UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND / SEGi UNIVERSITY
BA (HONS) BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Module: Core Business Skills
Code: UGB 103

Assessment Element 1: Skills Audit and PDP Plan (Total 15 module marks)
(This assignment covers the following skills learning outcomes, taken from the Module Guide: Skills:- 8 - Manage own time, including setting own goals and targets for Progress Files)

Date of Submission: 12th October 2012

TASK:

Draw up an initial skills assessment to rate your skills level. Your assessment should include an analysis of your current strengths and weaknesses, personal development goals, and action plan. To complete this task you are required to:

1. Complete Form A “Self Assessment of my Present University Skills”, Form B “Areas for Discussion with your tutor”, and Form C “PDP Plan”. You may proceed with this activity after personally meeting and discussing with your tutor.

2. For further information please to refer to “Guide to Finding Study Skills Support & Starting Out on your Personal Development”, available on Sunspace in the UGB103 site.

FORM A (3 Marks)
SELF ASSESSMENT OF MY PRESENT UNIVERSITY SKILLS

|Name: |
|Date: |

|Rate your Skills and Abilities |Poor |OK |Good |Wish to Improve? |
|1.Communication |Speaking (English) | | | | |
| |Presentations | | | | |
| |Finding information at the Library | | | | |
| |Reading | | | | |
| |Writing – grammar and spelling | | | | |
| |Essays – Structure | | | | |
|2.Numeracy |Number skills (eg ± ≥ % fractions, ratios) | | | | |
| |Graphs | | | | |
|3.Computer |Internet searching | | | | |
| |Using MS Word | | | | |
| |Using MS Powerpoint | | | | |
| |Using MS Excel (you will have some tutorials) | | | | |
|4.Team |Amount of previous time working in groups | | | | |
| |Ability to see others point of view | | | | |
| |Ability to allocate work in group | | | | |
| |Ability to lead a team | | | | |
|5. Learning |Setting your own learning goals | | | | |
| |Using a personal development plan | | | | |
|6. Problem Solving |Working on your own to solve problems | | | | |
| |Working with others to solve problems | | | | |
|7. Other skills (state) you | | | | | |
|think relevant | | | | | |

FORM B (3 marks)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - AREAS FOR DISCUSSION WITH YOUR TUTOR

Background

|What academic qualifications have you gained before coming to SEGi? |
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|Please give details of any current work experience (paid or unpaid) you have had, include current part-time work, if |
|applicable |
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|What are your leisure interests and activities? |
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|Write down anything you feel you have achieved outside of your academic work: |
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Initial Academic Ideas

|What do you think your academic strengths are? |
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|What academic areas would you like to develop this year? |
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Career Ideas

|Use the space below to record any thoughts/ idea that you may have at the moment about future careers |
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Personal Ideas about Development

|Use the space below to record any thoughts/ idea that you may have at the moment about what you might want to develop in terms|
|of personal interests |
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Other matters you want to talk to your personal mentor about

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You will be assessed against the following criteria for Form B

|Learning Outcome |Criteria |
|K3 |Evidence of careful thought/ reflection on previous experience and knowledge |
| |Evidence of careful thought on proposed future ideas – Academic, Personal, Career |
|S5 | |

TASK – PDP PLAN (Form C)

Complete and submit Form C – your Plan (i.e. the 3 goals & your planned activities).

At this stage you will need to complete the first stage of planning – white blocks – on the attached plan sheets.

|Learning Outcome |Criteria – you will be measured in your Plan against your ability to:- |
|K1 |Think of appropriate ways to measure Goal Success |
| |Use SMART activities – ie |
| |Specific |
| |Measurable |
|S8 |Achievable |
| |Realistic |
| |Timely |

FORM C (3 marks)
PAGE 1 OF 3
|NAME | |
|GOAL 1 (ACADEMIC) | |
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|How will I measure goal success?| |
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|Steps to |Planned Activities |Date |Resources required |Evidence to support |Comments |
|achieve my| | | | | |
|goal | | | | | |
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| |Unplanned activities |Date |Resources used |Evidence to support |Comments |
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|Reflection on goal attainment | |
|(Date) | |
|What will I do in future? | |
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|Key: |FIRST STAGE OF PLANNING | |LATER STAGES |

Source: Gallagher, K. (2010), Skills Development for Business and Management Students, Oxford University Press

