Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

•       To provide learning opportunities to enable course participants to acquire the knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes necessary to undertake research in contemporary local and regional development theory, policy and practice.

•       To provide the theoretical, policy and practical skills to enable the student to produce an independent research project – the MA dissertation – on a topic of their choice (subject to the approval of the Degree Programme Director) and, where appropriate, successfully to enhance their CPD activity or pursue further postgraduate study for a PhD.

The MA research dissertation provides an opportunity to put the knowledge and understanding of regional development theory and policy acquired in the programme to work. An independent research project, on a topic chosen by the programme participant, is designed, developed and undertaken under the supervision of a member of the programme staff. Topics can relate to issues covered in the programme, individual concerns and/or the research interests of programme staff.

Outline Of Syllabus

Research Dissertation Guidelines
From Week 10 of Semester 2 attend a minimum of two supervisions with allocated Supervisor.

Module content will comprise:
-       individual meetings between supervisor and student
-       independent primary research by the student which will vary in nature according to the topic selected
-       the production of a Research Dissertation by the student

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

•       An advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary local and regional development theory.
•       An advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary local and regional policies and their inter-relations to local and regional development theories.
•       An advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary local and regional governance, and its inter-relations to local and regional development theory and policy.
•       An advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary local and regional development practice in an international context.
•       An advanced knowledge and understanding of the principles, applications and limitations of the main methodologies, analytical techniques and data sources in local and regional development.

Intended Skill Outcomes

•       The ability critically to engage with contemporary local and regional development theory.
•       The ability to address critically the development, potential and problems of contemporary approaches to local and regional development policy.
•       The ability to engage critically with current issues and debates in the institutional structures and politics of local and regional governance.
•       The ability critically to assess the value, applicability and transferability of local and regional development and governance practice in an international context.
•       The ability critically to assess the value and limitations of analytical methods, techniques and data sources in local and regional development, policy and practice.
•       The ability to solve problems.
•       An understanding of the principles, applications and limitations of the main analytical techniques in local and regional development and an advanced understanding of some of these techniques.
•       The ability critically to assess the quality of the analytical data generated by these techniques.
•       The ability to synthesise and present local and regional development data and to interpret and analyse its significance.
•       The ability critically to select and access relevant and appropriate information and data resources within the Robinson library and on-line.
•       Practical experience of the main analytical techniques in local and regional development and advanced experience of some of these techniques.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

•       Application in a piece of independent research of advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary local and regional development and governance theory, policy and practice.
•       Utilisation of analytical methodologies, techniques and data sources in local and regional development.
•       Critical engagement in a piece of independent research with local and regional development and governance theory, policy and practice.
•       Application and practice of subject specific/practical and key skills including problem solving, utilisation of appropriate research techniques and data sources, synthesis and presentation of data.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Research Dissertation involves the extended presentation of all the stages of the research process from introduction and justification of project, through theoretical context and methodology to results and conclusions.

The Research Dissertation is the summation of the student's efforts in undertaking an original research project of their own conception and design. The Dissertation will demonstrate how the students have formulated their research topic, situated them in the appropriate literature, developed a conceptual framework and methodology, undertaken research, analysed, interpreted and discussed findings, drawn conclusions and delivered a well-written, well-presented report to the appropriate academic standard.

General Notes

N/A