CIT Teaching & Learning Unit

Project TITLE

Department of Marketing & International Business DELTA Award Renewal 

Project Lead

Elaine O'Brien (Elaine.OBrien@mtu.ie) 

Project Status

• In Progress

Project Lead Home Department

• MTU Cork - Business - Marketing and International Business 

Alignment to HEA and NFETLHE SATLE 2023-24 Themes

• Best Practice in Upholding and Cultivating Academic Integrity 

Alignment to MTU Strategy Themes

• Learner Education & Experience
• People & Community

Project Description

The Department of Marketing & International Business received the prestigious DELTA Award from the National Forum in 2021, valid for a period of three years until 2024. The focus of the award application was on the department's approach to professional development, the consistency of the learning experience (particularly in relation to authentic assessment), the value of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in teaching activities, and the recognition and reward mechanisms for students. 

Through this process, the department recognised the need to enhance its engagement with the scholarship of teaching and learning, as well as to strengthen its connections with institutional, national, and international bodies that support and fund the advancement of teaching and learning. 

The DELTA Action Plan developed by the department was deemed ambitious by the awarding panel. However, upon close observation and analysis, the department has successfully met most, if not all, of the SMART goals outlined in the plan. 

The department is now in the process of collating the status of each SMART goal, taking stock of current and planned activities in the rapidly evolving landscape, and preparing a new Action Plan and accompanying video submission for the DELTA renewal application in December 2024. 

There is a strong internal demand within the department to apply for the renewal of the DELTA Award, as it provides a structured and strategic framework to reflect on teaching and learning practices, identify strengths and challenges, and develop a focused plan for continuous improvement. 

The department's DELTA Team will conduct research with various stakeholders, including academic staff (representing diverse disciplines such as marketing, digital marketing, law, languages, and sales), students, alumni, and industry partners. This research will inform the identification of requirements to enhance the student learning experience, with a particular focus on academic integrity in a changing disciplinary environment. 

One of the core strengths of the department is the use of Authentic Assessment, which provides real-world application of theory and facilitates industry integration to enhance student learning. However, the department recognises the need to address the impact of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on academic integrity. 

To ensure quality assurance and uphold the principles of academic integrity, the department proposes to conduct key professional development workshops aligned with the previous and future DELTA Action Plans. These workshops will cover all five components of the DELTA award and will be rolled out as part of a comprehensive departmental professional development strategy. 

What is the anticipated impact of this project?

The primary research conducted by the department's DELTA Team will inform the development of a series of targeted professional development workshops. These workshops will address the key findings and recommendations that will then feed directly into the DELTA renewal application and accompanying video submission. 

This proposal will allow the Department of Marketing & International Business to collate valuable information and develop a clear, strategically driven action plan. This plan will be developed in collaboration with academic staff, ensuring a bottom-up approach to enhancing the learner experience through applied authentic assessment. 

The project will also foster the sharing of best practices in teaching and learning among academic staff, further strengthening the department's commitment to professional development. 

The project is expected to have a significant impact on the following stakeholders: 

Academic Staff  

• Approximately 45 staff members within the Department of Marketing & International Business will directly benefit from the professional development workshops and the sharing of best practices. 

Current Student Population 

• The department serves an annual student population of approximately 1,000 students, who will indirectly benefit from the enhanced teaching and learning practices implemented as a result of this project. 

Industry Partners 

• The department maintains strong connections with approximately 100 industry partners per year.  
• These partners will also be involved in the project, contributing to the enhancement of the learner experience through authentic assessment and industry integration. 

By addressing the evolving challenges related to academic integrity, particularly in the context of emerging technologies, the project has the potential to have a far-reaching impact on the department's students, staff, and external stakeholders, ultimately strengthening the overall quality of the teaching and learning experience. 

HOW Will the outputs of this project be DISSEMINATED?

The key project outputs will include the DELTA Renewal application, which will comprehensively document the professional development initiatives undertaken by the academic staff in the Department of Marketing & International Business. The application will cover the department's approach to enhancing authentic assessment practices, as well as its strategies for addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and their impact on academic integrity. 

The rollout of the DELTA Action Plan will serve as the primary vehicle for structured communication and implementation of the proposed strategies within the department. This plan will provide a clear and coherent framework to guide the department's teaching and learning activities, ensuring a consistent and coordinated approach to professional development, curriculum enhancement, and the fostering of a culture of academic integrity. 

Team Members