FORM C (3 marks)
PAGE 2 OF 3
|NAME | |
|GOAL 2 (PERSONAL) | |
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|How will I measure goal success?| |
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|Steps to |Planned Activities |Date |Resources required |Evidence to support |Comments |
|achieve my| | | | | |
|goal | | | | | |
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| |Unplanned activities |Date |Resources used |Evidence to support |Comments |
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|Reflection on goal attainment | |
|(Date) | |
|What will I do in future? | |
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|Key: |FIRST STAGE OF PLANNING | |LATER STAGES |

Source: Gallagher, K. (2010), Skills Development for Business and Management Students, Oxford University Press

FORM C (3 marks)
PAGE 3 OF 3
|NAME | |
|GOAL 3 (CAREER) | |
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|How will I measure goal success?| |
|: | |
|Steps to |Planned Activities |Date |Resources required |Evidence to support |Comments |
|achieve my| | | | | |
|goal | | | | | |
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| |Unplanned activities |Date |Resources used |Evidence to support |Comments |
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|Reflection on goal attainment | |
|(Date) | |
|What will I do in future? | |
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|Key: |FIRST STAGE OF PLANNING | |LATER STAGES |

Source: Gallagher, K. (2010), Skills Development for Business and Management Students, Oxford University Press

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND / SEGi UNIVERSITY
BA (HONS) BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Module: Core Business Skills
Code: UGB 103

Assessment Element 2: Advertisement (Total 30 module marks)

(This assignment covers the following skills learning outcomes, taken from the Module Guide: Knowledge:- 3 – Report writing and presentation methods: Skills 4 – Prepare, structure, reference and write reports: 5 - Prepare, structure and present presentations effectively)

Group Presentation: In Class w/c 22nd October 2012
Submission of group documentation: By 25th October 2012

TASK
You will be allocated to a group by your tutor. Your task as a group is to design a magazine or newspaper advertisement to promote a product, service, or idea (using pictures, diagrams, photos, words) 1. You will be assessed based on the overall design of the poster and its effectiveness in communicating the message across to the target audience. In the following week you are to present your advertisement in class.

Your advertisement should either: be in paper/ card format – maximum of 1 sheet or a single powerpoint slide, as viewed on the class OHP

You may use any combination of free-hand and/ or electronic media.

DO NOT…
The only thing that you should NOT DO is create something which looks like a page of notes or a bullet point list from a slide.

1You must obtain prior approval from your tutor for the product / service or idea you are promoting.

ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA

|Learning |Marks |Criteria |
|Outcome |% available | |
|K3 |10 |Originality of the advertisement |
| | |Design of advertisement |
| | |Effectiveness in communicating the message |
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|S5 |10 |Clarity of ‘Message’ |
| | |Performance of group speakers |

An additional 10 marks is available to the group for providing the following evidence of working together:

• Group Agreement (2 marks) • Group Minutes (3 marks) • Plan (5 marks)

Copies of these are attached below.

|Learning |Marks |Criteria |
|Outcome |% available | |
|K3 |2 |Agreement shows full details of student contacts and careful consideration of |
| | |working together. |
|S5 |3 |Minutes give sufficient information to record progress and to allocate actions. |
| |5 |Plan includes essential activities in a logical manner. |

Please see overleaf

|TEAM AGREEMENT FOR TEAM |
|Team Members (Full Names) |Contact Details - eg mobile, email |
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|INFORMAL COMMUNICATION |
|We have decided: |
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|MEETINGS |
|We have decided: |
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|MAKING DECISIONS |
|We have agreed: |
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|SANCTIONS |
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|SIGNED: |
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Source: Gallagher, K. (2010), Skills Development for Business and Management Students, Oxford University Press

(2 marks)

|MEETING MINUTES |
|Team Meeting Minutes Meeting No. |
|Subject |Date |
|Present: |
|Action Points From Last Meeting: |
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|Agenda for this Meeting: |
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|Summary of discussion |
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|Date of next meeting: |
|Written by: |

Source: Gallagher, K. (2010), Skills Development for Business and Management Students, Oxford University Press

(3 marks)

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|ACTIVITY |Week |Week |Week |
| |No: |No: |No: |
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Instructions • Please amend/ expand this plan as appropriate. • You need to add more details of activities. • You need to show the duration of activities as coloured bars in the appropriate weeks

(5 marks)

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND / SEGi UNIVERSITY
BA (HONS) BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Business School

Module: Core Business Skills
Code: UGB 103

Assessment Element 3: A survey on student satisfaction towards SEGi’s tuition fees (Total of 40 Module marks)
Submission date; 23rd November 2012.

