Change Makers Independent Project
Undertake an independent project to explore a global issue of your choice
Module details
- Offered to 3rd & 4th Years
- Thursdays 16.00-18.00
- 2 term module worth 5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit or Degree Credit where your department allows
Follow up your own interests in a global issue, such as human sustainable development or environmental stewardship, with an extended independent project of your own design.
The Change Makers Independent Project is ideal if you have a particular interest in global issues and have an idea or topic of special interest that you would like to explore in some depth. The module consists of independent study, supervised by a Change Makers Teaching Fellow who will meet with you on a regular basis to discuss your progress. Your supervision will consist of some individual one-to-one meetings and some meetings with the whole cohort of students undertaking Independent Projects to share ideas and progress.
The topic and design of the project must be agreed with both your supervisor and the Change Makers Field Leader. You will be given guidance to help you define and focus your topic appropriately so that you can complete a rich and stimulating project. At the start of the module, you will be helped to develop a proposal that details the topic, your research question or objective and the mechanism by which you wish to complete your project and be assessed. You will be given lots of ideas and shown different examples of the types of work you could produce. However, if you have your own clear ideas, we will work to incorporate them fully into a project that meets the module description. You will develop your own timetable and meeting schedule in discussion with your supervisor and then begin work on your project.
Information blocks
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will be better able to:
- Demonstrate systematic knowledge and critical understanding of your chosen topic.
- Propose ways of investigating a real-world issue from a new perspective, utilizing your own skills, knowledge and expertise
- Synthesise, evaluate critically and challenge information and arguments from a range of sources to produce an original analysis
- Work in an interdisciplinary manner to produce work for assessment
- Plan, monitor and review your progress as an independent learner, acknowledging the value of your own unique contributions to knowledge on your subject
Indicative core content
- Topics are to be negotiated with individual supervisors and receive the approval of the Module Leader. There is broad scope for the topic, as long as you can demonstrate how it relates to global issues.
Assessment
- Coursework: Independent Project Submission - see below (90%)
- Practical: Course Performance - decided by your supervisor/s (10%)
Independent Project Submission - Overall submission equivalent workload of a 3000-5000 word essay. E.g. a written report (2500 words) and a ten-minute video (1000 word equivalent). There is scope for the analytical essay assessment to be partially substituted by an alternative form of assessment – i.e. a presentation, a poster or piece of artwork.
The Course Performance mark reflects the level of professional engagement you demonstrate with your supervisor when arranging and attending supervision meetings, responding to feedback that you are given and meeting deadlines.
Key information
- You are expected to spend approximately 125 hours total study time for the module, to be completed through a combination of independent study and flexible meetings with your classmates and lecturer. Independent study includes preparation for classes and assignments, wider reading and guided research relevant to the module.
- This module is designed as an undergraduate Level 6 course. See Imperial Horizons level descriptors [pdf]
"It’s really amazing to be able to design my own project and to follow up on something that I am really interested in for my future career."