Programme Specifications

N/A

December 2014

The main educational aims of this programme are to:

• provide students with a detailed understanding of the principles and processes that underpin sustainable and efficient food production, including the social and environmental contexts.

• develop students' intellectual, practical, numeracy, communication, information and communication technology (ICT), interpersonal / teamwork, self-management and professional development skills, in pasture-based food production context.

• inculcate the values of scholarship: inquiry, reflection, integrity, open-mindedness, evidence-based thinking, collegiality.

• equip students who already have work experience in the food supply chain to implement the latest research into sustainable systems thinking, and to facilitate cutting edge careers for those who want to enter the food production and supply chain.

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:

Depending on the options selected by the student, the following areas of knowledge and understanding will apply in the two optional taught modules.

The focus of all of the optional modules is to increase understanding of the challenges facing the sector and awareness of current relevant research. To ensure academic coherence throughout the optional taught modules all work towards common learning outcomes, as follows:

• The principles that underpin sustainability and efficiency in pasture-based agriculture and the translation of these principles into practical guidelines and monitoring

• Ecology of pasture-based agricultural systems, principles and theories relating to animal, plant and soil and water systems.

• The relationships between components of land use systems with particular emphasis on limiting impacts and integrating policy Frameworks

• The nature of scientific investigation and the application of results into practice to foster greater sustainability and efficiency within pasture-based agricultural systems

• Understanding key challenges facing beef, sheep and dairy producers (climate change, resource efficiency, pollution, practical and legislative frameworks)

The learning outcomes for the core (Research Methodologies) module are as follow:

• Apply statistical knowledge in the context of postgraduate research.

• Identify appropriate methods for different types of data.

• Analyse and interpret the results from a range of different statistical analyses.

• Generate appropriate research hypotheses and research objectives.

• Assimilation and synthesis of information from published research and databases.

• Clearly describe and communicate research findings.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Teaching and learning

The learning, teaching and assessment regimes encourage progressive acquisition of subject specific knowledge and skills by moving from supported study methods towards the development of the autonomous and reflective learner within each module.

Each is made up of 10 units focussing on separate themes and building the students' knowledge. Each unit comprises:

An introduction to its theme; a guided (and optional extra) reading list; Unit Study Guide - an interactive pdf on Blackboard that takes students through all the resources for the unit and linking to extra resources on the web; 2-3 Audio or video lectures; relevant peer reviewed papers; formative questions and model answers and an assessed forum.

Assessment

There is no exam for the scheme and we have broken the coursework within each module down into fairly short assignments (2 per module plus assessed forum posts throughout each), so that they remain compatible with the students' working lifewhilst developing their skills and knowledge. Each of the assignments is keyed to the learning outcomes in the module. Every two to three units, as appropriate, students are provided with:

A summative assessment and/or a forum on a current topic.

The assessed outputs of the core (Research Methodologies) module are: answers to statistical problems; an initial research proposal; and literature review.

Skills and knowledge acquired from the taught modules are ultimately applied and tested via the 120 credit thesis module which applies the generic and core degree scheme skills acquired.

10.2.1) Intellectual skills

Students will develop independent learning and 'process' skills necessary to:

• Comment on the basic concepts of the subject.

• Critically analyse literature, and use the literature to expand interests in agriculture.

• Synthesise, manipulate and evaluate primary and secondary data from a variety of sources.

• Design and carry out individual research project and write research reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Teaching and learning

The students' key skills, particularly those of communication, research, IT and problem solving, will be developed through formative as well as assessed coursework programmes which will be accompanied by detailed feedback on performance. As such students will have 3 strands to their developmental learning i.e. structured contact, self-directed learning and key skills. An example of this is the research training, which offers strong progression from basic skills, to the Dissertation.

Assessment

Each of the assignments is keyed to the learning outcomes in the module. Every two to three units, as appropriate, students are provided with:

• a summative assessment

• a forum on a current topic

Intellectual skills acquired from the taught modules are ultimately applied and tested via the 120 credit thesis module which applies the generic and core degree scheme skills acquired.

10.2.2) Professional practical skills

On the whole students participating on this course are expected to already be professionals in the agri-food sector. Professional skills developed will include:

• Tackling problems by collecting, analysing and evaluating and interpreting appropriate qualitative and quantitative information and using it creatively and effectively

• Planning and executing research or development work, evaluating the outcomes and draw valid conclusions

• Writing field based and management reports to meet the objectives of multitudinous stakeholders

• Engaging with current research and providing effective knowledge transfer

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrate.

Teaching and Learning:

These will be developed through formative as well as assessed coursework programmes which will be accompanied by detailed feedback on performance. As such students will have 3 strands to their developmental learning i.e. structured contact, self-directed learning and key skills.

Assessment

The majority of students on this scheme will already be professionals. Nonetheless, professional skills such as: report writing, making presentations will be assessed within the 2 assignments for each module and within the dissertation.

On completion of the MRes the student will be able to:

• Develop independent learning skills necessary for the foundation of lifelong learning

• Develop ‘process skills’ to become an effective post graduate scientist

• Communicate clearly, concisely and confidently in spoken and written format

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrate.

Teaching and Learning:

These will be developed through formative as well as assessed coursework programmes which will be accompanied by detailed feedback on performance. As such students will have 3 strands to their developmental learning i.e. structured contact, self-directed learning and key skills.

Assessment:

Each of the assignments is keyed to the learning outcomes in the module. Every two to three units, as appropriate, students are provided with:

• a summative assessment

• a forum on a current topic

Transferable skills acquired from the taught modules are ultimately applied and tested via the 120credit thesis module which applies the generic and core degree scheme skills acquired. the 2 assignments for each module and within the dissertation.