College of Business and Law

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/25

Assessment Brief
Submission and feedback dates
Submission deadline: Before 14:00 on May 7th 2025.
Is eligible for 48 hour late submission window
Marks and Feedback due on: June 3rd 2025
N.B. all times are 24-hour clock, current local time (at time of submission) in the UK

Submission details
Module title and code: Contemporary Business Issues UMPDN6-15-1
Assessment type: Group Presentation/Individual Portfolio
Assessment weighting: Group Presentation 60/Individual Portfolio 40 per cent of total
module mark
Size or length of assessment: Individual Portfolio 1600 words.
Module learning outcomes assessed by this task:
On successful completion of this module students will achieve the following learning
outcomes.
MO1 Critically evaluate the impact of various contemporary business issues on businesses
and their employees
MO2 Place individual topics of study within the broader context of business management
research
MO3 Engage in researching topics and developing perspectives and synoptic accounts
MO4 Understand the existence of a series of continuing debates with which students will
become familiar
MO5 Have started to develop critical thinking skills - constructively critiquing the research of
others, identifying strengths and weaknesses in technique, analysis and conclusions
MO6 Be able to produce different types of written and oral work appropriate to the
programme of study and observing the conventions of academic writing
Completing your assessment

What am I required to do on this assessment?

There are two taks for the assessment for this module: Poster Presentation and Portfolio
Activities.

Poster Presentation (60%)

You will be assessed on the basis of your knowledge of undertaking a basic research project.
You will be required to complete in groups a 10 week research project on the topic of your
choice, but falling into one of the key themes presented in this module.
You will complete and present an academic Poster presentation. You will receive an
examination known as a viva voice, an oral defence of your research – this will take place in
the week 11/12 workshops. Each presentation must last at least 15 minutes plus 5 minutes
for questions. Each student will be asked about their presentation.

Portfolio Activities (40%)

Throughout the term, you will complete a Portfolio of 1600 words which consists of four
learning activities, focusing on the knowledge and skills required to address the
contemporary issues faced by businesses.
It will also include a reflective commentary in which you will reflect on the experience and
processes of the module and how these may inform your understanding of your future
career. Each task will have a clear brief for you to address and will be submitted by May 6 th
2025 at 2pm. The 5 day grace period applies. The focus will be on ensuring you
demonstrate your understanding of the distinctive features of studying business as a broad,
comprehensive degree programme and recognise the potential future professional
pathways available to you.
The portfolio will consist of the following four areas:
 Inequalities in Society
 Globalisation
 New forms of recruitment
 New Forms of Work

Portfolio Activities

1 Based on the content of this week’s workshop, identify an example of inequality

experienced in the workplace and discuss a theory that explains why it exists. Your
discussion should seek to critique the theory that you outline. You must use academic
sources, include in-text citations and a Reference List.
 2 Based on the content of last week’s lecture and this week’s workshop, compare and
contrast any two opposing perspectives on globalisation. Your discussion should
critically analyse the two perspectives you present. You must use academic sources,
include in-text citations and a Reference List.
3 Based on the content of last week’s lecture and this week’s, you must:
Critically evaluate one form of new employment and its impact on workers. You must
use academic sources, include in-text citations and a Reference List.

4 Based on the content of last week’s lecture and this week’s workshop, you should:
a) Critically discuss the advantages and potential challenges to employers of offering
student internships/placements.
b) Critically discuss the advantages and potential challenges to students of undertaking
an internship/placement.
If you use academic sources, then you must include in-text citations and a Reference
List.

Where should I start?

A huge amount of content and support is available through the workshops and you will
need to regularly attend to be part of a group for the poster presentation. The workshops
will also cover content relevant to the individual portfolio, as will the lectures. Engagement
with the module is key to success.
What do I need to do to pass?
The following criteria will be used in evaluating this assessment:
The following criteria will be applied to your research projects, marks are individual but
work presented as a group.

Aspect Criteria Mark

Aim(s)/ Introduction MARKS

• Aim is not stated, no introduction. 0

• Aim is vaguely stated, introduction fails to describe the background/ 1

outline of work undertaken.

