BA (Hons) Entrepreneurship and Publishing Bachelor's degree at the University of Derby

This module makes explicit the learning skills and strategies involved in creative writing, while also introducing you to the fundamental sectors and structures of the publishing industry. It helps you identify the skills you need to develop in order to write to a professional standard for your audience. You explore issues of writing craft, including key topics such as task management and deadlines, research skills, and elements of style. You learn how to evaluate and interpret sources creatively and analytically. Classes also cover contemporary concepts of authorship and how the traditional print publishing industry has adapted in recent years to the rise of online communication and self-pu

Assessment: Coursework

Within the publishing industry, an editor is the person who takes overall responsibility for all or part of the publisher’s output, including dealing with authors, helping to steer the editorial and commercial policies of the business, and ensuring that literary or scholarly standards are maintained. A slightly more recent, but subsidiary, meaning of ‘editor’ describes a range of people whose roles are to correct or alter a text ready for publication. Subject editors, copy-editors and proofreaders fall within this category. The principal focus for this module is upon the first of these definitions, although the module will also describe the processes performed by subject editors, copy-editor

Assessment: Coursework

This module will focus principally on the mechanisms, techniques and theoretical approaches underpinning the marketing of literary outputs, including books, magazines, and ebooks. It will also explore Brand identity, including publisher brand, but focusing on authors as brands, particularly in recent times; The rise of digital and social media marketing and B2C exposure of authors’ work; The rise of self-publishing and the ways in which authors market and promote their own work. All publishers, including self-publishing authors, have a marketing orientation to their business operations. No product is brought to market without a thorough consideration of to whom it will sell, the quantities i

Assessment: Coursework

This introduction to the “fundamentals of marketing” module will provide you with a basic understanding of the current and emerging marketing principles and techniques within the business environment. It seeks to establish that sustainable market success within a highly competitive environment can only be achieved by developing products or services based upon an understanding of the external environment and customers’ needs and wants. During the module you will not only consider how to add value for customers and other stakeholders but also learn to assess the impact that marketing activities have on consumers’ lives. Your assessment is coursework-based, designed to enable you to demonstrate

Assessment: Coursework

Enterprising individuals are necessary within the economy as they create jobs, wealth and value. These individuals do this through applying an enterprising mindset, an individual and unique combination of enterprising behaviours, attributes and skills which can be used in a variety of contexts. For instance, this could be in starting and growing a business (ie in an entrepreneurial context) or applying their skills to existing organisations, whether large companies, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) or not-for-profit organisations (ie in an intrapreneurial context - being entrepreneurial inside a larger organisation). Being able to apply an enterprising mindset is highly desirable in

Assessment: Coursework

This module will assume no prior accounting knowledge. You will learn how to prepare accounts for small businesses and then apply that knowledge to larger organisations. This module will assume no prior accounting knowledge. You will learn how to prepare accounts for small businesses and then apply that knowledge to larger organisations. Numbers by themselves can be misleading and you will progress to examining accounting statements to assess just how well a business is performing. Managers cannot improve the performance of a business unless they make correct interpretations of situations and learn how to diagnose problems. Business costs will be identified and analysed to aid decision makin

Assessment: Coursework

This module introduces students to the wide range of categories that fall under the heading of non-fiction. From academic and professional publishing through to best-selling cookery books, travel books, popular science, celebrity biography, coffee-table books, non-fiction represents the largest, most diverse and commercially most significant sector of the UK, European and US book markets. Students will learn to identify the shared characteristics and qualities of successful non-fiction. Examples from categories including history, popular science, travel, and music writing will be studied – with a sustained focus on analysing the techniques used by authors and publishers in conveying their co

Assessment: Coursework

In this module, you will examine the principles, practices, and theories behind book design and production, both in print, digital and multi-platform formats. You will be introduced to industry-standard software that is used to manipulate illustrations, and lay out text and images when typesetting books and magazines. You will also be introduced to the fundamentals of quality assurance when manipulating content, how to code text styles and how to prepare content for transfer to ebook formats. This module will also focus upon the role of writers as creators of content, examining the ways in which a writer’s work can be designed and formatted, as well as the ways in which writers can be briefe

Assessment: Coursework

This module considers how texts can and should be altered as they are developed for publication or circulation. Students hone their knowledge of English and learn editing skills and processes. Common issues, practicalities and industry standards are explained and analysed, including common author errors, syntax, punctuation, sentence structure and writing levels for different ages and abilities. Publishers’ house styles for the presentation of manuscripts are covered, alongside copy-editing best practice. The module prepares students for work as writers, copy-editors within organisations, or providing their own authorial services. Issues of representation and bias are explored.

