Students

FOAR8050 – Researcher Professional Development

2025 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Course Director: Graduate Diploma of Research
Kirstin Mills
kirstin.mills@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room 752, Level 7, 25B Wally's Walk (Arts Precinct)
By appointment (please email to set up a time to meet on campus or online)
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to Graduate Certificate of Research OR Graduate Diploma of Research OR Bachelor of Philosophy.
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides students with the opportunity to develop a wide range of bespoke research and professional skills that support and enhance both research and researcher career development. Students will curate their professional development from a range of flexible learning activities, tailoring their learning to their research project(s) and professional goals. Professional development opportunities may include but are not limited to: digital research skills; data management; tools and software training; publishing, presenting and communicating research; project management; mentoring and coaching; research leadership, and more. This unit will equip students with the ability to identify and reflect upon their unique strengths and transferable skills developed throughout their research and related professional experiences, as well as the skills and mindsets to plan and accomplish continuous future development. Through the skills and attributes obtained in this unit, students will enhance their ability to confidently undertake research and make meaningful and impactful contributions in research, industry and the community.

Important Academic Dates

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

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Demonstrate knowledge of the role and importance of professional development in research and research-related careers.
  • ULO2: Develop and provide evidence for the attainment of relevant skills, including digital research skills, that support and enhance research and career development.
  • ULO3: Evaluate discipline-specific concepts and practices to identify and contextualise transferable skills as they apply to researchers and research-related careers.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate reflexivity, judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practice as a researcher.
  • ULO5: Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences through the development of a reflective writing practice and professional development portfolio.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

University Assessment Policy is as follows:

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Researcher Professional Development Portfolio Part 1 40% No 31/08/2025
Researcher Professional Development Portfolio Part 2 60% No 16/11/2025

Researcher Professional Development Portfolio Part 1

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 31/08/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will submit evidence of professional development and reflect on this development in the context of their research-related learning and/or career goals.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the role and importance of professional development in research and research-related careers.
  • Develop and provide evidence for the attainment of relevant skills, including digital research skills, that support and enhance research and career development.
  • Evaluate discipline-specific concepts and practices to identify and contextualise transferable skills as they apply to researchers and research-related careers.
  • Demonstrate reflexivity, judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practice as a researcher.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences through the development of a reflective writing practice and professional development portfolio.

Researcher Professional Development Portfolio Part 2

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 16/11/2025
Weighting: 60%

 

Students will submit evidence of professional development and reflect on this development in the context of their research-related learning and/or career goals. Students will articulate their individual and transferable skills they have achieved through professional development relating to research and research careers.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the role and importance of professional development in research and research-related careers.
  • Develop and provide evidence for the attainment of relevant skills, including digital research skills, that support and enhance research and career development.
  • Evaluate discipline-specific concepts and practices to identify and contextualise transferable skills as they apply to researchers and research-related careers.
  • Demonstrate reflexivity, judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practice as a researcher.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences through the development of a reflective writing practice and professional development portfolio.

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 Writing Centre 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

Flexible Activities: Professional Development Hours

This unit provides an opportunity for students to tailor their learning activities to their research and learning goals by undertaking a flexible, customisable range of learning activities, such as workshops, professional learning and/or auditing units. Note: these activities are independently scheduled outside the official timetabled classes for this unit and it is the student's responsibility to manage such activities within their own timetable.

Details about suggested professional development activities and requirements for these tasks are available via the FOAR8050 iLearn site.

Podcast Episodes: Researcher Professional Development Series

Students will also engage with provided podcast episodes featuring interviews with researchers and research professionals on topics designed to assist your professional development as a researcher.

All podcast episodes are available on the FOAR8050 iLearn site.

Scheduled Seminars

Stuents will also attend live seminars (either on campus or online depending on which mode you are enrolled in), which are scheduled at strategic points throughout semester to aid your continued professional development. 

All class times, dates and class resources are available via the FOAR8050 iLearn site.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook