• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Think Tank

Module description

In this module, you will work closely with other students as you tackle a key social, political, business or economic challenge. This challenge will be posed by an external consultant (for example, someone from business, a social policy group, or the media). Working in a ‘think tank’ team, and under the guidance of your lecturers, you will research the problem posed, debate its likely causes and challenges, agree a set of potential solutions to the problem, and design strategies for their implementation. You will then present your findings and proposals to the module consultant, your lecturers and peers.  

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is designed to help you learn:

• critical thinking and research skills
• problem-solving abilities skills
• teamwork and employability skills
• how to research quickly and effectively
• how to engage with a variety of non-academic material and data
• how to communicate persuasively and professionally in the workplace 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Engage critically with a range of resources drawn from a professional or non-academic context
• 2. Identify, assess and manage key issues within a larger project
• 3. Work efficiently as a member of a team
• 4. Demonstrate problem-solving skills and strategic thinking

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Gather and analyse a variety of evidence
• 6. Think critically across academic and non-academic boundaries
• 7. Apply intellectual tools to challenges in the workplace

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Work closely and generously with others as part of a team
• 9. Develop project-management skills, including meeting deadlines and manage your own time
• 10. Communicate effectively and persuasively with non-academic professionals

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will have the following structure:

• Introduction: The aims of the module will be outlined. The form and function of a Think Tank will be explained. The student groups, each acting as a Think Tank, will be established. Presentations from academic researchers whose work current engages with real-world challenges will model how the research of a Think Tank can be of use in a wide variety of workplace environments.
  
  
• Setting the challenge: External professionals will present their own experience of working with researchers. They will introduce a current challenge in which their organisation is engaged and highlight the central questions it raises to be resolved. The student groups will select the organisation and challenge with which they will work.
  
  
• Preparation and planning (Phase 1): Each student group will meet as a Think Tank to prepare a work-plan, agreeing a schedule, identifying key targets and distributing tasks.
  
  
• Research (Phase 1): Each Think Tank will carry out initial research to establish the scope of the final report and presentation. They will meet weekly, drawing on the advice of the group facilitator.
  
  
• Interim review : Each Think Tank will meet mid-term to review their plans for the final report and presentation, to agree a final schedule of work, including outstanding research to be completed, and will collaborate in the preparation of the formative assessment.
  
  
• Research (Phase 2): Each Think Tank will carry out further research to support their plans for the final report and presentation.
  
  
• Final report and presentation: Each Think Tank will prepare a presentation to be delivered to the representatives of the organisation whose challenge they have tackled; each Think Tank member will prepare a final written report which articulates the response of the Think Tank group to the challenge posed and also offers their own individual insights.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• González-Hernando, M., British Think Tanks After the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2019)
• McGann, J. G., Think Tanks: The New Knowledge and Policy Brokers in Asia (Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2019)
• Ruser, A., Climate Politics and the Impact of Think Tanks: Scientific expertise in Germany and the U.S. (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2018).  

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4749 

Key words search

Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary, Think Tank, Research, Professional