Nuffield Project Design

Module Identifier: BDM3120
Module Title: Nuffield Project Design
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Distance Learning
Co-ordinator: Mr Meirion Roberts
Reading List: View on Aspire
Other Staff: Dr Ifat Shah; Dr David Cutress

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Interactive: A reflective journal so the students can track how the learning materials have influenced their project design and planning 1500 Words	40%
Semester Assessment	Research Proposal: Outline the aims and objectives of the students study tour and how they hope to achieve them 2500 Words	60%
Supplementary Assessment	Research Proposal: Outline the aims and objectives of the students study tour and how they hope to achieve them 2500 Words	60%
Supplementary Assessment	Interactive: A reflective journal so the students can track how the learning materials have influenced their project design and planning 1500 Words	40%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Identify the current and future challenges to the agri-food industry
Identify and review good scientific writing styles
Use academic literature to define project scope and identify a research gap
Devise and articulate a valid strategy to answer a research question
Identify and scrutinise a range of data collection methods to best suit a defined research project

Brief description

This 20-credit module is only available to recipients of the Nuffield Farming Scholarship. The module runs for 12-weeks and comprises mainly taught elements to provide academic support for the students in the planning of the self-directed study of the Scholarship Study Tour itself. It also provides a route to postgraduate qualifications. Through the scholarship, Students will gain an appreciation of how specific challenges affecting UK agriculture are being met elsewhere. Students will identify a topic for study which is relevant to current or future
challenges facing the agri-food sector in their home country; for which they must provide a detailed rationale and study plan.
In line with the Nuffield Scholarship, the academic focus of the module will be: Independent research into good practice in either farming, food, horticulture or rural industries outside of their home country; for which they must provide a detailed rationale and study plan.

Exploring the potential for applying these in the context of their home country. Scholars are able to travel anywhere in the world for a period of no less than 8 weeks to further their
knowledge and understanding of their chosen study topic. On return from their travels they will submit a written report and present their findings, including recommendations to
the relevant industry at the Annual Nuffield Farming Conference.

Content

The module will be structured in to the following topics:
Key Academic Skills
Using Academic Literature
Research Scoping
Aims, Objectives and Hypotheses
Developing a Research Strategy
What is Data?
Methods and Best Practice of Data Collection
Data Management and Storage
Ethical Research Practice

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Creative Problem Solving	The development of the study tour will help develop and improve student’s problem-solving skills
Critical and analytical thinking	Students will be required to plan directed self-study, so will develop their critical and analytical skills
Reflection	The reflective journals will require the students to challenge their own preconceptions of research to devise a sound research proposal

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7