Module ANTH45830: Field Study Erasmus Plus

Department: Anthropology

ANTH45830: Field Study Erasmus Plus

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• The module is limited to four students who will take part in the Erasmus Plus Knowledge Alliance project in academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19. The students will be home or EU students only. They will be selected from students registering for the module Field Study (ANTH44815) which forms part of the MSc Energy and Society Masters. Students will register and interest in taking part and the final four will be recruited on the basis of criteria identified by project partners and applied consistently across the project.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• to provide students with an opportunity to examine the practicalities of key contemporary energy interventions in the diverse UK energy situation through direct engagement in applied research;
• to develop and practice research methods and group-work through experiential and theoretical learning;
• to facilitate student learning about real-world applications of research methods, design practice, entrepreneurship and innovation;
• to offer students experience of participation in a fully funded Erasmus Plus Knowledge Alliance project in association with staff and students from three European Higher Education Institutions;
• to provide students with an opportunity to research and analyse energy challenges,
• to map key UK energy actors, and to confront the realities of energy practices;
• to gain experience of working on an interdisciplinary research project with an external partner from the world of business.

Content

• Indicative module content includes preliminary academic activities and field-based activities.
• Students will build on the learning from the core modules MES1 and MES2, reflecting on the implications of and for practice, and considering the role of different research and analytical approaches.
• Students will learn how to co-operate with an external partner
• Students will learn about cross-cultural collaboration through activities involving staff and students from three different European countries (Slovenia, Czech Republic, Netherlands)
• Students will participate in a 2-days international “Co-creation camp” bringing together students, academic and industry mentors from 4 participating countries to share and discuss the results of their research and to present them to an international external public from academic, research and business environments. Each co-creation camp will feature a dedicated session offered by a renowned practitioner of people-centred approaches to product and service design.

Learning Outcomes

• advanced understanding of the practical issues and effects of energy installations
• understanding of how the taught elements of the MSc are operationally applicable in contemporary energy contexts
• understanding of the methodologies used to study energy and society, and of the impact of our choice of methodology and conceptual framework on our understanding
• understanding and experience of interdisciplinary knowledge transfer between academic and external partners
• understanding and experience of interdisciplinary knowledge transfer between European cultural contexts in business and academia.
• Insights into the challenges and processes of entrepreneurship
• knowledge relating to how products and services are brought to market

• employ a range of theoretical perspectives to analyse practical contemporary issues of energy and society
• illustrate social analysis of energy technologies with regard to specific cases
• engage in research projects at Masters level
• present ideas and concepts to interdisciplinary teams from within and without academic institutions
• test how a product and/or service might be suitably designed and delivered
• explain in words and images how from the perspectives of users a product and/or service might be considered satisfactory or in need of improvement.
• explain in words and images how from the perspective of users a product or service could be improved.

• to demonstrate an ability to construct argument critically for both oral and written presentation from different sources of material, including material delivered orally and in an article, report or policy document
• to demonstrate an independent approach to learning, critical thinking and creative problem-solving
• to use sophisticated techniques of information retrieval and management using an array of print and digital resources
• to formulate complex arguments in articulate and structured English, within the discursive conventions and genres of academic writing and written to high academic standard
• to demonstrate effective time management
• to demonstrate effective interdisciplinary communication
• to demonstrate effective cross-cultural communication

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module will be delivered through a set of introductory briefings (seminars/lectures) Students will participate in one 2-day international residential workshop (33 hours) Summative assessment will be through an Individual Project Report (3000 words); an Illustrated Group Summary Report (2000 words); a Reflective Account of learning gained through participation in the residential international workshop (2000 words) Formative assessment will be a 10 minute presentation on the challenges and rewards of engagement with a business partner. Produce a Job Application and CV highlighting the value of student’s participation in the Erasmus Plus module

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment will be a 10 minute presentation on the challenges and rewards of engagement with a business partner. Term 2 Produce a Job Application and CV highlighting the value of student’s participation in the Erasmus Plus module, produce outline for infividual report

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University