Post-Graduate Qualifying Program - Communications

This unit focuses on developing the language skills required to be successful at university. There is a focus on speaking and listening as well as on developing grammar and academic vocabulary. It provides the support and skills required to confidently manage the language requirements.

This unit provides the foundations for developing an understanding of research. There is an emphasis on accessing and utilising university databases to search for relevant and reliable research papers. Reading and understanding published research papers are essential skills required for PQP4300 and for success in postgraduate studies.

This unit is designed to develop the academic communication required to complete tasks such as essay and report writing, formal presentation and participating actively in university lectures, seminars and tutorials. It gives an introduction to effective communications theory in preparation for PQP4100.

Students are provided scaffolded techniques and strategies to think critically in both oral and written communication. Working effectively in both teams and small groups is developed in preparation for university study.

Critical analytical skills are essential for problem solving and are valued as graduate attributes. This unit is the foundation to PQP4400 where deeper understanding of critical thinking is required. Students will be prepared for future research by developing carefully scaffolded skills in reasoning and argument.

As global and organisational landscapes are constantly evolving, communications practitioners in government, corporate, and not-for-profit organisations, must be equipped to deal with constant changes. All organisations need to communicate with their stakeholders to meet organisational goals within an ethical framework. This unit explores key concepts, theories, and practice in the communication discipline, including stakeholder management, two-way communication, organisational listening, reputation management and organisational branding. Students develop a situation analysis and strategic communication plan that analyse and respond to real-world issue.

Advanced standing granted by ECU for this unit. This unit is taught on ECU Mt Lawley campus.

Design is evolving into an interdisciplinary practice and field of research. This unit explores ways of investigating and understanding complex challenges, and user-focused methods of generating ideas. It allows students to view design process as a collaborative activity that generates innovations through making and prototyping.

Advanced standing granted by ECU for this unit. This unit is taught on ECU Mt Lawley campus.

The ability to communicate effectively is recognised as an essential skill for those wanting to be successful in their studies, career and personal relationships. This skills-based unit uses a number of practical activities to enable students to achieve these essential skills. Students are given techniques/strategies to: manage speech anxiety; think critically in oral/written communication; understand perception and memory; research, package and deliver logical and persuasive messages; understand cultural and gender differences in oral communication; become effective listeners and work effectively in teams. This unit addresses three main areas: organisational communication; oral communication and written communication through analogies, metaphors and visuals. Approximately 60% of time is devoted to developing effective and persuasive oral skills and 40% to written skills.

Knowledge of research methodology is of increasing importance in all areas of study. Many business decisions require research-derived information, and much of contemporary management practice is derived from research conducted by practitioners or academics. Whether conducting research yourself or evaluating the work of others, you must understand the process behind the research, the tools used and its application to solving problems. This unit aims to introduce students to a range of research methods and information sources, to provide students with skills that are commonly used research methodologies. In addition, the unit will provide students with an understanding of the conceptual orientation involved when social science research methodologies are applied within a commercial context.

Critical analytical skills are essential for problem solving and are valued as graduate attributes. This unit introduces students to different methods of critical thinking through the history of Western thought and philosophy that underline many traditions of modern Western scholarship. Postgraduate students will be prepared for future research by developing skills in reasoning and argument.