What is Sustainability Transition Environment?

Understand the role of an academic supervisor in the context of a research project

1. Sustainability Transition Environmental Green & Clean Technology and Innovation.

2. Understand the role of an academic supervisor in the context of a research project.

3. Evaluate the research process and understand how to manage it professionally.

4. Appreciate the role of research philosophy in determining research design.

5. Understand the interdisciplinary nature of research and the role of cognate disciplines in framing research topics.

6. Evaluate different research alternatives and understand which are most appropriate to solving particular marketing problems.

7. Understand how to address particular market research problems and articulate solutions in an academic format.

8. Conduct literature reviews and frame academically relevant research questions.

9. Design qualitative and quantitative research studies.

10. Perform data analysis which is meaningful and addresses pertinent issues from an academic marketing perspective.

A. Work effectively under supervision and deliver a professional research project.

B. Analyse qualitative or quantitative data sets to address research questions.

C. Write a research report and present it in a professional way.

D. The first stage of the Dissertation Module is the submission of a dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal is typically a 2,000-word (maximum) outline of the topic you intend to research for your dissertation (please consult with your relevant Programme Leader or Research Planning module leader to confirm). You should have completed a proposal as part of the SG5002 – Business Research Methods module in 2019/20.

E. Students should select a valid research topic, and conduct research into the scholarly literature in that area. Students are advised to review 10 key academic journal articles relevant to the topic they have chosen and discuss potential gaps in the current literature that could be addressed. The dissertation proposal should contain the following sections:

1. Brief review of the key literature

2. Proposed Research Methodology

3. Conclusion

4. Time plan for completion of the project on a Gantt Chart

Students will be allocated a supervisor on the basis of the topic they select for their dissertation. Only students’ who submit a proposal will be allocated a supervisor in the first instance, so it’s vital that all students registered for SG6006 submit a proposal. All supervisory allocations will be made by the Head of Department within the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. Students are also advised to approach potential supervisors with research proposals if they are interested in working with a particular member of academic staff. If a student wishes to change from an allocated supervisor, he/she must make an appointment with their Course Leader or Head of Department in the first instance (if the Programme Leader is the supervisor, the Head of Department should be approached) and provide a valid reason for this request.

1. Once students have been allocated a supervisor, they will work with that academic member of staff for the duration of the academic year (24 weeks). Once students establish who their supervisor is, they should email them with their proposal to organise their first meeting.

2. Role of the SupervisorThe role of the supervisor is to oversee the research process and act as a sounding board for the student’s ideas and research approach. The supervisor’s role is not to “co-produce” the work, but to provide critical commentary on the development of the work and offer advice for improvement. All key decisions regarding literature, research question, methodology and data analysis approaches are made by the student, and ultimately it is the student who is responsible for his/her final grade. It is expected that all students will have attended and engaged with the research methods classes on their programme and have a good understanding of the research process before they begin. They should therefore take ownership of their project and adopt a proactive approach with their supervisor, students should not wait to be instructed by their supervisors at each stage of the research process. The supervisor is there to offer guidance to the student and ensure the project is progressing adequately, and students are advised to maintain a professional relationship with their supervisors.