Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The practice of research management is shaped to a large extent by the policy and structural contexts within which institutions, and researchers function. Thus, R & D managers operating at the higher levels of the profession require advanced understandings of discourses of globalisation, such as 'the knowledge economy'; those of national interest such as 'the national innovation system'; and conceptual debates in connection with quality, impact, scientific merit, 'public good' and triple bottom line thinking as determinants of the value proposition for research activity in both the public and the private sectors.

Aims

The unit aims to extend your critical engagement with a number of concepts and analytical approaches necessary for the development of your capacity to influence and shape the environments within which R & D management practices take place nationally and globally, and for the development of advanced operational responses to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of R & D management in those environments. The unit aims to extend the student's capacity to form and articulate a personal vision of the major conceptual and policy debates framing the professional field.

Objectives

On completion of the unit, you will have advanced knowledge and understanding of:

(a) the key political, conceptual and ideological drivers in each of the contexts, including their nature and significance.
(b) the factors that have shaped each of the contexts and continuing debates that accompany each of them.
(c) the implications for (i) R & D management practice and the strategies, skills and techniques to apply in responding to them and managing them in the contemporary environment both nationally and globally; as well as (ii) the development of a personal vision of the R & D field.

Content

This unit is structured in three domains, and content is organized as follows:

1. The International Context for Research Management. You will extend your understanding of knowledge production and transmission in a global context; and analyse a range of international governmental approaches to national innovation systems.

2. National and State Research Policy Contexts. You will extend your understanding of and capacity to analyse the nature and impact of current and previous research policy initiatives in the Australian context over the past twenty-five years, including impacts in the Higher Education and private R&D sectors.

3. The Knowledge Context. You will develop an understanding of different historical and philosophical approaches to what constitutes knowledge, an overview of the current state of debate, and extend your capacity to form and articulate a personal vision of the major conceptual and policy debates framing the professional field.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The design of the unit encourages active learning through online collaboration. While the unit moderator (teacher) provides expert content input and guides your learning, the peer learning opportunities are equally important, as the class group will include significant cohort of practicing research management professionals. You will participate and interact in the online learning environment provided by this unit in a variety of ways, including:

a) Reading and responding analytically to online content
b) Participating critically in the online interactions in discussion forums
c) Engaging in formal assessment tasks (reading, reflecting, responding, writing, discussing) The emphasis in formal assessment tasks will be on extending your conceptual reach through your own experience and knowledge, and to facilitate this, opportunity will be provided for workplace-based assessment tasks and workplace-relevant modes (e.g. case studies, project reports, project plans, presentations).

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: You are required to contribute analytical comments weekly to the online discussion forums in response to weekly stimulus questions or responses to the designated key reading. Your participation aims to demonstrate the development of your advanced understanding of the key conceptual, policy and ideological debates and local, national and global contexts under analysis.
Relates to objectives: Objectives 3a, 3b, 3c
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Formative assessment
Description: You will be complete three activities that require you to respond to a particular topic or question.

Activity 1 - Blog Discussion - What can we learn from Singapore?
Activity 2 - Joining the dots
Activity 3 - Innovation system case study

Due date: Weeks 4, 7, 9
Relates to objectives: Objectives 3a, 3b, 3c
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Essay
Description: You will prepare a essay (5,000 - 7,000 words) on a topic of your choice inspired by the material in this unit. You may choose to explore a topic or theory in more depth or concentrate on policy issues.

Due dates:

Thesis statement and essay structure (Week 8)
5,000 - 7,000 word essay (Week 12)
Relates to objectives: Objectives 3a, 3b, 3c
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

The key resource is the unit website. Reference materials are provided online in the unit's 'Learning Resources' section and throughout the body of the website. They include:
· Documents for download
· Links to offsite websites and web pages

You will also have access to:
· A personal journal/blog site
· Online discussion forums

The resources are identified in relation particularly to the topics covered on a weekly basis, as described in the semester calendar for the unit to be provided to students in week one.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks, other than those relating to the functioning of the internet and the provision of QUT systems access to the website for enrolled students.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 06-Mar-2013