BA Liberal Arts

Creative Manchester is a flagship initiative developed by the School of Arts, Languages & Cultures to facilitate collaborations between researchers, educators, civic leaders, employers, and communities. The Creative Manchester module on the Liberal Arts programme allows students to design and develop their own world-facing research that responds to the needs of organisations and industries in Manchester. Students will be able to utilise volunteering and placement opportunities in building their relationships with impact groups. In addition to volunteering and placement hours, students will meet with an academic project supervisor to oversee the research and writing process. The course will also feature group seminars to provide scope for peer support, as well as guidance from experts on how to consider tasks such as research design, ethics proposals, and report writing. This innovative course celebrates creative approaches to research, communication, and social responsibility. Assessment is divided between coursework (which will typically involve a report) and a final presentation. The course places a strong emphasis on employability skills and brings together different approaches and skills focused on in other core Liberal Arts units.

1. To develop and demonstrate independent interdisciplinary research skills;

2. To enable students to produce and present a piece of public-facing research;

3. To develop research through dialogue with key non-academic stakeholders that is sound and ethical.

· Specialist knowledge of a key challenge that faces communities and/or stakeholders in Manchester;

· Skilled competence with relevant interdisciplinary theories and methodologies;

· Detailed and critical awareness of connections between universities and public life.

· Critical reading and application of this in development of an argument;

· Critical and analytical skills;

· Understanding of need for research ethics and ability to implement them in own research agenda;

· Development of own research agenda and selection of appropriate theories and methods through which to explore a chosen theme/case study.

· Ability to work with key stakeholders, including those outside of the university context;

· Independent approach to research;

· Communicating research in non-essay formats (i.e. report, poster, video) and experiencing different writing and presentation styles.

· Self-organisation skills and an ability to plan research in order to meet course deadlines;

· An ability to work independently and responding to feedback from others;

· Insight into demands of different stakeholders and experience of working with non-university stakeholders;

· Effective oral and written communication skills.

Formative verbal feedback in supervisions;

summative written feedback provided within 15 working days of deadline 

Specific readings will depend on student projects. Resources to accompany seminars and workshops on research ethics, working with non-academic partners and institutions, research design, etc will be provided. The course is designed to build on skills acquired through other courses and in particular through Liberal Arts core courses, especially SALC2XXX2 Arts & The City. As such, resources from these courses will also be useful for developing students’ skills on this course.