CIT Teaching & Learning Unit

Project TITLE

Embedding Interventions of Professional Identity Framework into the MTU BIS Curriculum

Project Lead

Dr Fred Creedon (fred.creedon@mtu.ie)

Project Status

• In Progress

Project Lead Home Department

• MTU Cork - Business - Accounting and Information Systems

Alignment to HEA and NFETLHE SATLE 2023-24 Themes

• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 

Alignment to MTU Strategy Themes

• Learner Education & Experience
• People & Community
• Global Outlook

Project Description

Under SATLE 2022-23 Learning Enhancement Project (LEP) funding initiative, the project team secured funding for a project titled "Designing a framework for nurturing a sense of professional identity with Business Information Systems (BIS) students." Building on this foundational work, referred to as P1, the project team has secured SATLE 2023-24 LEP funding to continue this important endeavour with the next iteration, P2.

The overarching goal of this project is to design and evaluate a set of interventions aimed at helping BIS students develop a strong sense of professional identity. This focus on BIS students was informed by previous surveys and anecdotal evidence suggesting that these students generally have a poor understanding of the Information Systems discipline, which can impact their connection to the programme.

Completed during the 2023/24 academic year, P1 of this project concentrated on the key aspects of 'Values, beliefs, and ethics' and 'Context and Socialisation.' As a result, two significant artefacts were developed:

A Proposed Framework of Interventions for Nurturing Professional Identity

• This generic framework builds on the work of Fitzgerald et al (Anita Fitzgerald, Professional Identity in Graduating Nursing Students, Journal of Nursing Education, 2021). and focuses on five pillars of professional identity - Actions and Behaviour; Knowledge and Skills; Values, Beliefs, and Ethics; Context and Socialisation; and Group and Personal Identity.
• The framework was evaluated as a tool to help academic teams effectively map and identify professional identity interventions.

The Croí Workshop Approach

• Developed in collaboration with Dr Gwen Lettis from MTU's Department of Media Communications, this workshop approach incorporates the use of BIS graduate personas - simple text and image-based artefacts that convey different BIS career paths and how they align with the graduates' personal and professional values.

In terms of the next phase of the project, P2, which will be carried out during the 2024/25 academic year, the planned outcomes are as follows:

Integration of Croí Workshops into the BIS Programme's Academic Delivery

• The project team has consulted with other BIS programme lecturers to integrate the Croí workshops into practical work labs for both first-year and third-year students.
• This approach recognises that students' personal and professional values evolve as they progress through the programme and aims to provide them with opportunities for reflection and adjustment.

Development of High-Fidelity Graduate Personas Using TikTok-Style Videos

• The project will create a series of short, engaging video interviews with BIS graduates, which will be integrated into the Croí workshops to provide students with a more immersive and relatable understanding of potential career paths.

Integration with the Development of Open Educational Resources (OERs) for the Croí Process

• The project will collaborate with Dr Lettis' work on OERs that allow individuals to complete the Croí process independently or as part of instructor-led sessions.

Alignment with the SATLE  2023-24 Reimagining Assessment and Feedback Together (RAFT) Application

• The project team has submitted a successful RAFT application, which focuses on assessment for the BIS programme. This will enable the team to explore the 'Knowledge and Skills' pillar of the professional identity framework.

Looking ahead, the project team anticipates that Phase 3 of this project, which will be carried out during the 2025/26 academic year, will involve the delivery of train-the-trainer style sessions. This will enable individuals and academic teams at other institutions to effectively integrate professional identity interventions into their programme offerings, amplifying the impact and reach of this important initiative.

By nurturing a strong sense of professional identity among BIS students, this project aims to enhance their understanding of the Information Systems discipline, strengthen their connection to their chosen programme, and better prepare them for successful careers in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

What is the anticipated impact of this project?

The key stakeholders that will be impacted by this project include:

Academic Staff

• The integration of the content developed in the P1 phase into the BIS programme delivery will directly impact the academic staff responsible for designing and delivering the programme curriculum.
• They will need to incorporate the new materials and workshops into their teaching.

Current BIS Undergraduate Students

• The students currently enrolled in the BIS programme will benefit from the integration of the P1 content, as it is designed to enhance their learning experience and better prepare them for their future careers.

BIS Graduates

• BIS graduates, both recent and past, may also see positive impacts from this project.
• The more comprehensive graduate personas and accessible career-focused content could help alumni better articulate their skills and experiences to prospective employers.

Prospective BIS Students

• Potential future students considering the BIS programme will be exposed to the updated, career-focused curriculum and resources.
• This could influence their decision to enrol in the programme, as it demonstrates the programme's commitment to preparing students for success after graduation.

BIS Graduate Employers

• Employers who typically hire BIS graduates may benefit from the enhanced career preparedness of the students, leading to a better alignment between graduate skills and employer needs.

Careers Counsellors in Second Level

• Second-level careers counsellors who advise prospective university students may find the updated BIS programme information and resources valuable when guiding students towards appropriate degree programmes.

Parents of Prospective and Current BIS Students

• The parents of both prospective and current BIS students will likely appreciate the programme's focus on career preparation and the resources available to support their children's success.

The positive reception of the workshop and personas developed in the P1 phase indicates that the goals of the P2 phase, including integrating the content into the BIS programme, creating more comprehensive graduate personas, and incorporating the Croí workshop into existing modules, are well-aligned with the needs and expectations of the key stakeholders. These enhancements have the potential to significantly improve the overall student experience and career outcomes for BIS graduates.

HOW Will the outputs of this project be DISSEMINATED?

The project team has a multi-pronged approach planned for disseminating the outputs and findings of this project as follows:

Workshops with the BIS Academic Team

• The team will host a series of interactive workshops with the BIS academic staff. These workshops will serve to familiarise the faculty with the new content and resources developed and provide training on how to effectively integrate them into the existing BIS curriculum. This will ensure a smooth transition and uptake of the materials by the teaching staff.

Sharing with Other Interested Departments at MTU

• Beyond the BIS programme, the project team plans to share their work with other relevant departments and faculties within Munster Technological University (MTU). This cross-pollination of ideas and resources has the potential to benefit students across different degree programmes, fostering a more career-focused mindset throughout the institution.

Presentation Opportunities

• The project team is committed to actively seeking out opportunities to present their work to wider audiences. This includes local Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) events, as well as national and international academic conferences. Sharing their findings and experiences at these forums will allow for valuable feedback, potential collaborations, and the dissemination of best practices to the broader higher education community.

Integration into the BIS Programme

• Arguably the most impactful mode of dissemination will be the direct integration of the project's artefacts and resources into the BIS programme curriculum. By embedding the new career-focused content and workshops into the core modules, the project team will ensure that current and future BIS students have direct access to these valuable tools and learning experiences.

Train-the-Trainer Approach

• To further enhance the sustainability and reach of the project outputs, the team will employ a "train-the-trainer" model. This involves training a group of key faculty members, who can then go on to train and support other academic staff in the effective use of the new materials. This cascading approach will help maximise the number of people who can engage with and benefit from the tools created during the project.

By utilising this multifaceted dissemination strategy, the project team aims to ensure that the impact of their work extends beyond the BIS programme and reaches a diverse range of stakeholders, both within MTU and the wider higher education landscape.

 

Team Members