Course Catalogue

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This course will provide students with the opportunity to carry out an independent dissertation project in the field of biotechnology, this course allows students to tackle an issues-based challenge and learn how to assimilate data and report it. Challenges will be topical and relevant to the broader academic learning of the programme

Access to an online course for project development, regular interaction and meetings with the project supervisor over the summer semester.

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The project assessment will consist of the following components:

Supervisor's report (15%)

■ An assessment of the student's overall performance will be provided by the project supervisor using a written form with marking descriptors. Criteria assessed are engagement in planning and development of the project, quality of results/conclusions, independence, communication, organisation and verbal/presentation ability.

Assessment demonstrates: ILOs 1, 3 and 7. 

Student's written report (60%)

■ An academic report (approximately 4000 words) a scientific introduction and justification to the chosen topic including the research question development and written report formatted in appropriate scientific style.

■ Policy brief (approximately 2000 words), communicates research findings to an informed but non-academic audience in a concise, visual way with a focus on key findings and practical recommendations. demonstrates: ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Oral presentation to peers and staff (25%)

■ 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions from peers and assessors

■ Using PowerPoint or similar software

Assessment demonstrates: ILOs 1,2 and 6.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Supervisor's report cannot be reassessed.

The course aims to allow students to apply the diverse knowledge and skills gained throughout their biotechnology studies to "real world challenges". Students will analyse and synthesise relevant literature, critically analyse data, draw conclusions and suggest avenues for future research to expand their findings. The presentation of their findings in a policy brief document will allow students to develop an executive summary approach to practical communication for a variety of areas such as industry management/leaders, NGO's, government bodies and charity organisations. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Identify creative and innovative research-based approaches to respond to issues-based biotechnological challenges and provide practical solutions which draw on the available evidence

2. Critically analyse a range of data sources (including from research databases and other academic and industry sources of information) to aid the research

3. Formulate appropriate research questions and hypotheses

4. Produce an academic report linking theory and practice and critically discussing the available evidence

5. Apply consistent rules of presentation of bibliographical materials, appendices and footnotes, using recognised academic standards.

6. Communicate research findings in the appropriate scientific style to this dissertation.

7. Plan and manage time effectively by prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.