• Aim is accurate and clearly stated, adequate description of background/ 2

outlines of work undertaken.
• Exceptional/ clear comprehensive description of aims, background and 3
outlines of work undertaken.

Methodology

• No mention of methods/ materials used. 0

• Some mention of methods/ materials used. 1

• Methods and materials are almost complete and mostly accurate. 2

• Accurate and complete account of methods/ materials used. 3

A critical and well considered and justified methodological discussion 4

Literature Review

No review of the literature presented or integrated into presentation 0

Some attempt to review the literature, but errors in literature utilised 1

A descriptive review of the literature 2

Some clear attempts to be critical but limited development 3

Outstanding critical review 4–5

Results & Discussion

• No analysis and results given or totally incorrect. 0

• Incorrect analysis of data, results are incomplete and vaguely presented. 1

• Adequate analysis of data, results are accurate, some discussion of results 2

is attempted.

• Analysis of data, results, and discussions are accurate and complete. 3

• Analysis of data, results, and discussion are accurate and complete, with 4
suitable illustrations

• Method and logic of analysis, results and discussion are accurate and 5
complete, with suitable illustrations.

• Method and logic of analysis, results and discussion are accurate and 6
complete, with suitable illustrations and engage critically with the
academic literature

Conclusion

• No conclusion is attempted or conclusion is wrong. 0

• Conclusion is partly correct but incomplete. 1

• Conclusion is correct and almost complete. 2-3

• Conclusion is correct, complete, related to the aim of the research and 4-5
suggestions for improvement of research are given.

References

• References are not given 0

• References are incomplete and not arranged according to convention 1

• References are complete, properly written and arranged according to 2

convention.

Organisation and presentation of presentation

Organisation of presentation is not logical with untidy presentation. 0

Organisation is logical but presentation is untidy. 1–2

Organisation of presentation is neat and logical 3–5

Individual contribution 0 – 10

Quality of presentation 0 - 10

TOTAL Marks available 50

Portfolio Activity Assessment Criteria

 There is evidence that student has failed to properly engage with the
activity and has demonstrated a poor understanding as a result of
limited effort to attend lectures and complete additional reading. 0-3
marks
 The activity is completed to a standard that allows the student to
demonstrate limited understanding of the topic and shows evidence of
reading (albeit from inappropriate sources). 3-5 marks
 The activity is completed to a standard that demonstrates a good level
of critical engagement with the topic and it is clear that the student
has grasped the topic area effectively. Some wider academic reading
has been completed. 5-7 marks
 The student has fully engaged with the topic and shows excellent
critical analysis of the subject. There is evidence of significant
additional reading or research and this comes from reliable academic
sources (evidenced through referencing). 7-10 marks
Formative feedback and support during the module
Formative feedback provides opportunities to reflect on your ongoing work and preparation
for your assignment. Complete this section to highlight formative feedback opportunities
specific to this assignment and embedded in this module.
Further information about this assessment is available on the Blackboard site for this module and
includes:

Module Handbook, lecture and workshop materials, reading list.

Students will be able to receive feedback on one portfolio task in the first four weeks of the module.

Formatting
Please use the following file format(s) Presentation- A2 Printed, Portfolio- Word We cannot
ensure that other formats are compatible with markers’ software and cannot guarantee to
mark incorrect formats.
All work should be word processed in 12-point font Times New Roman or Arial and single
spaced.
The first page of your coursework must include:
 Your student number
 The module name and number
 Your word count
 The coursework question or title

Word Limit
The maximum word limit for this coursework is- Portfolio- 1600 words.
 There is no +/- 10% on word count and anything after the maximum word count will not
be marked, in line with UWE Bristol’s Word Count Policy.
 In line with UWE policy, this word count includes everything in the main body of the text
(including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, etc.).
 The references, bibliography and footnotes (provided footnotes only include references)
are NOT included in this word count.

