Dissertation

Module code: EC3004

Module co-ordinator: Professor Clive Fraser

Description

“Technical skills will get you an interview; soft skills will get you the job and help you to keep it.” The dissertation module aims to develop and/or enhance key employment –relevant “soft skills” that economics graduates should possess. Non-exhaustively, these skills include:

• Verbal and written communication skills
• Decision-making skills
• Commitment, or an ability to work on important tasks with only minimal supervision because of intrinsic motivation
• Time management
• Creativity
• Responsibility
• Ability to work under pressure

The importance of such soft skills have been reiterated recently by the employers (including Food Standards Agency, New Economic Strategies, Ministry of Justice, Oxford Policy Management Ltd, Economic Consulting, Deloitte LLP, Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, ODI Fellowship Scheme, and the GES) surveyed and interviewed in the Economics Network’s 2012 study, “Economics Graduates’ Skill and Employability,” by Dr Inna Pomorina. The dissertation develops these soft skills via the students’ detailed study of, reporting on, and presentation of one article, or a small number of related articles, chosen from leading economic journals.   

Topics Covered

• What we look for in a good report
• How can my dissertation experience improve my employment prospects?
• How I put my dissertation experience into practice – input from an employer re. the value of skill development related to the dissertation
• Planning and structuring your dissertation (the Learning Development Team)
• How to write well
• Giving a good presentation

Learning

• 8 one-hour lectures, demonstrations and trial presentations

Assessment

• Dissertation, 3,000 words (50%)
• Powerpoint (20%)
• Presentation, 15 minute (30%)