1
DUBLIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BA (Hons) INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND
LANGUAGES
YEAR 4
DT 555 / DT 556 / DT 557 / DT 564
Y EAR HANDBOOK
2014-2015
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, LAW and SOCIAL
SCIENCES
and
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
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Table of contents
SECTION 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................... 3
EXAMINATIONS AND VACATION PERIODS ............................................................................... 3
MAJOR AND MINOR LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE ............................................. 4
PROVISIONAL ACADEMIC CALENDAR – MAJOR AND SECOND LANGUAGES ............... 7
MAJOR LANGUAGE ORAL EXAMINATIONS ............................................................................ 10
SECTION 2 - PROGRAMME DETAILS .......................................................................................... 14
GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES ............................................................................................................... 14
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................... 14
ASSESSMENT OF MODULES .......................................................................................................... 16
MODULE DESCRIPTORS ................................................................................................................. 18
BUSINESS MODULES .................................................................................................................................... 18
LANGUAGE MODULES .................................................................................................................................. 19
SECTION 3 - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .................................................................... 20
GENERAL QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................... 20
PLAGIARISM: PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR IBL LANGUAGE MODULES .................... 23
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SECTION 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION
Examinations and vacation periods
Please note the following:
Attendance at class during the semester is compulsory. You must not arrange holidays or
make travel plans during the semester or inter-semester period in January. Equally during
reading week, you should be available to engage in academic activities.
Examinations take place in May and early June. Supplemental (repeat) exams take place in
late August/early September.
Many continuous Assessments and assignments are held in January.
The dates for the supplemental examination session are normally available from late June.
It is vital that you do not book holidays or plan to travel during the examination periods. It is
equally important that you do not plan such activities for late August/early September until
you are sure you have passed all modules for the year.
It is not possible to reschedule missed exams. Missed exams count as a failed attempt and a
mark of zero is returned. This will also apply to other forms of assessments such as
presentations, oral exams, written tests and submission of assessed work. Rescheduling of
continuous assessments may be granted where certified medical evidence of illness has been
supplied.
Review week in semester 1 is week 7, week starting October 27th.
Review week in semester 2 is to be confirmed.
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IBL 4 (DT 555/556/557/564) Major and minor language assessment procedure
To: All DT 555/556/557/564 year 4 students
From: Michèle Boisbourdin - Year 4 language coordinator
Cc: Sióbhán Ni Laoire (Assistant Head of School), Odette Gabaudan (Programme
Chair)
Re: Major Language Assessment Procedures 2014 - 2015
Date: 22 September 2015
Year 4 Student Handbook available on School’s website :
http://www.languages.dit.ie/schooloflanguages/currentstudents/bainternationalbusinesslangua
ges/#year4handbooks
1 - Details of Assessment Scheme for Major Language
3 lang. modules
must be passed to
satisfy course
requirements
Module Title
and Code
Written
Exam
Assessment
End of
Year
Formal
Oral
Lecturers
Responsible
(F/G/S/I)
COMPULSORY
MODULE
Language for
Business -
(3hrs/week + 1hr
tutorial, when
deemed
necessary)
40% (4hr-
examination)
20% (in-
class test)
40%1
(Oral - 25-
30min.)
MB/OG
DF/
PPV/
SN IF MINOR LANG.
IS CHOSEN
THEN EITHER
TRANSLATION
STUDIES OR
CURRENT
AFFAIRS will be
the 3rd
module
Translation
(3hrs/week)
50%
2
50%3
GM/
ND/
PS/
EW
Current Affairs
(3hrs/week)
50% (3hr-
examination)
50%4
HM/OG
SH/
SO/
CB
1Presentation of a company chosen / created by student (15mins) + sales interview (15mins): an
information sheet on the case chosen must be provided by each student to the Language for business lecturer
prior to the examination. See section 3 of the present document for further details.
2Source text 350-400 words + annotations (or equivalent) - Business language – 3hr open book examination
3Two or three in-class tests at lecturer’s discretion – Open book
4In-class test (10%) + In-class oral presentation (10%) + formal oral presentation of a current affairs
topic (30%)
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CB = Claire Buckley
DF = Dagmar Fischer
EW = Etáin Watson
GM = Gerardine Montgomery
HM = Hélène MacElroy
SH = Sascha Harris
MB = Michèle Boisbourdin
CS = Catherine Spencer
ND = Noel Deeney
OG = Odette Gabaudan
PPV = Paloma Pérez Valdés
PS = Philip Smyth
SN = Susanna Nocchi
SO = Susana Olmos
2 - Details of Assessment Scheme for Minor Language
For students in the advanced stream taking only 2 major language modules.
