Consultancy Project
| Module title | Consultancy Project |
|---|---|
| Module code | SMLM239 |
| Academic year | 2026/7 |
| Credits | 60 |
| Module staff | Professor Susana Afonso Pinto Cavadas Afonso (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
The consultancy project, available only to MA Intercultural Communication students, serves as an alternative to the dissertation. The consultancy project enables you to showcase your research skills and critical thinking through practical work while fostering a mutual exchange of knowledge between you and an external partner within the field of Intercultural Communication. You will be responsible for initiating contact with the external partner, with support from the module convenor . In collaboration with the external partner, you will design and undertake a 10-week consultancy project that applies the knowledge of relevant theories and transferrable skills gained throughout your course.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to support you in making the most of a work experience in which you will connect theory with practice through experiential learning and design thinking methods. It aims to enhance your current and future employability skills by providing opportunities to apply your knowledge in professional settings. You will conduct relevant research, analyse data, and present your solution/recommendations in the form of a report (which may include a deliverable, e.g. toolkit, educational materials, etc.) and accompanying critical reflection on your work.
Working with an external partner, you will develop key employability skills, including collaboration on an intercultural communication project of mutual interest, as well as competencies in time management, communication, and content creation.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically assess how the transferable skills and knowledge acquired through your course apply to professional settings
- 2. Demonstrate an understanding of design thinking approaches
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Show a clear understanding of intercultural communication research and the ability to critically analyse situations
- 4. Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and terminology in the field of Intercultural Communication
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Independently and effectively carry out a specific work-based learning project developed in collaboration with an external partner.
- 6. Critically reflect on your experience
- 7. Communicate effectively with non-academic audiences
- 8. Write a professional report (including a deliverable) for an external partner
Syllabus plan
In Term 1, a series of lectures will focus on research skills and research methodology. Topics include, amongst others, critical reading, methods of data collection, qualitative analysis, and ethical aspects in research.
In Term 2, a series of workshops will focus on design thinking to prepare you to deliver the consultancy project.
In Term 3, you will work on the project and have regular individual meetings with your academic supervisor.
If by the beginning of Term 2 engagement with an external partner has not been confirmed, you will transfer to SMLM088 Dissertation.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 420 | 150 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 15 | 10 x 1.5 hour workshops |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 5 | 5 x 1 hour individual supervisions during placement |
| Placement | 150 | Activities undertaken on placement as agreed with the external partner |
| Guided independent study | 150 | Preparation for scheduled learning and teaching sessions, including set reading |
| Guided independent study | 270 | Preparation of report (including deliverable) and critical reflection |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual presentation of project proposal and approach | 15 mins | 1-4; 7 | Verbal with the possibility of individual tutorial |
| Individual presentation of initial findings and recommendations | 15 mins | 1-4; 7 | Verbal with the possibility of individual tutorial |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report aimed at the external partner | 80 | 6,500 words | 1-5; 8 | Written feedback |
| Critical reflection on work undertaken | 20 | 2,500 words | 1-4; 6 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report aimed at the external partner | 6,500 word report aimed at the external partner | 1-5; 8 | Usually 6 weeks |
| Critical reflection on work undertaken | 2,500 critical reflection on work undertaken | 1-4; 6 | Usually 6 weeks |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Cresswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
Hantsiuk, T., Vintoniv, K., Opar, N., & Hryvnak, B. (2021). Developing Intercultural Competence Through Design Thinking. European Integration Studies (Kaunas University of Technology), 15(1), 9–21.
Kim, Y. Y. (2017). Handbook of Research Methods in Intercultural Communication. Routledge.
Krohn, T., & Meinel, C. (Eds.). (2022). Design Thinking in Education: Innovation Can Be Learned (1st ed.). Springer International Publishing
Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (Eds.). (2022). Design Thinking Research: Achieving Real Innovation (1st ed.) Springer International Publishing.
Oetzel, J. G. (Ed.) (2017). Intercultural communication: A reader. Sage Publications.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://ele.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 60 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 30 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/04/2025 |