( This assignment covers the following skills learning outcomes, taken from the Module Guide: Knowledge:- 1 Basic Study Skills Methods: Skills – 6 – Access various forms of information for the purposes of research)

TASK (pts A and B)

TASK A: Research and Report (25 Module Marks)
You will be allocated to a group by your tutor. Your task as a group is to design a STUDENT questionnaire on the tuition fees within SEGi University, carry out a short survey (minimum sample size = 30) and then present your findings in a report.

It is up to your group to decide exactly what it wishes to measure within your research topic (you could, for instance choose to investigate the course syllabus, satisfaction aligned with the facilities, support from the institution, or a combination of these or other measures).

You are also required to prepare PowerPoint slides of your report for a 15-minute presentation on your findings.

Within the report you will also need to submit:

1. A sample questionnaire 2. Notes on how the survey was carried out 3. A spreadsheet of the results 4. At least 3 types of chart 5. A conclusion of your findings

Make sure that all group members are listed on the report front cover - full name, family name in CAPITALS and student number.

EACH GROUP SHOULD SUBMIT 1 COPY OF THE REPORT by 23rd November 2012

Task B: Individual Report (15 Module Marks)

Prepare a 1000 word review of your group work in which you consider:

• how you would prepare questionnaires,

• how you would select your sample and

• how you would present the data

in any survey you are required to do in the future.

Each student to submit their own report by 23rd November 2012.

ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA – you need to be sure that your presentation meets these criteria:

Marks will be awarded according to the criteria below:

|Learning |Marks % |Criteria |
|Outcome |available | |
|K1, K2, |15 |Show reasoning for choice of questionnaire questions |
|K3 | |Identifying appropriate methods for presenting data |
|S1 | |Application of MS Excel for tables, charts, diagrams |
|S2 S3, S4 | | |
|S5 | | |
|K3, S2, |10 |Presentation slides - clarity, impact |
|S5 | |Presentation structure - beginning, middle, end |
|S3 |15 |Prepare a critical analysis reviewing questionnaires, sampling and data presentation. |
|S4 | | |
|S5 | | |

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND / SEGi UNIVERSITY
BA (HONS) BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Module: Core Business Skills
Code: UGB 103

Assessment Element 4: PDP – Reflective Essay (15 Module marks)

(This assignment covers the following skills learning outcomes, taken from the Module Guide: Knowledge:- 1 Basic Study Skills Methods, 3 Report Writing: Skills – 4 Report writing, 8 – Manage own time)

Date of Submission: 7th December 2012

TASK:

Reflect on your personal development during the semester, and whether you made the progress you planned. You will record this in writing and submit a reflective essay (1000 words) which will be included in your Personal Development Portfolio.

For this assignment, you are expected to cite books AND journal articles AND web-based information ALL correctly referenced within the main body of the essay and listed in full at the end of the essay under ’List of References.’

Your essay should be written in a recognised academic format, including the following:

(FRONT PAGE)
Module Code
Module Title
Title of Assignment
Module Leader’s Name
** Your Tutor’s Name (this person will mark your work) **
Your name (Family name underlined)
Your Student Number
Date of Submission

• INTRODUCTION ( you may use this or other introductory heading) • MAIN BODY OF ESSAY (You will need to use your own main headings and sub-headings. You may use a numbering system if you wish). • CONCLUSION (you are not asked for recommendations) • LIST OF REFERENCES (using Cite them right and HARVARD system) • APPENDICES

• All general typeface should be 12 point Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial. • You should use line spacing of 1.5 or double (easier to read – also your tutor can add comments between lines) • All pages should be numbered. • All pages should have your name in the footer.

Please note – correct spelling, punctuation and grammar are also assessed in this assignment.

ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA – you need to be sure that your report meets these criteria:

Marks will be awarded according to the criteria below:

|Learning |Marks |Criteria |
|Outcome |% available | |
|K1 |10 |Overall Structure of report – is it clear and easy to follow? |
|K3 | |Use of information to support your discussion |
|S4 | |Ability to construct an ‘argument’ |
| | |Spelling, punctuation, grammar |
| | |Use of references |
|S8 |5 |Ability to reflect upon own learning for study skills elements of information |
| | |collection and presentation of data |