How do the Projects work?

If you are interested in participating in our HR Projects, please complete our ‘Expressions of Interest’ form.

The agreed projects are undertaken between October and May of each academic year.

A team of between 4 and 6 post-graduate students work on the agreed HR project with you as their ‘client’.  This is a major part of their degree programme and we anticipate each student will allocate 100 hours to the project.

Organisational Support

The success of the projects is very dependant on the support given by the organisation to the student group.  As with any student project we cannot guarantee the outcome, and for some of the students this may be their first experience of interacting in a ‘real-life’ business situation.  Therefore the support of the organisation is crucial and especially important during February and March, in ensuring access to the organisation, so that the students can complete their primary research.

There are no charges made to the organisation for the work undertaken, but we do ask that if possible the students are reimbursed for any travel expenses incurred outside central Newcastle.

Business School Support

The Business School Research and Engagement Team will be a first point of contact for organisations supporting our students. That team will contact organisations regularly during the course of the project activity, and be available to respond to any queries.

If there are any concerns about the progress of the student group, it is important to raise this with the group in the first instance.

In addition each student is allocated an academic supervisor, who is responsible for overseeing their work and marking the report and presentation. It is the students, however, who are responsible for ensuring that they achieve the agreed and required research activity for the organisation calling on the support of their academic supervisors if required.

Suitable Projects

Any project undertaken has to be of value to your organisation.  Ideally the project would allow the students to complete primary research within your organisation, which could involve activity such as analysing data or current systems, interviewing managers or employees or undertaking questionnaires.  The research approach is flexible and would always be agreed in advance to ensure it meets with your organisational requirements and takes account of any operational pressures.

Projects should be related to real and current practical HR issues, allowing the students to define the areas for improvement and identify appropriate solutions, and although there is a degree of flexibility and any project ideas would be considered, issues related to any sensitive or urgent problems or to specific employment legislation or ongoing grievances and disputes would not be appropriate.