Track F - Integrating a research project or dissertation

Integrating a research project or dissertation  Dr Simon Best, Middlesex University Business School

In this session Simon explained the rationale behind some changes that were made to the Business Transformation Project, an applied research project which is used as a final assessment for MBAs in Shipping and Logistics, and Oil and Gas. As the modules in these programmes run consecutively rather than concurrently a perception had developed that there was a risk of the modules being isolated from each other and that the students might increase the disconnection that students might feel in a course taught asynchronously.


Rather than treat the project as an entirely separate module at the end of the course, it was decided to embed one unit of the project module into each of the other modules in the programme, two weeks before the end of each module. Students were to keep a planning log which would help them put together ideas for their final project and reflect on the relevance of the material both to the project and other modules on the course. This programme-focused approach is an interesting way of building bridges between modules and preparing students for the research project ahead of time.

Report by Paul Smith

Integrating a research project or dissertation from mdxaltc