Assessment: Coursework

Children’s and Young Adult (YA) publishing is a significant and exciting part of the global publishing market and generates significant revenue for writers, illustrators, designers, editors, agents, and publishers. This module will offer students an overview of publishing for children, starting with a history of children as readers and consumers of stories, novels, and picture books. The ancient oral tradition of stories for children will be examined, and how this evolved into book form in the mid-eighteenth century, yet the continuing importance of oral delivery, particularly for younger children. A selection of classic texts and authors will be studied – from Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss t

Assessment: Coursework

The module situates creative writing within games and gaming. In addition to the exploration of employment within the varied contexts related to gaming, you may: examine the cultural functions of games, including their uses and meanings as both personal and social practices; conceive and produce games in different forms; explore building narratives; understand the complexities of interactive narration and branching narratives; learn techniques in constructing game worlds; learn how to script (and learn how to cast) in-game dialogue; learn how to convey information necessary to play in the form of tutorial or rules material. Sessions may be delivered face-to-face, online or via a blended appr

Assessment: Coursework

This module will explore several of the canons of classical rhetoric, in particular those pertaining to the discovery of arguments (logical inference and deduction, and fallacies); the arrangement and structuring of persuasive argumentation; the use of stylistic figures and tropes in language to enhance emotional or persuasive effect; and the verbal or ‘performance’ delivery of an argument. Reference will be made to the long historical background, from Isocrates and Aristotle through the Tudor rhetoricians to the great political speech makers of recent times. Media studied may include political writings and speeches, advertising material, digital and online content and social media, scientif

Assessment: Coursework

This module aims to provide you with knowledge of responsible management including exploring concepts of ethics, leadership, global social responsibility, and creation of sustainable social, environmental and economic value for organisations and corporations utilising the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The module will also encourage you to consider the importance of these issues from both the organisation’s and other stakeholder perspectives. You will also reflect on the relevance of responsible management and leadership as a basis for sustainable competitive advantage. The module aims to equip you with the knowledge and understanding of the complex ethical issues that are enc

Assessment: Coursework

Managing the performance of staff is essential to the smooth running of organisations. This module analyses the range of human resource management (HRM) activities undertaken within organisations to manage the performance of its employees and explores the devolution of many of these roles and responsibilities to line managers. It provides an introduction to the knowledge and skills required to undertake these activities professionally and effectively in the workplace. By the end of the module students will be able to analyse the causes of poor performance within organisations and the principles and practices of effective performance management. They will be able to explain how these practice

Assessment: Coursework

Innovation can be defined as the development and application of new ideas to create new opportunities and to solve problems. In this hands-on module you will discover why the best companies are those which innovate. You will research how successful organisations harness the creativity of their people and steer their way through the unexpected hazards which business life throws at them. You will consider the type of thinking needed to implement these problem-solving ideas and how to manage this implementation to make better organisations and products. To do all this, you will have the opportunity to work with other students on a real business problem, finding out your strengths and abilities,

Assessment: Coursework

This module forms part of the placement year typically completed between the second and final stage of a degree programme. The module provides a framework for the development of reflective skills appropriate to all areas of professional practice including for example aspects of problem solving such as objective setting, planning, negotiating, demonstrating, and reflecting. The emphasis in this module is on the analysis and evaluation of work completed within the organisation and future employability planning. During the module students will develop a reflective portfolio where they record the skills, knowledge and experience developed during the placement experience and evaluate how this wil

