversity: ability to acknowledge and be sensitive to the range of cultural differences present in the learning environment
•       Self-Reflexivity: ability to reflect on one’s own progress and identify and act upon one’s own development needs with respect to life-long learning and career development
•       Time Management: ability to negotiate diverse and competing pressures; and achieve a work / life balance

Technical and practical skills
•       Information Technology: demonstrate the knowledge and ability to use contemporary and relevant ICT as appropriate to support analysis and research
Organizational skills
•       Efficient and effective work practice: demonstrate ability to work efficiently to deadlines
•       Clear organisation of information: show efficiency in the organisation of large amounts of complex information and the ability to identify, describe and analyse the key features of the information
•       Organisation and communication: demonstrate ability to use evidence to develop logical and clear argument; show aptitude for the effective use of information in a direct and appropriate way

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The contact hours commitment for this module is greater than that for a standard 20 credit module, given the work placement based nature of the module. Students must also attend weekly hour-long group meetings with their academic supervisor: dates/times for these meetings will be agreed between the supervisor and the student. Students must attend their host organisation as agreed with their line manager, for up of up to/around eight hours per week in-person, although the exact pattern of that will be agreed with the student’s placement supervisor, taking into account other University module class timings. Students may be required to work across a range of different policy areas and fields during their placement. Students will attend a one hour induction lecture in week 1, and a presentation of their research findings will take place at the end of the module during the assessment period.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

1)       1000 word reflective log, which will account for 20% of the final mark.

2)       Project - This contributes 80% of the final mark and takes the form of a 3,000 word submission on a topic to be agreed by the student, his/her supervisor and the line manager in the host institution. The topic must be informed by academic approaches and research, ethically approved and, ideally, of some practical use to the host institution. Decision on the topic will normally be expected by the fourth week of the placement. Assessment of both the Journals and the Project is undertaken solely by academic staff within the School. There will be an opportunity for formative feedback from the host institution during the module, and an opportunity for students to present their findings to their peers and staff. On completion, one copy of the Project will be submitted to the host institution. Copies of both the Project and the reflective log will be submitted by the date of the University’s last written examination in the relevant Semester.

General Notes

N/A