The Consultancy Project is an innovative and practical component of the programme, which requires participants to complete a real-time project on behalf of a commercial communications agency. It is envisaged that most participants will complete a project on behalf of their own sponsoring organization. However, some participants may choose an organisation or industry sector that is relevant to the next stage in their career.
The Consultancy Project brings learning together in a meaningful way while giving the participant the opportunity to conduct individual research, which is specialised in nature and can be customised. It is the key programme component enabling students to realise a significant piece of individual research, with academic supervision and a mentor from industry guiding their progress.
Academically the Consultancy Project tests the learner’s ability to apply learning to real creative commercial communications issues. The academic submission must demonstrate the learner’s understanding and logical application of relevant concepts encountered throughout their studies. Completed Consultancy Projects will not be placed in the library or released for wider readership without the prior consent of the student and sponsoring organisation.
The Consultancy Project is designed as an individual piece of assessment for several reasons. It confers a sense of ownership on you the learner. It gives you an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in a meaningful piece of research that moves commercial communications forward. It allows you to pursue projects that fit with your career and business aspirations.
TU Dublin does not claim ownership of any IP created by students (or staff) and consultancy projects such as this are permitted within the relevant policies. Issues that are commercially sensitive are dealt with using confidentiality agreement between TU Dublin, the student and the partner organization. Our agreement is designed to identify and protect any potentially sensitive information being shared beyond the purpose of the consultancy project.
Our confidentiality agreement is designed to protect both our staff, students and partner company. For example it states who can read a project from TU Dublin and it explains the process of assessment, it also sets out limitations for what can be added to our library repository.
Indicative syllabus covered in the module and / or in its discrete elements
Students work independently, with support from a supervisor and an academic mentor, and will keep a record of all meetings. Students will be encouraged to use project management methods to ensure efficient planning and scheduling of tasks. The Consultancy Project is designed to encourage self-directed learning and students are expected to demonstrate their ability to work independently throughout the module.
Research Workshops will be provided to support completion of the module. These workshops do not attract ECTS credits. The workshops will cover the following:
An overview of the project
Project Management
Identifying a research topic
Undertaking a critical literature review
Undertaking & analysing primary research
Presenting your work
Supervision
An academic supervisor is assigned to each student and mentors and advises on their work over the final semester.
Mentoring
An industry mentor is assigned to each student who can offer guidance and direction on commercial communications industry context.
An overview of the project
n/a
Project Management
n/a
Identifying a research topic
n/a
Undertaking a critical literature review
n/a
Undertaking & analysing primary research
n/a
Presenting your work
n/a
Statements about the various types of learning and teaching methods that are used in the delivery of the module
Prior course work and syllabus content constitute the platform for embarking on the project process. Whilst this stage is hallmarked by the students taking substantial responsibility for their subsequent formal and experiential learning; they will nonetheless be supported with formal mechanisms and learning resources. In particular at the early stage they will be directed to and informed of resources.
The students will have to develop or extend their knowledge and practice as autonomous learners within a consultancy framework. Fostering a culture of embracing the opportunity to learn from doing and interacting with leaders in industry is central to developing skilled and intellectually empowered graduates.
Research workshops will be provided to students. In addition, each student will be assigned a supervisor and mentor to provide guidance and support during the final semester. Students are expected to work independently from June to the submission of the project.
This is a structured self-directed module that utilises a range of methods. Workshop briefings, formal and informal meetings with AS and the IM will be supplemented by an online resource for strategic decision-making, a repository of core texts and ongoing support from the academic staff on the programme.
IAPI supported research showcase will be held to present the capstone work. This will attract key commercial communications industry attention and build understanding in areas of research. In the case of commercially sensitive work, a showcase for specially invited guests will be held.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |