WRP8010 Work-based Research Project A

Staffing

Examiner: Luke Van Der Laan
Moderator: Rhod McNeill

Requisites

Pre-requisite: Students must have passed WRP8000 and Students must be enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Professional Studies (GCPS) or the Master of Professional Studies program (MPRS)

Other requisites

Students will require access to e-mail and have reliable internet access for this course.

Computer literacy is now expected as part of professional life, and is an integral element in the studying and learning process associated with this course. The course makes significant use of the internet and online environment.

Rationale

Work-based research programs are designed to enable a student to draw upon work and life experiences in developing new, higher-level knowledge that is relevant to their professional practice and workplace. The work-based research project courses will draw on a disciplined research enquiry of a pre-agreed feature of the student's usual work derived from an assessed research project proposal. The work-based research projects are designed to continue/link-up with each succeeding project unit. The most likely form of a project will analyse practice in the workplace and will investigate possible contributions to professional practice and organisational improvements. The student's experience and expertise within the workplace will provide insights into the investigation that, when supported by high level learning and appropriate literature, will produce advanced knowledge relating to professional practice.

Synopsis

The student will work and study at the same time as determined by a pre-agreed and assessed workplacework-based project proposal that articulates the expected personal, professional, academic and organisational contributions that should be achieved upon the conclusion of the project. With the guidance and support of a supervisor(s), the student will study appropriate literature, and may elect to study other post-graduate level course, to gain the necessary theoretical knowledge and capacity to support their study. This course is required to clearly embed the student's practice in relevant and up-to-date academic literature which would typically be across disciplines. The insights that the student will gain as a result, will not only enhance their experience and expertise through locating their disciplined enquiry in relevant theory but will provide greater rigour in support of their findings and contributions to practice. The student will, where necessary, develop appropriate research instruments based on the adopted methodology relevant to their study in order to collect appropriate data for analysis in providing evidence-based outcomes to their study. The course will be a pass/fail course.

Objectives

Topics

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

Reference materials

Student workload requirements

Assessment details

Important assessment information

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. It is also required that the student make regular contact with their project supervisor. Students must attend and complete the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety training program for this course where required.
   
   
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   Not applicable.
   
   
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit the assessment item after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assessment item may apply for each working day it is late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded.
   
   
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
   
   
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   As P is the only passing grade available for this course, all students who are qualified for a passing grade will be given a grade of P. Other students will be given either a Failing grade or an incomplete grade.
   
   
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
   
   
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   As there are no examinations in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
   
   
8. University Student Policies:
   Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at http://policy.usq.edu.au/portal/custom/search/category/usq_document_policy_type/Student.1.html.
   
   

Assessment notes

1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
   
   
2. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if required by the Examiner.
   
   
3. In accordance with University Policy, the Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
   
   
4. Electronic submission of assessments is specified for the course. Students are expected to submit their assessment items directly to their supervisor while copying the course Examiner at wbl@usq.edu.au
   
   
5. Students who do not have regular access to postal services for the submission of paper-based assessments, or regular access to Internet services for electronic submission, or are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements prior to the submission date.
   
   
6. Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded one of the temporary grades: IM (Incomplete - Make up), IS (Incomplete - Supplementary Examination) or ISM (Incomplete -Supplementary Examination and Make up). A temporary grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non directed personal study.
   
   
7. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).