Professional Practice Mprof

The course is divided into three main phases: the first and second last for a minimum of one semester (6 months) each, and the third continues for a minimum of one further year. Throughout the course, which is studied part time, your focus is on your professional activity in an organisational context. The MProf provides a structured framework for critically understanding your work based activity, and equips you to operate as a reflective professional practitioner. The research project provides an opportunity for you to interrogate the learning you are achieving in the workplace, and to express this in writing in a systematic way that is both informed by and informs relevant theory.

Modules

Phase 1

Review of Learning (30 Credits) Compulsory

This module provides an opportunity to show that you are equipped for the work required on the rest of the masters programme in three areas: the ability to learn from experiential practice; the professional capability to lead workplace interventions of the kind that will form the basis of your research investigations; and the ability to undertake practitioner oriented research. These capabilities are reported in a piece of persuasive written argumentation (the Review), supported by relevant documentary evidence, which critically evaluates and sets out your credentials for work at masters level in all three areas. Much of this review is retrospective, in that it considers your personal and professional learning leading up to the MProf, and your research competence to date. Some of it is more future oriented, in that it considers how well you are equipped to lead and manage emerging and new workplace activities, and how you intend to improve your capability for achieving these changes. The Review forms the basis for any claims made for the recognition and accreditation of prior learning (see below), and these claims are included as appendices to the Review.

Recognition and accreditation of prior learning (up to 30 Credits) Compulsory

As part of your Review of Learning, you are invited to submit written claims (supported by relevant evidence) for the academic accreditation of your prior learning, typically in an organisational context. If you do not make such claims, or you make them but they are deemed to be inappropriate or insufficient for the credits claimed, then you will take one or more elective modules in their place. These modules will focus mainly on: the development of reflective practice skills, and the development of practitioner research skills.

Phase 2

Planning a Practitioner Research Programme (60 Credits) Compulsory

The main aim of this module is to enable you to consider the range of approaches and methodologies relevant to professional practitioner research work, and to use this knowledge to design and plan one or more doctoral research projects aimed at developing your capability as a practitioner researcher, advancing your organisation, and contributing to your community of practice and/or profession. The outcome of this module is a Learning Agreement, which you draw up to summarise the nature of the research project you intend to pursue in the final phase of the course. This will identify the professional activities in your organisation that will form the focus of your research, the research approach and techniques to be used in your investigation, and expected outcomes for yourself, your organisation and your profession.

Phase 3

Project (60 Credits) Compulsory

This module provides you with the ability to apply the reflection and research skills gained during Phases 1 and 2 to a project focused on your evolving professional role within your organisation. This practice based research project provides a context in which you will be able to integrate and develop further your professional practitioner skills and knowledge. The project topic will be chosen in discussion with your academic adviser and chosen consultant(s), and will have significant outcomes in terms of personal professional development, and organisational benefits. The aim is for you to undertake a practice based research project in relation to a specific organizational issue or problem. It will enable you to demonstrate proficiency in relation to the scope of the relevant issues identified, consider relevant literature relating to the project, collect and interpret data, consider relevant implementation issues, and consider appropriate business implications.