Module title Written
Exam
Company
Presentation
Oral
Component
Lecturers
responsible
(F/G/I/S)
Minor Language
Level 5P
(3hrs/week)
50%
20%
30%5
MB
DF-CS/
SN/
SO
3 - Organisation of Oral Examinations
5 Aural test 10% + Professional / academic interview (oral examination) 20%
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Language for Business Module Oral
Examination (40%)
30 mins
Current Affairs Module Oral
Examination (30%)
20mins
Minor Language Module
Oral Examination (40%)
20 min.
2 parts:
A - Formal presentation of a
companyand of its economic
environment (10mins max.) at a trade-
fair for professionals, located in a
country of the major language.
Each student chooses a company which
must not have been previously used :
for 2nd
language presentation ;
for course work in their major
language modules ;
by any other student in their
major language stream.
This will be followed by :
B - Sales interview between potential
customer and representative of the same
company (20mins approx.)
Formal oral presentation of a
current affairs topic (5 mins
max.) + Q&A session (10-15mins
approx.)
Each student chooses a topic
which must not have been
previously used :
for course work in their current
affairs module;
by any other student in their
major language stream.
2 parts:
A - Formal presentation of
a company (10mins max.)
B–Professional / academic
interview(10mins approx.)
- All oral presentations must include the use of a presentation tool (e.g.
PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, …).
- An information sheet for the Language for business oral examination is to be
provided to Language for Business lecturer by 20/02/15. This will consist of a
short presentation of the chosen company and chosen product(s) (including
relevant URLs), a short presentation of the chosen trade fair, and the student’s
reasons and objectives for his/her choice of trade fair for this particular
company and the chosenproduct(s), including who they are targeting at the
trade fair. The presentation of the company, product(s) and trade fair may
include documents from the Internet (please, give URL address) or other real
company literature.
- External examiners will be present at the Language for business
oral examination only.
Changes may occur in the course of the year due to circumstances beyond our control.
So, check the notice board AND your DIT e-mail at least once a week.
Any deviation by a student from the assessment scheme in
major or minor language will result in the student being
referred to the Assistant Head of School.
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IBL 4 (DT 555/556/557/564) Provisional academic calendar – Major and second
languages To: All DT 555/556/557/564 year 4 students
From: Michèle Boisbourdin - DT 555/556/557/564 Year 4 Language Coordinator
Cc: Odette Gabaudan (IBL Programme Chair), Sióbhán Ni Laoire (Assistant
Head of School)
Re: Languages Academic Calendar 2014 - 2015
Date: 22/09/14
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters, as per the DIT academic calendar.
Assessments, examinations and/or other course related activities may be timetabled
during the inter-semester period and/or review weeks. All year 4 language modules
are year-long.
Please note that NOT every language assessment is listed in the IBL 4 academic
calendar. For a full list, please go to “Number of assessments per module” below the
IBL 4 academic calendar.
Table colour coding:
Relevant to all course modules or all lang. modules
Second lang.
Major lang.
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1st Semester: Sept. 14 – Jan. 15
22/09/14 1st teaching day of the 1
st semester
Dec. 2014
In-class test in translation (Major
Language)
Date to be set by individual lecturer.
Dec. 2014 In-class aural test (Second Lang.) Date to be set by individual lecturer.
Before
12/12/14
Current Affairs end-of-year oral
examination: choice of topic
(Major language)
Topic to be approved by Current
Affairs lecturer.
12/12/14
Last teaching day of the 1st
semester
09/01/15 - 12
noon
Final outline of the presentation for
current affairs end-of-year oral
examination (Major language)
Lecturers will not provide any
guidance to students who do not
provide a final outline of their oral
presentation by 09/01/15
05/01-
16/01/15
In-class test in Language for
Business (Major Language)
Date to be set by individual lecturer.
05/01-
16/01/15
Other in-class assessments, exams
and/or other course work will be
scheduled
Dates to be set by individual lecturers.
2nd
Semester - Jan. - May 15
26/01-
30/01/15
In-class test in Current Affairs
(Major Language)
Date to be set by individual lecturer.
Feb. 2015 In-class test in translation (Major
Language)
Date to be set by individual lecturer.
20/02/15 Information sheet on Language-for-
Business oral examination (Major
language)
Lecturers will provide guidance only
to students who provide an
information sheet on their chosen case
for oral examination 1 by 20/02/15
March 2015 In-class test in translation (Major
Language)
Date to be set by individual lecturer.
