VA7013 - Cultural and Creative Industries Management Portfolio-Dissertation

Through a small number of in-class and online workshop sessions, you will learn how to conduct Masters level research. This includes learning how to undertake literature review to Masters standard, and how to devise, plan, structure and deliver a self-directed piece of research. In these sessions you will be guided as to how to take on managing and conducting a research project in an ethical fashion. You will also have the chance to engage with the Skills Support team in the University Library and follow advanced literature search techniques either in person or virtually.

After those initial sessions your time will be spent undertaking independent research and engaging in supervision meetings one-to-one with your dissertation supervisor as you plan and then work on your portfolio-dissertation. This module is assessed through completion of a self-directed piece of research which may employ a range of methodologies. With the guidance of your dissertation supervisor, you will have the opportunity to learn how to use qualitative or quantitative or mixed research methods, or practice-led research.

Supervision sessions may be booked in person, on the telephone, by Skype or by email commentary to accommodate both in-class and distance students equally.

Your module tutor will play an active role in guiding you through module sessions, e-learning interactive activities and one-on-one electronic and academic tutorial support. Distance learners can access all the learning materials, with audio support, via Blackboard.

You will be supported in individual tutorials booked with your allocated dissertation supervisor (these may be real-time or virtual). The tutorials will be scheduled by mutual agreement and there will offer opportunities to engage with your supervisor on timetables, contents and writing style. Normally one finished section of your portfolio-dissertation will be reviewed and annotated. This formative feedback provided by your tutor will enable you to enhance your work.

You can also book appointments with academic tutors or book telephone support sessions, should you require further support or have particular academic issues which you need to raise.

At Department and Faculty level, the Student Administration and Support Centre (SASC) provides a place to ask questions (e.g. regarding timetables, late submissions and personal extenuating circumstances). SASC will refer you to the correct university service if it cannot directly help you.

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.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the complex nature of the Creative Industries on global, national and local scales, considering strategic issues as appropriate
2. Show the ability to identify, define and formulate a research topic, relevant to the area of specialist interest, and to develop a coherent methodology for addressing that topic
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to contextualise, through engaging critically with other scholars’ work, theorise, research, evidence, analyse and conclude an original research enquiry in a written dissertation on a topic of relevance to management of an aspect of the creative or cultural industries


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
1. Demonstrate the cognitive and intellectual skills required to assimilate, review, reflect and analyse the selected research issue
2. Demonstrate the communication skills and scholarly approaches appropriate to research and professional practice in the field
3. Demonstrate an ability for effective self-management in delivering a research project


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
1. Take an ethical approach to all research carried out as part of the project and comply with University procedures for ethics compliance
2. Demonstrate intellectual curiosity appropriate for completion of a Masters’ level dissertation

You will be assessed by means of completing EITHER a 15000 word dissertation on a topic approved by your teaching team OR by a portfolio-dissertation (relating to a managed project or other managed activity together with a shorter 7500 academic dissertation). Selection of these modes of assessment will be dependent on completing a learning contract, approved by the module tutor and supervision team.

Formative assessment will be though in-class and on-line classes and in e-tivities where students will discuss various issues and themes pertinent to Cultural and Creative Industries portfolio-dissertation research, self-management of an academic research or practice-led research project, and writing and communication skills. This will include the preparation of a formative major managed project plan with the guidance of the teaching team.

120 credits at PG Dip : for this programme VA0796 and VA0797

none

You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities as reflective practitioners and critical scholars by engaging with a topic relevant to the field. The module allows you flexibility of approach and outcome, reflecting the multi-disciplinary context of cultural and creative industries management and the diversity of subject backgrounds with which each of you enters the programme.
You will select the form of portfolio-dissertation by completing a learning contract approved by the module tutor and supervision team that best suits your own individual research and practice interests, choosing from: A literature-based research dissertation, requiring a synthesis, critical review, exploration and further development of an academic issue or professional topic - using existing academic and scholarly literature and, if relevant, the interpretation of primary or historic sources OR An applied research dissertation, requiring a qualitative or quantitative application of research methods enabling you to explore a problem centred enquiry, combined with scholarly review of relevant knowledge. The applied dissertation normally involves you in developing an evidence base and interpreting primary data, you may undertake observational data collection, or may engage in secondary analysis of existing data OR ALTERNATIVELY
A work- or practice-based portfolio-dissertation (to include evidence and reflective practice, together with a shorter academic dissertation, locating the academic issue or topic within the material developed during paid / voluntary work, reflecting your practice or other relevant managed activity). The portfolio-dissertation consists of 7500 words equivalent evidence/ reflection on your practice supported by a shorter academic dissertation (7500 words).
All portfolio-dissertations will have a strong theoretical and research context underpinning and will require a thorough literature review.