Graduate Education in Research Practice Programme
Graduate Education in Research Practice
The CUA Level 9 Graduate Education in Research Practice (Generic and Transferable Skills) programme allows a flexible learning approach to provide Postgraduate Students with Generic and Transferable Skills required to conduct research.
It consists of 6 modules, which can be taken either as:
- Single Subject Certificates (10 Credits)
- Combining 3 modules to achieve a Level 9 Certificate in Research Practice
- Combining 6 modules to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Practice
Click on the button below for more information on the teaching team
1. Research Methods (10 Credits)
The aim of this module is to provide postgraduate researchers with knowledge in key areas involved in the research process including: formulating research questions; measurement; research design; writing the research paper. It also addresses the major theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of research including: ethics and health and safety.
Learning outcomes:
- Evaluate the attributes and importance of research
- Assess the techniques involved in identifying the research question and predict the ethical and safety elements involved
- Evaluate published material
- Choose and compare qualitative and quantitative research procedures
- Plan and structure a research paper
- Appraise funding opportunities and prepare a funding proposal
2.Research Management (10 Credits)
The aim of module is to provide postgraduate researchers with the personal knowledge, skills and attitude to competently manage a research project.
Learning outcomes:
- Identify key elements of the Project Management environment
- Produce a Statement of Requirements based on a Project Scope Statement and develop a work structure breakdown
- Critically analyse a project schedule
- Track progress, identify and respond to risks
- Display personal effectiveness in project management
- Use project management software tools
3.Data Handling And Analysis (10 Credits)
The aim of this module is to equip postgraduate researchers with the analytical tools required to design and analyse experiments and/or observational studies, in order to make estimates, test hypotheses and explore relationships.
Learning outcomes:
Collect quantitative and/or qualitative data using appropriate investigative techniques.
- Formulate research hypotheses
- Articulate a model for the response in an experiment
- Analyse data using software
- Present, defend and discuss conclusions
- Evaluate the statistical quality of research papers and presentations
4. Communications for Researchers (10 Credits)
The aim of this module is to introduce postgraduate researchers to a variety of specific modes of communication. This includes the development of initial research ideas, reviewing relevant concepts, theories and previous studies, establishing a conceptual framework, and defending a research proposal.
Learning outcomes:
- Value the importance of communicating various aspects of research and the research process.
- Articulate and present research ideas
- Describe and defend a research design
- Evaluate and appraise the fundamentals of writing a scholarly paper
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of a professional presentation
5. Creativity and Entrepreneurship (10 Credits)
The aim of this module is to introduce postgraduate researchers to idea generation and creative techniques for the purposes of becoming change agents, problem solvers, innovative thinkers and generators of new ideas. This is a highly practical and innovative module, designed to encourage students to push back traditional boundaries and unlock their creative potential with a possible view to new venture creation.
Learning outcomes:
- Identify and research key concepts and processes of creativity
- Assess the values associated with the modern creativity movement
- Apply a range of analytical and creative tools to foster creativity in a range of challenging situations
- Choose and compare these techniques to solve problems/barriers encountered in conducting empirical research
- Generate ideas, develop and evaluate an idea for a potential new business
- Evaluate the link between creativity and entrepreneurship
6. Personal Development for Researchers (10 Credits)
The aim of this module is to present the postgraduate researcher with a range of contextual perspectives, metacognitive strategies and personal skills appropriate to the different stages of the research process.
Learning outcomes:
- Participate actively as a member of a research community
- Display ethical and political awareness in relation to the research project undertaken
- Develop cognitive skills, including the use of analytical and mind mapping tools
- Reflect on themselves and their research project by developing a personal development plan
- Develop strategies of autonomous behavior in relation to the research
- Recognise the importance of interpersonal skills in collaboration with others
For further information, please contact the Programme Co-ordinator, Ruth Moran (moran.ruth@nullitsligo.ie).1.