Instructions for submission

You must submit your assignment before the stated deadline by electronic submission
through Blackboard. Notification that the electronic submission portal is open for your
assignment is displayed (usually two weeks before the submission date) in the Coursework
tab in myUWE, the Coursework tab in Blackboard and via an announcement in the
Blackboard course.
Please allow sufficient time to upload your assignment, as the system becomes busier and
slower as the deadline approaches. Only your final upload will be counted. Ensure all your
information is submitted at one attempt to avoid overwriting your intended submission.
Always check and retain your receipts.
Submissions of coursework by any other method (including a paper copy, on disk or by
email) are NOT permissible for this module unless specifically agreed in advance of the
submission date.
How do I achieve high marks in this assessment?

Before submitting your work, please ensure that:

 You have proof-read you work thoroughly to ensure your work is presented
appropriately

 You have addressed all the required elements of the assessment

 You have referenced in accordance with the guidance provided

 You have addressed each of the marking criterion

 The submission is in the correct format

How does the learning and teaching relate to the assessment?

Please see the module handbook for details.

What additional resources may help me complete this assessment?

There are a number of sources of support to improve your study skills, including:
 The UWE Library Study Skills pages – for online support and bookable workshops
 The Faculty of Business and Law’s Academic Success Centre for bookable workshops
 Guidance on using UWE’s Library.

Specific study skills pages relating to this module include:

 How to plan and structure your writing
 Presentation skills
 Working in a group
 Writing skills
 Research skills / techniques
 Report writing
 Reflective writing
 How to write critically
 Literature reviews
 English language support
For further guidance on UWE assessment regulations and terminology see UWE’s Academic
Advice pages.

What do I do if I am concerned about completing this assessment?

UWE Bristol offer a range of Assessment Support Options that you can explore through this
link, and both Academic Support and Wellbeing Support are available.
For further information, please see the Academic Survival Guide.
How do I avoid an Assessment Offence on this module? 2
Use the support above if you feel unable to submit your own work for this module.
Please ensure you reference all sources used when developing your assessment, using the
UWE Harvard system. Failure to properly reference your work to original source material
can be grounds for the assessment offence of plagiarism and may result in failure of the
assessment or more serious implications. Further guidance on correct referencing is
available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.
UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy outlines potential offences and it is your responsibility to
understand this policy and avoid potential offences. Details of what constitutes plagiarism
and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study Skills pages about avoiding plagiarism.
Text-matching software (e.g. SafeAssign) is used to check every submission against other
submissions made at the same time, previous submissions to UWE and other universities,
and internet sources. We may also manually search for matches. When submitting your
work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your own.
It is an assessment offence to:
- copy work from any source, including your own previous assessments, and present it
as your own work for this assessment, or to provide your own work to others
- to work with others on the assessment in any way, or for anyone to make amends on
your work (including proof-readers, who may highlight issues but not edit the work)
- change individual words but keep, essentially, the same sentences and/or structures
from other sources: this will be detected by text-matching software. Please write in
your own words and style to convey your own learning.

Marks and Feedback

Your assessment will be marked according to the following marking criteria.
You can use these to evaluate your own work before you submit.
1. In line with UWE Bristol’s Assessment Content Limit Policy (formerly the Word Count
Policy), word count includes all text, including (but not limited to): the main body of
text (including headings), all citations (both in and out of brackets), text boxes, tables
and graphs, figures and diagrams, quotes, lists.
2. UWE Bristol’s UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy requires that you submit work that
is entirely your own and reflects your own learning, so it is important to:
 Ensure you reference all sources used, using the UWE Harvard system and
the guidance available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.
 Avoid copying and pasting any work into this assessment, including your own
previous assessments, work from other students or internet sources
 Develop your own style, arguments and wording, so avoid copying sources
and changing individual words but keeping, essentially, the same sentences
and/or structures from other sources
 Never give your work to others who may copy it
 If an individual assessment, develop your own work and preparation, and do
not allow anyone to make amends on your work (including proof-readers,
who may highlight issues but not edit the work) and
When submitting your work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your
own, and text-matching software and other methods are routinely used to check
submissions against other submissions to the university and internet sources. Details
of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study
Skills pages about avoiding plagiarism.