Academic and Career Development

BMAN10780 Academic and Career Development 10 Full year Undergraduate Level 1 Katharine Barker Unit coordinator Shukhrat Nasirov Unit coordinator Alliance Manchester Business School 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' First part HE study/Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 The course is designed to empower students to become independent, self-regulating learners by equipping them with essential academic, wellbeing, and professional skills. This course supports their transition into university life, fosters personal and professional growth, and prepares them for career opportunities during and beyond their time at university. This blended learning course combines self-directed online resources with face-to-face activities, including group seminars and individual meetings. It encourages students to develop academic and professional competencies while becoming more aware of their unique strengths and value in today’s competitive work environment. The course  is structured into three key areas:Academic skills: Focused on developing the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for academic success, including writing, critical thinking, working with sources, and adhering to good academic practices.Mental health and wellbeing: Emphasises strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance while raising awareness of available support and resources.Professional skills: Provides the tools and insights needed to support employability and career development, including career planning, job search strategies, and understanding corporate social responsibility. By integrating these three areas, the unit prepares students for academic success, promotes wellbeing, and equips them to navigate the dynamic challenges of professional life confidently.  The course is designed to empower students to become independent, self-regulating learners by equipping them with essential academic, wellbeing, and professional skills. This course supports their transition into university life, fosters personal and professional growth, and prepares them for career opportunities during and beyond their time at university. This blended learning course combines self-directed online resources with face-to-face activities, including group seminars and individual meetings. It encourages students to develop academic and professional competencies while becoming more aware of their unique strengths and value in today’s competitive work environment. The course  is structured into three key areas:Academic skills: Focused on developing the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for academic success, including writing, critical thinking, working with sources, and adhering to good academic practices.Mental health and wellbeing: Emphasises strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance while raising awareness of available support and resources.Professional skills: Provides the tools and insights needed to support employability and career development, including career planning, job search strategies, and understanding corporate social responsibility. By integrating these three areas, the unit prepares students for academic success, promotes wellbeing, and equips them to navigate the dynamic challenges of professional life confidently.  The course aims to facilitate a smooth transition into university life by providing students with a comprehensive foundation in three critical areas: academic skills, mental health and wellbeing, and professional skills. This includes:Equipping students with essential academic skills, including writing, critical thinking, and good academic practices, enabling success in studying business and management (and related subjects) at degree level.Supporting students' mental health and wellbeing by promoting resilience, stress management, and work-life balance while fostering awareness of resources available within the university.Preparing students for their future careers by developing professional skills, such as career planning, job search strategies, and understanding corporate social responsibility, ensuring readiness for ethical and socially responsible professional environments.  On completion of this course unit, students should be able to:Academic and transferable skills •    Understand themselves, their key strengths and challenges and their preferred ways of working/learning. •    Understand what is required to produce quality writing within an academic discipline •    Gather and analyse information from various sources •    Integrate data and ideas into a written assignment to develop arguments based on credible, and reputable, evidence. •      Evaluate information and its worth to an academic argument   •    Understand academic malpractice and how to avoid it •    Have the confidence, and skills, to enable them to contribute to group discussions.•    Critically reflect on individual learning, performance and behaviour and demonstrate an understanding of how to manage,  and maximise,  their development. •    Evaluate and plan their study •    Understand what is meant by Social Responsibility (SR) and how it relates to the University of Manchester and to contemporary organisations. •    Understand what is understood by mental well-being and know how this can be supported and developed within the University context.   Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key concepts and principles in academic practices, including writing, critical thinking, referencing, and good academic conduct, recognising their role in academic success.Demonstrate a systematic understanding of wellbeing strategies, including time management, stress management, and available university support, recognising their impact on personal and academic balance.Demonstrate a systematic understanding of career development concepts, including career pathways, professional conduct, and employability skills, recognising their role in shaping future opportunities. Reflect critically on the various forms and goals of academic practices, wellbeing strategies, and career development, considering how they contribute to personal and professional growth.Evaluate academic practices, wellbeing strategies, and career development tools as mechanisms for continuous learning and self-improvement.Understand and appraise the roles of corporate social responsibility, equality, diversity, inclusion, and mental health awareness in fostering ethical, inclusive, and supportive environments Evaluate evidence of best practices in academic work, mental health strategies, and career planning, applying these insights to improve personal approaches in these areas.Design and deliver reflective reports that critically engage with personal learning experiences, wellbeing management, and career aspirations, articulating insights effectively.Utilise digital tools to support independent learning and research, enhancing communication in both academic and professional contexts.  Independently gather and synthesise information from diverse academic, professional, and wellbeing-focused sources, demonstrating resourcefulness in navigating digital and academic resources.Apply critical thinking to analyse sources and effectively implement findings across academic, wellbeing, and career-related challenges.Communicate information clearly and accessibly through professional reporting, including crafting a CV.  Analytical skills The course equips students with critical thinking, analytical, and practical skills to support academic success, personal wellbeing, and career readiness. Problem solving By fostering competencies in academic writing, research, stress management, and career planning, students are prepared to excel in university and professional environments. Other The course enhances employability through adaptability, digital literacy, and ethical awareness, ensuring students are well-positioned for diverse and competitive career pathways. Semester 1    Lecture 1:  Introduction to the course    Block A – Academic skills    Lecture 2:   The basics of academic writing    Lecture 3:   Developing critical thinking    Lecture 4:   Working with academic sources    Lecture 5:   Adhering to good academic practices    Lecture 6:   The principles of academic assessment   Block B – Mental health and wellbeing    Lecture 7:   Introduction to wellbeing support    Lecture 8:   Managing stress and building resilience    Lecture 9:   Striking the work-life balance    Lecture 10: Equality, diversity, and inclusion  Semester 2    Block C – Professional skills    Lecture 11: Introduction to career support    Lecture 12: Looking for career opportunities      Lecture 13: Preparing a job application    Lecture 14: Corporate social responsibility    Lecture 15: Final reflections and next steps  Students are required to engage with a series of asynchronous lectures. These pre-recorded lectures deliver core knowledge and theoretical foundations across academic practices, mental health and wellbeing, and career development. The asynchronous format allows students to access materials flexibly, supporting self-paced learning.The course also integrates selected online resources, including My Learning Essentials, which provides interactive materials on academic skills, wellbeing, and professional development. Additional resources, such as videos, podcasts, blogs, and websites offer practical insights into education, work, and career planning, enhancing students’ engagement with real-world applications.Guided support is provided through in-person sessions facilitated by students' Academic Advisors. These include:Group seminars that encourage collaborative learning and provide opportunities for in-depth discussion of course topics.Individual meetings, offering tailored feedback, personalised guidance, and support for academic and career-related development.This combination of asynchronous and synchronous methods, supported by e-learning tools, ensures a comprehensive and flexible learning experience tailored to students' academic and professional needs.Delivery pattern   Lecture hours: 15 x 1.0-hour pre-recorded lectures (10 in Semesters 1 and 5 in Semester 2)   Seminar hours: 4 x 1.0-hour in-person group seminars (2 in each Semester)   Meeting hours: 2 x 0.5-hour in-person individual meetings (1 in each Semester)   Private study: 80 hours     Total study hours: 100 hours  0 Other 100% Semester 1 MCQ Test - 15%Semester 2 MCQ Test - 15% Individual Coursework - 70%  BMAN10780 is core for BSc Mgt/Mgt Specialism, IMABS, IM and IBFE.BMAN10780 is core for BSc Management/Management specialisms with/without Industrial/Professional Experience, BSc International Management, BSc Information Technology Management for Business with/without Industrial Experience and BSc International Business Finance and Economics with/without Industrial/Professional Experience. N The course does not have a fixed reading list. Instead, each lecture provides references to a range of resources, including academic literature, practical guides, and multimedia materials, designed to deepen students' understanding of the course content. These resources are carefully curated to align with the themes of academic practices, mental health and wellbeing, and career development.Students are encouraged to engage with these materials to enhance their knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and apply insights to their academic and professional development. Additional support and guidance on resource use are provided through the My Learning Essentials platform and online discussion forums. This flexible approach allows students to tailor their learning experience to their individual needs and interests. Lectures 15 Seminars 4 0 81 Programme Restrictions: Core for BSc Management/Management specialisms with/without Industrial/Professional Experience, BSc International Management, BSc International Business Finance and Economics with/without Industrial/Professional Experience.Pre-requisites: N/A Co-requisites: N/A Dependent courses: N/A