MMM127-International Study Challenge

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2018/9

Email: k.akrivou@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The international study challenge serves as a final tacit capstone module for the Master’s in Management programme. It aims to involve students in intensive experiential learning in an international context for 10 continuous working days with an assessed coursework element. Students will be exposed students a holistic institutional context abroad where local culture and values and educational, industry, international, legal and other institutions collectively create the cultural particulars the inform business and management in context.  Students are expected to reflect on and creatively integrate previously acquired knowledge received across core and optional modules with a focus on the core programme theme of sustainable and ethical management. In the last month of this module students physically visit a partnering Business School in an international context in Europe. 

Aims:

To provide students with an opportunity to experience and critically inquire how the acquired theory and applications relevant to management studies acquired so far in the programme may be adapted appropriately to reflect the economic, social, cultural, political, and legal institutional contexts whilst maintaining a focus on the core programme theme of sustainable and ethical management opportunities/potentialities of a given geographical context.  To provide an experiential opportunity of a holistic context involving local and regional cultural diversity, businesses and broader international and government institutions for students to reflectively synthesize the experience from the international study visit with previously acquired knowledge and applications.

Students will be exposed experientially in a holistic educational, industry, international, legal and broader international context and learn collectively and individually. The module shall enable students to cultivate ad hoc relationships with a variety of actors and institutions to help develop cognitive complexity of what is involved in sustainable management when operating in a real world to a real-world context and the relevant personal and broader learning challenges and adaptations this involves. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

To develop students’ holistic learning of all previously taught material by contextualizing prior acquired knowledge in a real world context in a location in Europe.  To expose students in the complexity of management in context and to enable the development of team working, reflective and critical analysis, evaluation and knowledge integration skills via team and personal experiential learning activities. These foster a tacit understanding of key dimensions of a local international context and how key institutions in this context contribute to sustainability management. To cultivate the development of reflective and contextual learning and employability skills.

1. Identify and critically evaluate the key dimensions of a local international context. Identify, summarise and critically analyse the wider (international /local) context particularities and potentialities that ensue relevant to sustainability management.

2. Develop team working skills in international context through experiential learning and the development of cognitive and relational skills within specific cultural, educational, industry, international, legal and other institutions

3. Critically reflect on and synthesize previously acquired knowledge and models and specific international dimensions, culture and particularities experienced in the context of the study visit. 

4. Critically evaluate how this context may inform and enable a holistic sustainable management in international context. 

5. Analyse, evaluate and reflect on personal and shared experience relevant to the formation of ad hoc relationships in a local context

6. Enhance further oral communication /presentation skills and confidence with cultural and international management and relations. 

Additional outcomes:

The self-directed nature of study for this module should develop student’s ability to fully capture the richness of the intended learning outcomes. Students are encouraged to utilise the international study trip experience to learn independently and to making effective use of their time, relations and the resources/events available. Students will be encouraged to develop the skill and personal cognitive skill to be perceptive, reflective and appreciative about an international context. In a relatively short time they will be encouraged to analyse, synthesize and integrate a range of knowledge sources (via secondary research and personal direct experience) relevant to an international educational and institutional context and other organisations in the international study trip will gain valuable experience of working to meet the expectations of a novel socio-economic and cultural context. 

Outline content:

-Autumn and Spring term lectures and the applied project module will introduce students to general knowledge relevant to this trip.

-Students will be escorted and will have 3 face to face meetings of up to one hour with the student.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Customised academic and applied presentations by faculty experts in the receiving university and local institutional leaders and experts. Students will be exposed to a variety of customised and generic group visits to various businesses and broader institutions that altogether form the “local cultural context” and norms. Student teams will also be allocated a tutor to act as supervisor providing regular contact for consultation as necessary. Learning will largely be student team-centred but it will be uniquely responding to individual students’ queries and learning needs. 

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1)A Group written report (1000 words) which counts 40% in the overall module, due: Summer term, vacation week 42 (11-15/6)

2) A set exercise involving preparing the content in a slide format on a given (set) topic relevant to the international context we visit, which counts for Group slide presentation which counts 30% in the overall module. Due Summer term, vacation week 42 (11-15).

3) Team oral presentation. This will be orally performed while abroad and feedback will be shared both from the academics and the peer community of learners. This counts 30% in the overall module. Due Summer term, vacation week 42 (11-15).

One composite mark will be given for these three coursework components according to the relative weights of each weighted elements which will be the final mark for this module.

Note that it is a requirement of the award of MSc of exclusively the students of the MSc in Management and is not relevant or eligible for students of any other degree.

Upper limit of word count: A word count of 10% excess is allowed for the written assignments. Exceeding the word count will attract a penalty whereby written work beyond the 10% excess is discounted in the grading of the assignment.

Formative assessment methods:

Groups and group members to work towards the preparation of the coursework (e.g. via a group wiki) enables peer learning and peer formative feedback prior to the final 2 weeks study visit in June, each year.

Student groups will discuss their group report plan with the faculty involved in the module in the host and home universities. This will be done as formative feedback  in the context of supervised time in studio / workshop while teams will be preparing their work. The formative feedback will enable groups to reflectively adapt their group report and presentations which are the two assessed components of CW in this module.

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A weighted average of 50% or more required.

This is a module of special significance in the degree (pathway). 

Reassessment arrangements:

An individual essay (capped at 50 percent).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Each student is covering their personal costs for subsistence during most of the time in the foreign study visit location. All other costs (with the exception of the welcome and farewell lunch/dinner) are to be covered by the programme and module budget and the overseas host. We estimate costs for subsistence are no more than 40 £ per day X 12 days. Accommodation includes kitchenette and breakfast is included in the costs of accommodation covered by the University. See below:

Last updated: 1 May 2018