Students

MRES7001 – PACE for Research

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Juliet Lum
juliet.lum@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The PACE for Research unit provides MRes students with the opportunity to undertake research as part of a research team or in community or industry settings. In consultation with a partner organisation/research team leader, students identify, design, manage and conduct a research project that aligns with the strategic priorities of that organisation/team. Students’ projects are overseen and guided by a host supervisor and supported through a series of academic seminars on campus. This unit aims to equip students with practical problem-solving and research skills, as well as insight into conducting research that involves a partner. Students complete 100 hours working with their partner organisation eventuating in delivery of a formal written project report. Students may choose to use the research conducted in this unit as the basis of their MRes thesis in the second year.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://students.mq.edu.au/important-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • ULO2: Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • ULO3: Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • ULO5: Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • ULO6: Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • ULO7: Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Project Management Plan 20% No Monday 31 August 2020
Participation and Engagement 20% No throughout the semester
Presentation 20% No Monday, 26 October 2020
Final project report 40% No Monday 9 November 2020

Project Management Plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Monday 31 August 2020
Weighting: 20%

 

Within the first 20 hours of placement (and before 31 August), you should produce a project management plan. This plan should include a title along with the background, scope and purpose of your project. The plan should also include a detailed schedule of tasks to be completed, and how you will monitor the project. The plan will also identify relevant stakeholders, milestones, deliverables, risks and issues associated with your project. The plan must be discussed with the host supervisor before submission.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Participation and Engagement

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: throughout the semester
Weighting: 20%

 

An important part of this course is open dialogue and honest engagement with your teachers and peers over the course content and your internship experience. It is an expectation that you attend all face-to-face components of this unit, and beyond them, actively participate in the online forum discussions. Your grade for this assessment will be comprised of the following components: pre-class preparation and in-class participation, online engagement, a mid-semester reflection on internship, and your host supervisor’s evaluation and feedback.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Monday, 26 October 2020
Weighting: 20%

 

You will give an 8-10 minute presentation on your project. The presentation should discuss the issues examined in your project, your findings and conclusions/recommendations. If applicable, you may also consider including suggestions for future work/investigation. The presentation should provide your reflections on the successes and failures of the project and reflect on how you would revise the approach taken if you had to do it all over again. Include a photograph of yourself in your internship setting and/or with your host supervisor.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Final project report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Monday 9 November 2020
Weighting: 40%

 

The final report will consist of two sections: 1) a report on your internship project (1500-2000 words) and 2) a reflective component (600-800 words). The report should provide enough background information so that your audience understands your host organisation and the nature of your activity. It will outline what you produced as part of your research internship, how you produced it, and how it compared to your original project plan. Your reflection will comprise a personal evaluation and reflection on your project and the research experience as a whole. You will be required to reflect on at least one dilemma you faced in your placement, and to develop an account of the impact the internship has had on your learning experience and your career outlook.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Learning Skills Unit for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

The unit involves 5 compulsory workshops (run over Zoom) and online learning through iLearn activities. It is expected that students attend all workshops, unless a compelling reason (e.g. illness) prevents them from doing so. If you cannot attend a workshop, please contact the unit convenor.

Students will be enrolled into the online MRES7001 iLearn unit. This iLearn site provides access to online learning resources, peer-to-peer communication, and participation in online discussion forums. Students will also receive course related announcements through the iLearn unit, download readings, submit assignments and receive feedback on graded work.

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - Monday 27/7: The critically reflective researcher

Week 2: Monday 3/8: Planning and managing a research project

Week 3: Monday 10/8: Working and researching with integrity

Week 12: Monday 26/10: Presentations

Week 13: Monday 2 /11: Leveraging your PACE experience

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Enquiry Service

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Equity Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.