MBA7068 -Academic Skills and Professional Practice

Assessment Number	Assignment 1
Assessment Type (and weighting)	2,500-word portfolio (100%)
Assessment Name	Portfolio
Assessment Submission Date	XXYYZZ 2026 via Turnitin @23:59hrs

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1:  Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of university learning and teaching strategies and practices and their roles in the broader academic and professional MBA context

LO2:  Interpret academic assessments, identifying knowledge forms, cognitive abilities, practical and personal skills, and communication styles needed to successfully meet the demands of these

LO3: Critically evaluate and synthesise information, data, concepts, and theory from a range of sources and use these to inform analysis, critique, and reflection

LO4: Identify and critically reflect on personal and professional goals and devise strategies for their attainment

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Applications in this Assessment

AI Status	Application	Notes
Category A	No GAI tool is permitted.	While grammar and/or spell checkers may be used to correct individual words and sentences, the use of GAI is not allowed. This is because the learning outcomes require you to produce original assessment work without any GAI assistance   Any GAI generated content which is presented as your own original work and is not acknowledged will be assessed for academic misconduct.

Assessment Tasks:

This assessment requires you to create a portfolio. The portfolio should address the following:

TASK 1. Presentation and Report on a Contemporary Business Issue [1,500 words excluding presentation slides]:

In this assessment, you are required to select a current and relevant business issue from one of the following areas: Circular Supply Chains, Behavioural Economics and Consumer Decision-Making, Reskilling and Lifelong Learning for the Workforce, Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Ecosystems.

Develop a research topic that investigates the implications of your chosen issue and formulate a clear research aim, questions, and objectives to explore their consequences. Provide a research background/introduction and rationale, and critically analyse relevant literature, theories, or business models related to the global business context. Identify and justify which data sources (e.g., primary and secondary) you will use to address your research problem or questions.

TASK 2: Critical Reflection on Academic Skills and Professional Identity [1,000 words]

Select a graduate career area that interests you, which could be either a specific profession (e.g., Marketing, Finance, HR) or an industry (e.g., Travel and Tourism, Retail, Public Sector). Your chosen area should either align with your career aspirations or represent a field you want to explore further.

You are required to produce a reflective audit that critically examines your current knowledge, skills, and experiences, evaluating how well-suited you are for this role. Identify five key skills that you need to develop and explain why these are important for your future career.

Minimum Secondary Research Source Requirements:

It is expected that the Reference List will contain between fifteen to twenty sources. As a MINIMUM the Reference List should include four refereed academic journals and five academic books.

Specific Assessment Criteria/Marking Scheme:

Distinction (70% and above)

A distinction-level submission will demonstrate an excellent critical understanding of a real-world and contemporary business issue, effectively explored through a well-prepared and professionally delivered presentation, and supported by a clearly structured, insightful analytical report. The chosen topic will be highly relevant and justified with strategic rationale, integrating advanced theories, models, and recent literature. Data sources will be rigorously selected, with critical evaluation of their credibility and relevance to practice. The synthesis of information will be sophisticated, reflecting the ability to distil complex ideas into clear, evidence-based insights suitable for a specialist audience. Arguments will be logically structured, nuanced, and supported by high-quality academic and professional sources. The reflection in Task 2 will provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of academic skill development, using appropriate reflective models and demonstrating deep self-awareness. The student’s strengths and limitations will be insightfully appraised, and the Personal Development Plan (PDP) will be detailed, realistic, and strategically aligned with career goals.

Extensive research demonstrating use of a wide range of contemporary and seminal sources will be evident. Academic writing style, English and referencing will be excellent. 

Merit (60% – 69%)

A merit-level portfolio will demonstrate a strong and well-reasoned critical evaluation of a relevant contemporary business issue, communicated through a well-organised and coherent presentation and supported by a detailed report. The discussion will be underpinned by appropriate theories and current literature, with good evidence of synthesis and strategic analysis. Data sources will be relevant and generally well-justified. The work will show sound understanding of complex material, with effective communication of key insights to a specialist audience. In Task 2, the reflection will offer a thoughtful appraisal of academic and professional development, clearly applying a recognised reflective model. The analysis of strengths and weaknesses will be meaningful, and the PDP will be clear and feasible, though it may lack some depth or innovation.

Research will demonstrate the use of a wide range of relevant sources. The academic writing style, English, and referencing will be good, displaying clear organization and coherence throughout the portfolio.

Pass (50% – 59%)

A pass-level submission will demonstrate adequate engagement with a relevant business issue, showing a basic level of critical analysis and understanding. The presentation and report will meet minimum academic expectations, though may lack depth in the use of theory, criticality, or integration of sources. The background and rationale will be present but may be descriptive or underdeveloped. The use of data and literature will be appropriate but not consistently evaluated or synthesised. The report may show some gaps in logic, structure, or academic style, but will maintain a coherent line of argument. In Task 2, the reflection will include a personal evaluation of academic skills and refer to a reflective model, though this may be applied superficially. The identification of strengths and weaknesses will be clear, and the PDP will outline some practical steps for development, though it may lack strategic insight or thorough justification

Research will demonstrate the use of a range of relevant sources. The academic writing style, English, and referencing will be satisfactory, showing clear organization and coherence throughout the portfolio.

Fail (Below 50%): Students who do not meet the requirements of the Pass criteria will not successfully complete the assessment activity.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: To be added in your assignment

Declaration: At the end of the assessment you should also include a declaration of any software tools including Generative AI (GAI) applications that you used in developing and completing the assessment. The assessment brief will specify if and how you can use GAI applications in the assessment.

Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Written Assessments

1. Written assessments should be word-processed in Arial or Calibri Light font size 12. There should be double-spacing and each page should be numbered.

• There should be a title page identifying the programme name, module title, assessment title, your student number, your tutor and the date of submission.

• You should include a word-count (excluding reference list/bibliography, figures, tables and appendices).

        Where a word limit is specified, the following penalty systems applies:

• Up to 10% over the specified word length = no penalty
• 10 – 20% over the specified indicative word length = 5 marks subtracted (but if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assessment).
• More than 20% over the indicative word length = if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark or more, then the final mark will be capped at the pass mark for the assessment.

4.    At the end of the assessment you should include a declaration of any software tools including Generative AI (GAI) applications that you used in developing and completing the assessment. The assessment brief will specify if and how you can use GAI applications in the assessment.

• All written work should be referenced using the standard University of Bolton referencing style– see: https://libguides.bolton.ac.uk/resources/referencing

  Harvard Referencing

• Please note that when you submit your work to Canvas, it will automatically be checked for matches against other electronic information, as well as for hidden text characters and GAI generated text. You will be able to see similarity matches but not currently flags for hidden characters and AI-generated text. The outcomes of Turnitin reports may be used as evidence in an academic misconduct investigation.

Late work penalties

 

Late work will be subject to the following penalties:

• Up to 7 calendar days late = 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assignment.
  • More than 7 calendar days late = This will be counted as non-submission and no marks will be recorded.

Late submission of assessments on refer and those which are graded Pass/Fail only, is not permitted unless an extension is approved. See below.  

Extensions

In the case of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, an extension of up to 14 days after the assessment deadline may be requested using the standard University Extension Request Form. For approval there would need to be an explanation and evidence of relevant circumstances. Longer extensions for individual assessments, projects and artefacts may be granted, at the discretion of the Programme Leader.