Assessment: Coursework

Students have a choice of Independent Study topics in this module: a research-based dissertation, or a major writing or publishing project. The options have been designed to offer parity of learning and experience, so that whichever option you choose you will be required to undertake similar amounts and levels of work, both supervised and independently, and have equivalent opportunities to demonstrate your achievement and abilities against all of the module learning outcomes. 1 Research dissertation Following a number of formal sessions to study research methodologies, you will choose, develop and refine a research topic, consisting of an in-depth investigation on a theme, subject or issue o

Assessment: Coursework

There are many different ways in which you can decide to become your own boss, especially if you plan to use your own skills, knowledge and interests as the basis. You can: exploit your unique set of characteristics through freelancing, set up and run a social enterprise with a charitable purpose, become self-employed and work for yourself, start your own business, sell other people’s products and take a commission, become an entrepreneur with a new and innovative product or service which you have developed, or some combination of the above. However, in the end, all these opportunities amount to the same thing. You have to offer a product or service for which potential customers are prepared

Assessment: Coursework

This module seeks to develop your understanding of how enterprises, especially start-ups and SME’s, can operate and prosper in a global landscape, and how you can apply that knowledge in a real life situation. In the last few years, the twin issues of globalisation and culture have been forcing business to look to trade beyond their national boundaries. A greater appreciation of cultural similarities and differences, allied with technological advances, have resulted in both SME’s and start-ups being able to compete on more of a level playing field with large MNE’s. The command of resources of the latter being counteracted by the nimbleness of the former. Indeed, may new businesses are ‘born

Assessment: Coursework

This module concentrates on extending students’ range of writing and exploring the challenges of achieving publication. In practical workshops, students are encouraged to attempt genre styles. The literary and popular distinction is examined, as well as a selection of genre forms. Students are encouraged to explore outlets for publication in order to understand the audiences of areas under discussion, while also considering how to challenge and extend genre forms. Workshops in this module are run according to the latest Subject Benchmark Statement: Creative Writing (QAA).

Assessment: Coursework

This module offers an overview of contemporary publishing and creative writing. It is designed to get you thinking about where these creative industries are heading. So many discussions around current trends in writing and reading offer polarised alternatives (print vs digital, highbrow vs mass market, traditional publishing vs self-publishing, etc.), but such arguments are often over-simplified and misleading. So much of what we consume and create now, in the written world, is hybrid in nature. In this module, you engage with and contribute to current theories and debates about print culture and the roles of publishers and writers. Examining the contemporary state of writing and publishing

Assessment: Coursework

Enterprise and entrepreneurship are essential within the economy, as they create jobs, wealth and value. Individuals contribute toward this through applying an enterprising mindset, an individual and unique combination of enterprising behaviours, attributes, and skills which can be used in a variety of contexts. For instance, this could be in starting and growing a business (i.e. in an entrepreneurial context) or applying to existing organisations, whether large companies, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) or not-for-profit organisations (i.e. in an entrepreneurial context). Being able to apply an enterprising mindset is highly desirable in today’s fast-moving business environment whe

Assessment: Coursework

This employability-focused module prepares students for the contemporary publishing workplace. It covers topics such as networking, teamwork, career planning, pitching, presenting, data analysis, interview skills, freelancing, crisis management, communication, how to get the most out of work experience placements, and what to expect of an entry-level position. Students workshop their CVs and cover letters, and practise job applications. Guest speakers from across the industry give insight into their work.

Assessment: Coursework, Practical

This module studies the global business using a combined strategic and economic approach. As part of this module, you will explore the recent major global economic shifts and analyse current international business events. You will study the key theoretical underpinnings, trends and challenges of international trade and foreign direct investment. You will analyse the importance of government and institutions in controlling/regulating international business behaviour. This will allow you to consider the long-term sustainability of businesses in the ever-changing, and often hostile, global business environment and help you understand the critical role played by strategic management. You will le

Assessment: Coursework

This module is about the concepts of Leadership and Management. It explores the similarities and differences in the roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers in the workplace and the development of leadership theoretical approaches as well as the practical application of these within organisations. You will analyse the skills and competencies of effective organisational leaders and examine alternative methods of leadership development to enhance these. Module learning outcomes Critically evaluate the definition, roles and responsibilities of leadership and management in modern contexts Assess alternative theoretical approaches to leadership and management and their relevance within

Assessment: Coursework