Curriculum

The curriculum complies with QUT Curriculum Framework, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), information literacy framework, QUT MOPP C/4.2. Curriculum Design, Best Practice Guidelines: Generic Skills for HDR Students in Australian universities by the Council of Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies (DDOGS) and Australian Qualifications Framework 2011 (AQF). The Curriculum has been designed for a flexible, blended, openly accessible, mobile-first, accessible, learning and technology environment to be delivered both online and face to face through optional workshops.

The curriculum develops information skills in alignment with the Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework and the unit content lays the foundations of the graduate capabilities within the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) 2011: Level 10 required at the completion of a higher research degree.

The curriculum includes:

  • formulating a good research question
  • advanced search strategies
  • sourcing and evaluating quality literature
  • bibliographic and data management
  • note-taking strategies
  • citation analysis and research impact
  • collaboration tools
  • authorship and academic integrity
  • publishing and pathways.

Successful completion of IFN001 AIRS is mandatory for all Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students. As the unit is preparatory to research at QUT and to avoid workload clashes, early completion is strongly advisable. Students should be aware that IFN001 AIRS must be completed before the submission of Stage 2, therefore it is important to plan accordingly.

In 2014 IFN001 was comprehensively redesigned to transform the pedagogical basis of the curriculum from an instructivist approach to an active blended learning experience that meets the diverse needs of contemporary researchers. At this time, the assessment was reviewed and constructively aligned providing students with more relevant and productive learning. To ensure quality assurance of marking, the teaching team participated in professional development activities and as an outcome, a system for moderation of marking was implemented.

Fast Facts

IFN001 is offered in blended learning mode and includes the following content:

  • 12 online modules
  • 4 optional workshops and Q&A sessions
  • Learning resources including lecture recordings, audio and video content
  • Assessment - a resource log due within three months from commencement for full-time students and within six months of commencement for part-time students.