Late Feb-
early March
2015
Oral examinations in Current
Affairs
Date to be set by individual lecturer.
30/03 –
10/04/15
Easter break
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27/04-
01/05/15
Minor Lang.or Lang. for Business
(Major language) oral examinations
06/05-09-
09/05/15
Minor Lang.or Lang. for Business
(Major language) oral – No lang.
lectures
11-05-
27/05/15
Written examinations (business +
languages)
Number of assessments per module
Language for Business (compulsory module): 1 in-class test + 1 written examination + 1 end-of-
year formal oral examination (2 parts - 30 mins).
Translation: 1 written examination (3 hrs) + 2-3 in-class tests (depending on lecturers) – Please
note the above calendar includes 3 in-class tests, 1 of which may not take place.
Current Affairs: 1 written examination (3 hrs) + 1 in-class test + 1 in-class oral presentation (to
be approved by lecturer) + 1 oral examination (15-20 mins)
Second Language: 1 written examination (3 hrs) + 1 aural in-class test + 1 end-of-year oral
examination (2 parts - 20 mins)
Changes may occur in the course of the year due to circumstances
beyond our control. So, check the notice board and your DIT e-mail at
least once a week.
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IBL 4 (DT 555/556/557/564)2014
Major language oral examinations
To: All IBL 4 students in DT555/556/557/564
Cc: Odette Gabaudan (IBL Programme Chair), Sióbhán Ni Laoire (Assistant
Head of School)
From: Michèle Boisbourdin - Year 4 language coordinator
Date: 22 September 2015
1 - All oral presentations are end-of-year formal oral examinations and must include the use of
a presentation tool (such as PowerPoint or Prezi) to avoid penalty.
2 - Students should note that neither reading from notes nor the unbroken presentation of
material evidently learned off by heart will be acceptable as these are clearly contrary to the
whole purpose of this important part of the final Degree Examination.
The examiners may therefore ask the examinee to leave any notes aside, to cover the same
point(s) again or to discuss points further without reference to such notes.
All students must be prepared to take questions from the examiners during their presentation and
demonstrate that they are able to cope with such interruptions. These are designed to give
students a chance to show that they fully understand what they are presenting and are able to
discuss it in a meaningful two-way exchange, such as would occur in a real life situation for
which this module is meant to be a preparation. Accordingly, delivery, active participation and
fluent engagement on the part of the examinee are just as much under assessment in this Oral as
are content and linguistic accuracy, and these elements are not to be understood as separate from
each other.
3 – The oral exams are precisely timed. See the table below. Should you exceed the stated
length in the presentation part, you will be interrupted to proceed to the next part and you will
likely lose marks.
4 - Students are requested to print their slides (for the lecturers) in case of last minute technical
problems with the computer or the memory stick. Every year, 1 or 2 students have technical
problems, even with their own laptops! Print-outs will provide you with invaluable peace of
mind, even if you don‟t use them; and they will be a lifesaver if the computer freezes, or the
memory stick has become corrupt!
5 - Students are requested NOT to access their PowerPoint presentation through the Internet, as
Internet access is not always reliable.
6 - If using your own computer, please make sure you have it turned on, ready to start the
presentation at least 5 min. before you are due to go in.
7 - An electronic copy of the presentation must be sent to the relevant lecturer prior to the
presentation.
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8 - Please check with individual lecturers if a computer will be provided by the School on the
day.
9 – Reminder of format of oral examinations
Language for Business Module Oral
Examination (40%)
25-30 min.
Current Affairs Module
Oral Examination (30%)
20 min.
Minor Language Module
Oral Examination (40%)
20 min.
2 parts:
A - Formal presentation of a
company6 and of its economic
environment (10mins max) at a trade-
fair for professionals, located in a
country of the major language.
Each student chooses a company which
must not have been previously used :
for 2nd
language presentation ;
for course work in their major
language modules ;
by any other student in their
major language stream.
This will be followed by :
B - Sales interview between potential
customer and representative of the same
company (20mins approx.)
Formal oral
presentation of a
current affairs topic (5
mins max.) + Q&A
session (10-15mins
approx.)
See below for further
information.
Each student chooses a
topic which must not
have been previously
used :
for course work in
their current affairs
module;
by any other student
in their major
language stream.
2 parts:
A - formal presentation
of a company (10mins
max.)
B – Professional /
academic interview
(10mins approx.)
See below for further
information.
