Group Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

340 Hours

1. Admission into the MC-EMA Executive Master of Arts program.
2. Subject must be completed in the final 100 points of the program.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The Group Project is a group research project, undertaken for an external organisation, with the aim of investigating and proposing a solution to a real problem or challenge for the organisation. The Group Project provides an opportunity for students to work in teams, to apply and extend their knowledge acquired in the EMA coursework modules, and to further their experiential learning in a specific professional context.

Integral to this learning experience are team work, understanding the needs of the organisation and engaging with the organisation to define the problem to be solved, the scope of the project, and the nature of the final product.

Students in the Group Project will be supervised by the Subject Director in collaboration with a Designated Supervisor at the external host organisation. The student teams will have the opportunity to be co-located with the external organisation, to extend their professional networks, and to acquire appropriate professional work experience. Students will deliver the results of their project to the organisation in both written format and in a formal presentation. Students will also have the opportunity to reflect on their experience.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• help to define and solve a real problem identified by an external organisation;
• apply and extend knowledge obtained through prior completion of EMA subjects in a professional setting;
• learn to work effectively as part of a small team in a professional setting;
• develop project planning and management skills; and
  
• effectively communicate results to client groups and an academic audience.

1. A 7,000 word group project that is developed in consultation with the external organisation that hosts the project. It will be assessed and graded jointly by the organisation and the Subject Coordinator. It is worth 70% of the final result and each student will be awarded the same mark and result for the project. Due at the end of the semester.
2. A formal oral group presentation of the Group Project, equivalent to 1,500 words, and worth 15% of the final result. This presentation will occur at a formal event, involving the host organisations for the group projects and academic staff and students in the EMA program. This is a group assignment and each student in the group will be awarded the same result for this task.
3. A 1,500 word reflective essay, due at the completion of the subject. This is an individual assignment and it will require students to reflect critically and personally on their experience of the Group Project. It is worth 15% of the final result and it will be assessed by the Subject Coordinator.

Hurdle Requirements:

The following hurdle requirements must be met in order for students to be eligible to submit the final report or thesis:

• Submit a 500-word project proposal, by the end of week 1.
• Submit a 1000-word project update mid-way through semester.
• Participation in a group presentation to occur at a date negotiated by the organisation and subject coordinator.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who complete this subject should have:

• advanced communication skills (written and verbal) appropriate to professional contexts;
• project management skills, including scoping projects, developing timelines and meeting deadlines;
• team work and task management;
• research and critical thinking in application to a real world problem; and
• interpersonal skills, including the capacity to work effectively in teams and to develop relationships with clients.