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Economics > Research-led learning environment

1. What provisions are made for students to engage in research?

Keyword: EC331 Research in Applied Economics (RAE)

Apart from the usual module assessed essays, the Economics department makes provisions for students to engage in research through the third year EC331 Research in Applied Economics module. This module is a core module only for third year students in the BSc. Economics and BSc. Economics and Industrial Organization courses. Students consolidate previous knowledge and develop techniques through individual applied research projects.

Economics: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/economics/l100/

Economics and Industrial Organization: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/depta2z/economics/l112/


The EC331 teaching format involves a series of approximately 18 lectures with Library-skills classes that aim to provide research skills that support the completion of a substantial project of the student’s own choice.

The modules teaches students how to develop a research question, obtain the necessary background information, conduct, present, discuss and write up findings, and provide economic analysis of a range of data and problems.

Each student must make four presentations: a brief outline of the planned research, a review of relevant literature, a presentation of the data/theory, and a presentation of the final draft. Students are also expected to contribute to discussion of each others’ presentations.

EC331 Research in Applied Economics: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/ug/modules/3rd/ec331


2. How do departments define a research led environment?

Keywords: leading centre for research, departmental seminar, regular workshops, research fields, research centres

The Economics department at Warwick defines itself as one of the leading centres for research in economics in Europe. It claims to have a lively research environment built around the weekly departmental seminar, and a number of regular workshops.

Research: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/

 

It defines its research-led environment as a department that is actively and permanently involved in research on 7 major fields its academic staff focus on. These are:

Major fields: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/fields/


 It also defines itself as a strong research-led environment because of the research work carried out by the research centres it houses. These are:

  • Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE)
  • Economic Research Institute
  • Centre for Research in Economic Theory and its Applications(CRETA)
  • Warwick South Asia Group
  • Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation
  • Institute for Employment Research

Research Centres: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres


Conclusion:

Opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research is mainly provided by the third year core module of EC331 Research in Applied Economics where students are involved in carrying out their own original economic research.

The department defines itself as a research-led environment because of its reputation as a leading research centre in Europe; its weekly departmental seminars; its regular workshops; its 7 major research fields and the research centres it houses.


Reference: How does the economics department define a research led environment?

‘The Economics department at Warwick is one of the leading centres for research in economics in Europe. Its lively research environment is built around the weekly departmental seminar, and a number of regular workshops.’ This statement above is used on the department website as an introduction to its research. It is clearly aimed at conveying the Economics department as one renowned for its research. The department also clearly describes some important areas crucial to fostering its ‘lively research environment’. These are the weekly departmental seminar and regular workshops. From its website, the department clearly does not attribute its research-led environment to the research activities of undergraduates, but mainly lists its academic research centres and fields as the base of its research environment.Research: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/