The aim of this module is to enable students to complete a comprehensive research project designed to allow them frame, understand and suggest resolutions for a complex, 'real world' industry problem. Students will work in groups or on an individual basis, on complex problems identified by industry partners that will allow them to gain insights into problem understanding and resolution in an industry context. They will be guided by an academic supervisor and will be supported by inputs from the 'world of work' where required and relevant.

In this module students will be expected to complete a group based, creative problem solving exercise. The problem to be addressed will be developed in collaboration with industry partners who will provide an introductory briefing to the problem. As part of their preparation for the creative problem solving exercise students will be introduced to approaches to creative problem solving, to research skills, to essential aspects of team work and collaboration as well as to the elements of effective presentation and report writing. Students will then engage in an intensive creative problem solving exercise, carrying out detailed primary and secondary research designed to establish an evidence foundation upon which their problem resolution will be based. Finally, students will present their problem resolution in the form of a written report and an in-person presentation to industry partners.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Recognise the key requirements for a research project involving creative problem solving, including formulation of a problem statement - Generate the necessary methodological instruments to enable them to locate and document essential sources of evidence, including proficiency in library research skills and other methods of information gathering - Develop the capacity to apply curriculum-based knowledge in a real-world setting - Display their competence to work effectively either individually or as a member of a project team - Demonstrate initiative in the location of sources and development of ideas - Determine an effective means of presenting the research, using communication and information technology to retrieve, analyse and present information

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Display their capacity for self-direction, self motivation and organisation - Demonstrate competencies in time and project management skills - Display awareness of relevant research ethics protocols, where relevant. - Act independently and as part of a team - Listen, reflect and engage with opinions and arguments - Present and defend their research in a public setting

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This module will employ a combination of preparatory, in class sessions to prepare students for the creative problem solving project. These preparatory elements will be assessed separately from the final project submission. Students will then have to work individually or in teams to address the problem presented to them. They will have to undertake rigorous research to develop a sound problem understanding and to create an evidence foundation, upon which their conclusions can be based. This process will be lightly facilitated / supervised, in keeping with best practice PBL approaches. The outcome of the process will be a public presentation of conclusions, demonstrating logic and reasoning and consideration of alternative solutions to the problem at hand, as well as a written report submitted shortly after the presentation. Finally, students will be required to complete an individually assessed reflexive journal to enable them to interrogate their problem solving and, where relevant, their group work experiences. This module speaks strongly and directly to the aims of the UL graduate attributes. In taking on a complex problem solving challenge, students will become more responsible and will be expected to develop their inter and intra personal skills in pursuit of a problem solution. By participating in a creative problem solving exercise, they will develop their curiosity and problem solving skills, as well as their capacity to be enterprising and innovative. Finally, having to present and defend their conclusions in public will help students to become more articulate and to engage in robust dialogue about their ideas.