GS512

Graduate Studies Form for Modules attached to Structured PhD and/or Research Masters Programmes

Title

Engaging with the community: research, practice and reflection

Credits  (ECTS)

10

Module Places

15

Module Code:

GS512

Elective Places

Indicative Module Descriptor:

This module is designed as an experiential learning opportunity for Structured PhD research students. In the course of this module they will apply their discipline-specific knowledge/skills to the design, conduct and reporting of a community-engaged, applied research project. Working with the module team, each student will devise an individualised learning experience. The module is intended to accommodate a range of interests, from those students whose doctoral research is in social research through to students carrying out theoretical or laboratory-based projects. 

Research topics/themes/problems for a research project may be identified by a community partner, by the individual student/s, by a multidisciplinary team, by relevant academic or research staff/units/groups within the university, or in collaboration with Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI). 

Research students will have a shared learning experience through a series of preparatory and reflective seminars, organised on a multidisciplinary basis. Through seminar work, students will report on progress, share their learning, discuss opportunities and challenges, and identify their own learning needs.  This reflective space will help link together participants working on potentially different projects in varied settings. 

The module – and the accompanying seminars – will be facilitated by academics, researchers and community partner representatives (e.g., COPE Galway), working together to support students in learning about and carrying out community-engaged research. This professional input will combine expertise and experience in applied, collaborative and participatory research methods.

This module has been developed by a multidisciplinary team within NUI Galway as one of the intended outcomes of the Community Engaged Research in Action (CORA) project. The availability of this module to doctoral student and community partners, as a credit-bearing element of a Structured PhD programme, will contribute to the realisation of the civic engagement envisioned by the university as part of the student experience. 

The module may be taken by Structured PhD or Research Masters level students, with the agreement of the relevant supervisor and/or programme director.

Aims of the module

The module aims to give students the opportunity to:

• Enhance their personal effectiveness, capacity for innovation and professional competence thus increasing their employability
• Develop research skills in an applied, real-world setting, in response to an identified research need
• Apply discipline-specific knowledge and skills to a research project
• Work collaboratively with a community partner and/or as part of a research team
• Work with people from other disciplines in solving research problems
• Develop a deeper insight into the impact of socio-economic conditions and public policy on real world issues
• Scrutinise and reflect on social norms and their own role as agents of change in society

Indicative Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to;

• Critically evaluate the concept, nature, purpose of community engagement and be cognisant of different modes of engagement
• Understand how collaborative and participatory methods can inform research practice, through the process of data collection, interpretation and representation
• Engage appropriately with partners in a community-engaged research project
• Conduct a research needs analysis with a community partner/s or contribute to a project already identified
• Plan, conduct, present and evaluate a research project in a collaborative manner
• Reflect critically on their own research practice, doctoral research and future professional practice
• Apply their disciplinary knowledge and skills to real world research inquiry 
• Critically consider ethical issues that arise in real world research

Workload: Total of  200 hours  for 10 ECTs module

Class Contact:

Seminar attendance (A reflective space)

20 hours

Workshop:

Participation in specific workshop/s, as per individual learning needs/skills gap

0-20 (as necessary)

Specified Assignment(s)

Portfolio

Presentation

Evaluation

50

Autonomous Student Learning:

Negotiating with community partner

Group meetings with members of a team

Planning the research design

Conduct of project using collaborative and/or participatory methods

Preparation for presentation of outcomes

Self appraisal and preparation for evaluation

110-130

Assessment(s)  

To be jointly assessed (as appropriate and as agreed) by the module facilitator/s, research team members, thesis supervisor and community partner.

1. Portfolio

Including, for example,

• Log of research activities (individual and/or group)
• Reflective journal
• Evidence of research practice

2. Presentation

(Oral, written, poster, or other medium as appropriate)

Individual or group presentation of research outcomes - process and/or product as appropriate.

3. Evaluation

Participation in evaluation by partners to research process

Including self/peer/group/community partner/external evaluation, as appropriate.

Type

% of marks

Timing

Year 1:

Participation in reflective seminars

Assessment: portfolio, presentation

Participation in evaluation process

Mandatory

100%

Result

Pass 40% / Fail