6 There is no restriction on the nationality of the company chosen by the students
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Language for Business Oral Examination
2 internal examiners + 1 external examiner
To take place late April / early May
Students must provide an information sheet directly to the Language for Business lecturer by
20/03/2015. This will consist of a short presentation of the chosen company and product(s), a
short presentation of the chosen trade-fair, and the student‟s precise reasons and objectives for
his/her choice of trade-fair for this particular company and its product(s). The presentation of the
company, product(s) and trade-fair may be documents from the Internet (please give URL
addresses) or other real company literature. This information sheet must be written in the target
language (with the possible exception of real company literature copied from the Internet).
It is strongly recommended that students use relevant company and product literature
(commercial file). The use of sample products is recommended provided they are portable and
would not incur major expenses on the part of the students.
The commercial file is essential for preparation of and/or for use in the oral examination and
could be composed of any of the following at the student‟s discretion :
- presentation of the company
- description (including technical characteristics and advantages) and photographs of
products
- sales strategy (e.g. product characteristics with advantages, disadvantages and possible
responses to clients‟ objections)
- conditions of sale, payment and delivery.
- distribution policy in the target country.
- promotional support provided
- after-sales services
- competition in the target country
- catalogues
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- any other information and/or document deemed relevant by the student.
Should the student need to supplement the company information available, he/she must make it
plausible. Any individual query must be addressed to the Language for Business lecturer.
Language for Business lecturers will provide guidance only to students who provide an
information sheet on their chosen case by 20/02/15
Current Affairs Language Oral Examination
2 internal examiners (no external examiner)
To take place in late Feb. / early March
If the topic of the oral examination involves a particular company, please note that the purpose
of the presentation is NOT to present the company, but to present the events that involve that
particular company.
Minor Language Oral Examination
2 internal examiners (no external examiner)
To take place late April / early May.
The company chosen by the student for the presentation must not have a Web site in the target
language.
Any student not complying with the assessment scheme in major or
minor language may be referred to the Assistant Head of School.
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SECTION 2 - PROGRAMME DETAILS Graduate Attributes
A recent study identified a number of key attributes for the graduates of this programme. These
include “critical thinking”, “excellent communicators”, “ethics”, “active team players”,
“disciplinary knowledge”, “global citizens” and “motivated self-starters”. More can be found on
graduate attributes in this programme and in DIT on this leaflet or by asking your language
Programme Chair, Odette Gabaudan
Programme Structure
French, German, Spanish, Italian (DT 555/6/7/ 564)
Code № Module Title Semester
1/2
Contact
Hours
Self
Dirct.
Lrng.
Total
Learng.
Hours
ECTS
Credits
BUS
4003 International Marketing 1 +2 48 52 100 10
BUS
4005
Review of International Political
Economy 1 48 152 200 5
BUS
4007 International Financial Systems 1 48 52 100 5
IBUS
4000 Regulatory Framework 2 48 52 100 5
IBUS
4001
Current issues in International
Management 2 48 52 100 5
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LANG
4036
(French)
LANG
4037
(German)
LANG
4034
(Spanish)
LANG
4038
(Italian)
Language for Business
French/German/Italian/Spanish
Core Language Module
1+2 96 104 200 10
Students who completed the required second language modules in year 1 and 2 choose two of the
following three modules. Other students must take the Current Affairs and Translation Studies
modules.
FREN/
GERM/
SPAN/IT
LANG
4027/4015
Language Current Affairs
French/German/ Italian/Spanish 1+2 72 128 200 10
LANG
4026
(French)
LANG
4009
(German)
LANG
4014
(Spanish)
LANG
4020
(Italian)
Language Translation Studies
French/German/ Italian/Spanish 1+2 72 128 200 10
LANG
4016
(German)
LANG
4011
(Italian)
LANG
4012
(Spanish)
Second Language
German / Italian / Spanish /
1+2 72 128 200 10
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Assessment of Modules
Module Code Module Title Exam Continuous
Assessment ECTS
Credits
BUS 4003 International Marketing Written exam
(summer) 60%
Cont. Assess.
40%
10
IBUS 4001 Current Issues in
International Management
Written exam
(summer) 60%
Cont. Assess.
40%
5
BUS 4007 International Financial
Systems
Written exam
(summer) 70%
Cont. Assess.
30% 5
BUS 4005 Review of International
Political Economy
Written exam
50%
Cont. Assess.
50%
5
IBUS 4000 Regulatory Framework Written exam
(summer) 70%
Cont. Assess.
