Practicum in International Affairs II: Project Implementation
The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs
The Practicum in International Affairs provides students the opportunity to complete a discrete consulting engagement for an international client organization. Student teams undertake a Terms of Reference, conduct research, data collection and analysis, and produce a report or other final product. Finally, the team makes a formal presentation to the client and The New School community. To the extent possible, the Practicum simulates a professional consultancy, emphasizing deadlines and professional standards for work products, and the importance of being responsive to clients and working closely with teammates.
Learning Objectives: As consultants working on a team, students are expected to:
● Develop project implementation skills, including applying appropriate methods and strategies to collect relevant data and information, preparing and delivering a professional product (report, brochure, manual) and formal presentation.
● Develop professional and consulting skills, including understanding client objectives, using a Terms of Reference, managing appropriate client communication and reporting, turning in high-quality work on deadline, gaining understanding of how organizations work, and expanding professional networks.
● Increase and apply knowledge surrounding the specific project problem and topic.
● Practice teamwork skills, including managing roles and responsibilities among members to produce optimal results.
The Class: Project teams meet separately with their faculty supervisor at a specified time for at least one hour of project management. These weekly meetings are treated largely as “project updates,” similar to what you would have with a client. Each team must also arrange its own weekly one-hour meeting for team work. Both meetings are mandatory.
Early weeks in the semester are likely to be disorganized. You may feel as though your project lacks direction and an end result. This is a normal part of the project cycle, as well as the learning process. It may take half of the semester or more before you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The “Consultancy”: As your project involves working with a real organization on a real issue, the class environment will emphasize professionalism:
● Deadlines are firm. Unless arranged in advance, any drafts or deliverables are due by email prior to class, as specified.
● All work will emphasize good writing, formatting, attention to detail and mistake-free work. Work submitted should be free of typos, incorrect grammar and other avoidable errors. All work should be self-edited and proofread before submission. Again, mistakes and avoidable errors will negatively affect your grade.
● If you miss a meeting, it is your responsibility to get a report from your team. If you work and expect to miss several classes, or are not able to fully participate in team work, you perhaps should not take this course this semester.
Time Commitment: We ask clients to give us substantial projects. The time needed to complete these projects is significant; to be in this class and to be on a team, each person must commit to investing this time (roughly equal to that of PIA I Project Design). Your team should schedule and hold a regular meeting outside of class, perhaps on the weekend. In addition, there will be periods, particularly toward the end of the semester, when you will need to devote large blocks of time to the project. If you work full time and are taking a full courseload, perhaps you should not commit to Practicum Project Implementation this semester.
Teamwork: Working on a team can be difficult. Ideally you will get along with your teammates. But that may not always be true. Recognize that this is a professional, rather than a personal relationship. If you are not getting along with a team member, try to use the opportunity to problem solve. If it gets to the point that it disrupts project work, bring it to the attention of your faculty supervisor.
Again, if you work or for any other reason are not able to fully participate in team work, you perhaps should not take the Practicum this semester.
Client: The role of the client organization and their interaction with student-teams differs with each client. Ideally we would like them very involved, however the reality is that many have limited time and cannot have extended involvement with the team. Client feedback can be vague and/or late. Recognize that most clients are very busy, and, while they generally appreciate your work, the Practicum project is not their top priority.
Faculty Supervisor Role is something akin to that of a project manager, giving oversight and guidance. We give technical help when possible, however expect that at some point the team expertise on the subject will surpass ours. If you feel the project needs specific technical assistance, let us know and we will try to arrange it.
Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s words or ideas as one’s own in all forms of academic endeavor (such as essays, theses, examinations, research data, creative projects, etc), without proper acknowledgment, intentional or unintentional. Plagiarized material may be derived from a variety of sources, such as books, journals, internet postings, student or faculty papers, etc. The New School Writing Center also provides useful online resources to help students understand and avoid plagiarism, at http://www.newschool.edu/admin/writingcenter. As per university guidelines, a student who plagiarizes an assignment will receive a failing grade on that assignment or for the course, at the instructor’s discretion, and the Dean’s office will be notified. The consequences of plagiarism for the Practicum are serious. We submit project work and product to real organizations to use in their work. If your work is later found to contain plagiarism, that client is unlikely to work with our students again. Plagiarism therefore not only jeopardizes the work of the team, but the entire Practicum program.
Readings: Readings will be assigned specific to your project and sector, region and client organization, however for the most part you will be doing your own reading as necessary to brief yourself on the project background.
Final Presentations: All teams are required to compile, rehearse and present their project work before their client and the university community. The presentation at The New School will take the form of a graded “orals defense,” in which a panel of faculty and practitioners will critique students on their process, conclusions and client recommendations.
Course Requirements and Determination of Grades: Each team member must be an equally active participant. The PIA must be completed on time, and to client satisfaction. Final grades are submitted by faculty supervisors, and are determined, as outlined below, by a mix of team and individual work and assignments.
1. Team Process and Products: The same grade will be given to all team members under this category, determined by the faculty supervisor considering the following factors:
a. Interim reports / tasks / assignments to faculty supervisor
b. Midterm report to client (depending on project)
c. Midterm presentation to client (depending on project)
d. Final deliverables
2. Final Presentation Oral Defense: The presentation will be judged and scored by a faculty panel based on parameters that include:
a. Presentation is clear, and effectively communicates the process, product and conclusions of the team’s work.
b. Team is able to respond to panelist criticisms, comments and queries in a concise and convincing manner, demonstrating the depth of their grasp of the issues covered and/or raised by the presentation.
All team members receive the same grade.
3. Client Satisfaction: Each client will be surveyed on the team’s quality of interaction, interim and final deliverables, and professionalism.
4. Individual Grade: Student’s individual performance as a team member will be assessed using a variety that may include:
a. Contribution to team in terms of work
b. Ability to work as team member
c. Individual assignments
d. Interviews
e. Attendance and participation in weekly team meetings
f. Peer evaluation
g. Client feedback on individual performance
Course Timeline: The below are general guidelines; specific assignments and deadlines will depend on your project and client.
Session 1: Introduction to the Course
● Review syllabus and project descriptions, and discuss expectations.
● Arrange client meetings.
● Begin background research.
Assignment: Project Description questions and draft Terms of Reference for client.
Session 2 – 3: Client Meeting and Terms of Reference
● Meet client and discuss ToR, additional project issues and deliverables expectations.
● Review and determine appropriate methods for project work.
● Continue background research.
Assignment: Finalize Terms of Reference and Timeline.
Session 4 – 6: Continued Project Work
● Prepare and begin field work, if applicable.
● Draft survey, interview questions, focus group questions / guidelines etc.
● Begin work on mid-term report or product.
Assignment: Individual project progress and challenges report (1-2 pages).
Session 7: Midterm team and individual meetings with faculty supervisor.
Session 8: Mid-Term Product due to Client (depending on project).
Session 9 – 10: Continued Project Work
● Interviews and other information gathering as applicable.
Session 11 – 12: Draft Final Product
● Submit draft report of preliminary findings to client organization.
● Incorporate client feedback into report.
Session 13: Continue project work. Schedule Final Presentation Rehearsal for Session 14 and/or 15. Assignment: Send draft of product work to Final Presentation Panel for review.
Session 14: Final Presentation Rehearsals
● Final Presentation work and rehearsal.
● Finalize project work and deliverables.
Session 15: Wrap up work on final product. Final presentations work and rehearsals.
Assignment: Peer Evaluation due to faculty supervisor.
