MCH8098 : Communications and Cultural Industries Project: Research and Professional Development
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Dr Bethany Usher
- Other Staff: Professor Darren Kelsey, Dr Michael Waugh, Dr Murray Dick, Dr Nick Rush-Cooper, Dr Mercy Ette, Dr Paulina Kuranchie, Dr Majid Khosravinik
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Â鶹´«Ã½ City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 60 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Communications and Cultural Industries Project: Research and Professional Development enables you to develop and deliver an original, independent research project that brings your ideas to life. Building on your project development work, you refine and elevate your thinking into a focused study that engages with significant debates, research and developments in the communication and creative and cultural industries. Through supported supervision, workshops and Interactive Learning Materials, you produce a journal article-length piece of research, applying appropriate theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to generate new insight into a clearly defined topic. While doing so, you critically reflect on your development and evidence the growth of your research, analytical and professional practice. The module also supports your progression beyond your programme of study. You develop a tailored CV, professional profile and cover letter aligned to your chosen career or doctoral pathway, positioning your research and expertise within relevant industry, practice and/or academic contexts. In short, this module aims to support students in designing, delivering and critically reflecting on an original independent research project while using this work as a launchpad into future industry, professional and/or research pathways.
Outline Of Syllabus
An indicative syllabus may include:
• Independent research project design and development
• Research questions, aims, scope and project planning
• Advanced media, communication and cultural industries research methods
• Critical engagement with contemporary debates in media, journalism, communication and cultural industries research
• Theoretical frameworks and conceptual approaches
• Ethics, risk assessment and responsible research practice
• AI, digital research environments and emerging technological considerations in research
• Academic and professional research writing practices
• Dissemination, publication and audience-focused research communication
• Research supervision, iterative feedback and project refinement
• Reflective research practice and intellectual development
• Independent data gathering, analysis and interpretation where appropriate
• Time management, project management and sustained independent study
• Professional identity, employability and doctoral pathway development
• Development of CVs, professional profiles and professional positioning materials aligned to academic and/or industry contexts
• Critical reflection on future academic, industry and research trajectories within media, communication and cultural industries contexts
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Focused on introducing the research project and supporting research design, dissemination, editing and revision |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 3 | 3:00 | 9:00 | Interactive materials supporting research design, methods, writing, dissemination and AI-aware research practice |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Editing, revision, proofreading and preparation of assessments and professional portfolio |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Group tutorial supporting project planning and research management |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 160:00 | 160:00 | Independent engagement with theoretical, methodological and contextual research materials |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Online materials supporting library research, referencing and advanced study skills |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 33:00 | 33:00 | Development of CV, professional profile, cover letter and future career or doctoral planning activities |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Drop-in tutorials supporting proposal refinement, project development and transition from MCH8054 |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 280:00 | 280:00 | Independent research, data gathering, analysis and journal article development |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Reflective development record, supervision preparation and critical reflection on research practice and AI use |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Individual supervision supporting iterative research and project development |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This capstone module includes encounters with the leading edge of research, industry, practice and society through independent research, supervision, contemporary case studies and engagement with evolving professional and technological environments. The primary pedagogic mode of the module is supervised independent research, enabling students to develop intellectually ambitious, critically informed and professionally relevant projects situated within contemporary debates and developments across media, communication and the creative and cultural industries. Lectures support MLO1, MLO2 and MLO4 by introducing advanced approaches to research design, publication practices, dissemination, ethics and AI-aware research environments. Small-group teaching activities support MLO1, MLO2 and MLO5 through collaborative discussion, project refinement and peer learning, helping students transition from project development to sustained independent research. Supervision meetings primarily support MLO1, MLO2, MLO4 and MLO5, enabling iterative project development, critical feedback and reflective engagement with research practice, methodologies and professional contexts.
Interactive Learning Materials and asynchronous learning support MLO2, MLO3 and MLO4 through flexible engagement with research methods, academic writing, dissemination, ethics and emerging digital research practices. Guided independent study supports all module learning outcomes, particularly MLO1, MLO3 and MLO5, through sustained research, analysis, writing, reflection and professional development activities. Together, these teaching methods support students in developing independent research expertise while preparing them for future industry, professional and/or doctoral pathways.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research paper | 3 | M | 65 | A 8000-word journal article-length independent research project investigating a clearly defined issue, debate or development within media, communication or the creative and cultural industries. |
| Reflective log | 3 | M | 15 | Portfolio containing research-led or practice-based project proposal with development record and critical reflection. The assessment is followed by a verbal discussion for assurance. |
| Prob solv exercises | 3 | A | 20 | A professional development portfolio including a tailored CV, LinkedIn/professional profile, cover letter and short professional positioning statement aligned to a chosen career, industry and/or doctoral pathway. |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
| Description | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | M | Students refine their proposal against feedback ahead of meeting supervisor for the first time. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A portfolio combining the following components:
Assessment 1: Journal Article-Length Research Project (65%)
Module Learning Outcomes: MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4
An 8000-word journal article-length independent research project investigating a clearly defined issue, debate or development within media, communication or the creative and cultural industries.
•Demonstration of a theoretically informed and methodologically rigorous research project engaging critically with significant media, communication or cultural industries debates and contexts.
•Effective application of appropriate theoretical frameworks, concepts and research methods to investigate and analyse a clearly defined topic.
•Synthesis and communication of complex research, arguments and findings in forms appropriate to postgraduate academic and/or professional contexts.
•Coherence, structure and critical development of the research project, including appropriate academic tone, effective use of evidence, accurate referencing and critical awareness of ethical and technological considerations.
Assessment 2: Supervision and Development Record (15%)
Module Learning Outcomes: MLO4, MLO5
A graded supervision and development record evidencing project planning, engagement with supervision, response to feedback, iterative refinement, ethical decision-making and critical reflection on the research process, including the use of AI where appropriate.
•Evidence of sustained engagement with supervision, project planning and iterative research development.
•Critical reflection on intellectual, methodological and professional decision-making throughout the research process, with relevant citations.
•Critical evaluation of feedback, refinement processes and project progression across the development lifecycle.
•Critical analysis of ethical, professional and technological considerations within the research process, including reflective engagement with the use of artificial intelligence where appropriate.
Assessment 3: Professional Development Portfolio (20%)
Module Learning Outcomes: MLO3, MLO5
A professional development portfolio including a tailored CV, LinkedIn/professional profile, cover letter and short professional positioning statement aligned to a chosen career, industry and/or doctoral pathway.
•Effective communication of skills, experience, research expertise and professional identity for relevant academic and/or industry audiences.
•Coherent and professional presentation of materials using appropriate formats, tone and conventions.
•Critical reflection on future academic, professional and career development in relation to media, communication and cultural industries contexts.
•Awareness of professional standards, digital identity and future-facing professional practice within rapidly evolving media and communication environments.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: