HERCONS 790 Research Project - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

A research project in the field of heritage conservation which may include an internship. Placements and topics to be approved by the Head of School of Architecture and Planning.

Course Overview

This course gives students the opportunity to apply their heritage knowledge and skills, learnt in previous courses, from theory into practice, by working on a research project and producing a research report.

The internship option is intended for those who do not have relevant prior work experience. It is designed to help students to become work-place ready by placing them in a host organisation within the heritage industry; to develop student networks and contacts, and student experience of workplace behaviours and professionalism; and to provide host organisations with the valuable services of a highly capable and enthusiastic postgraduate student, to undertake a project of interest and value to the organisation.

Those interested in the internship option should contact the course coordinator, to express their interest, about 3 months before the start of semester, so that plans can be put in place.

The non-internship option is intended for those who do have work experience and wish to concentrate on advancing their academic research and writing. It is also intended for those who wish to select their own topic for their research project.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ARCHGEN 750, 751, or HERCONS 700, 701 Restriction: ARCHGEN 754

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Apply heritage knowledge and skills to real-world research projects; (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
Demonstrate improved research skills and written communication skills; (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
Become more work-place ready (interns), or more confident with academic research and writing practices (non-interns); (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
Demonstrate increased professionalism in their work and their behaviours (interns), or increased ability to work independently (non-interns). (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Research Report	100%	Individual Coursework
	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Research Report

Teaching & Learning Methods

Those who are doing an internship will have a host organisation and UoA supervisor appointed (the UoA supervisor may or may not be the course coordinator). The host organisation and the course coordinator will agree the topic for the research project. To meet the completion requirements for the course, interns must complete at least 8 days at their placement organisation. However, 11 or 12 days is allowed, and is preferable. It is not necessary to attend during the mid-semester break, although you may choose to do so if this suits your host organisation. Interns should meet with their UoA supervisor at least monthly to discuss progress on the project report. Interns are welcome to meet with the course coordinator or their UoA supervisor at any convenient time during the semester, if any issues or problems arise.

Those who are not doing an internship will have an individual supervisor appointed (this may or may not be the course coordinator). Students will meet with their supervisors at regular intervals, such as weekly or fortnightly for the duration of the semester, to discuss their individual research and writing.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in, equating to 20 hours per week in a 30 point course. Across the 15 weeks of semester, this tallies 300 hours for this course.

For this course, interns can expect to spend between 64 and 96 hours with their host organisation, and up to 4 hours in meetings with their UoA supervisor, with the balance to be spent on their independent research and writing.

Those not doing an internship can expect to spend up to 10 hours in meetings with their UoA supervisor, and 290 hours on their independent research and writing.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

There are no lectures for the course. Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including workplace placements (for interns) and supervision meetings (all students). Students and supervisors agree the meeting days and times to suit their schedules and individual student needs.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Health & Safety

For interns:

It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work as an intern in a host organisation. While in someone else’s workplace, you are expected to act professionally and to follow established standards of behaviour. This means:

• Arriving on time for each of the days that you are expected to be working for the host organisation; taking only agreed breaks for morning/afternoon tea and lunch; and remaining in the office until the agreed time;

• Dressing more formerly or professionally than you might normally do for attending University; take your lead from the dress standard of those who work in the host organisation;

• Being reliable, trustworthy and courteous in all interactions with people both within and beyond the host organisation. Act with integrity and discretion at all times.

Reports in the news media have shown that interns can become vulnerable in some workplace situations. This is unacceptable, and students should feel safe and looked after whenever they are in their host organisation. Students should be cautious about attending evening events, or events where alcohol will be served. If you experience any behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, then you should report it to your course coordinator or UoA supervisor as soon as you are able to.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course has not been evaluated in SET to date because the class size has been too small to reach the threshold required to ensure anonymity of responses. Informal feedback has been positive, with interns appreciating the workplace experience and those not doing internships appreciating the development of their academic research and writing skills.

Other Information

If you wish to conduct any interviews for your research project, please discuss your proposal with the course coordinator at the earliest opportunity. The course coordinator has gained approval from the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee for students enrolled in this course to interview people about aspects of their project, subject to certain process being followed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

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