30% 5
LANG 4036
(French)
LANG 4037
(German)
LANG 4034
(Spanish)
LANG 4038
(Italian)
French/German/Italian/Spanish
Core Language Module:
Language for Business
Written exam
(summer) 40%
Oral
40%
In-class test
20%
10
LANG 4027
(French)
LANG 4010
(German)
LANG 4015
(Spanish)
LANG 4021
(Italian)
French/German/ Italian/Spanish
Language Current Affairs
Written exam
(summer) 50%
Cont.Asst 50%
10
LANG 4026
(French)
LANG 4009
(German)
LANG 4014
(Spanish)
LANG 4020
(Italian)
French/German/ Italian/Spanish
Language Translation Studies
Written exam
(summer) 50%
Cont.Asst 50%
10
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Module Code Module Title Exam Continuous
Assessment ECTS
Credits
LANG 4016
(German)
LANG 4011
(Italian)
LANG 4012
(Spanish)
German / Italian / Spanish
Second Language
Written Exam
(summer) 50%
Oral
Components
30%
Presentation
20%
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Year 4 Coordinators
Year 4 Language coordinator: Michèle Boisbourdin (Office KA3-013, Tel. 01-4024859,
Year 4 Business coordinator: Robert Mac Mahon (Tel: 01-4027092, [email protected] )
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Module Descriptors
Business Modules
International
Marketing
Today, virtually all major firms must compete in a global marketplace.
Participants in this module will be given a framework to understand
the global marketing environment. They will be taught how to analyse
global marketing opportunities. They will develop global marketing
strategies. They will design global marketing programmes and will
develop the skills to manage the global marketing effort.
Review of
International
Political Economy
International Political Economy (IPE) is the rapidly developing social
science field of study that attempts to understand international and
global problems using an eclectic interdisciplinary array of analytical
tools and theoretical perspectives. The growing prominence of IPE as
a field of study is in part a result of the continuing breakdown of
disciplinary boundaries between economics, international relations
and politics in particular and among the social sciences generally.
Increasingly, the most pressing and interesting problems are those that
can best be understood from a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, or
transdisciplinary point of view.
IPE is the study of a problématique, or set of related problems. The
traditional IPE problématique includes analysis of the political
economy of international trade, international finance, North-South
relations, multinational corporations, and hegemony. This
problématique has been broadened in recent years as many scholars
have sought to establish a New IPE that is less centered on
International Politics and the problems of the nation-state and less
focused on economic policy issues.
Current Issues in
International
Management
This module examines in a critical and analytical fashion the
philosophy and practices of International Management. Each topic
provides students with a solid and invigorating analysis of all aspects
of International Management.
International
Financial Systems
This module offers a broad introduction to the workings of the global
financial system, the dynamics of the main financial markets, the
nature and purpose of key financial institutions and the role played by
central banks and regulatory agencies. An important part of the
module focuses on the 2007-2009 global financial crisis, reviewing its
causes and consequences, as well as evaluating the merits of
government intervention schemes in the U.S. and Europe.
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Regulatory
Framework
A legal knowledge is essential in any business environment with the
increasing opportunities and threats posed by liberalisation,
deregulation, cross-border trade and new social and tortuous
legislation. This course will give students a grounding in the basic
concepts of law and some of the particular elements relevant to
international business.
Language modules
Language
for Business
This module enables students to develop and apply their oral and
written linguistic skills adequately to a range of everyday professional
tasks in the commercial sector.
Current Affairs This module builds on the knowledge, experience and linguistic
competence acquired by the students during their year abroad. It
consolidates and further explores political, economic and social topics
and trends of the target countries and their current affairs. The module
also consolidates and builds on language competency by working
further to perfect the students‟ level of linguistic accuracy and foster
deeper awareness of target language style, register and tone
Translation
Studies
This module will focus on the theory and practice of translation.
Students will learn to apply theory and use basic terminology relating
to translation techniques. The module will also consolidate and build
on the language competency acquired during the year abroad (or
equivalent) by working to further perfect the student‟s reading skills in
the TL and their level of grammatical accuracy and it will seek to
foster a deeper awareness of target language style, register and tone.
Second Language This module consolidates and builds on the language competency
acquired during year 1 and year 2 and introduces the learners to the
professional language needed to interact on a basic level with business
people from the target countries.
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SECTION 3 - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General Questions
IMPORTANT: The following notes are not intended to represent a definitive
interpretation of the Institute's regulations. In every case students should read the full
regulations, especially DIT's General Assessment Regulations
(http://www.dit.ie/qualityassuranceandacademicprogrammerecords/student-assessment-regulations/ )
1. Who sets and marks the examinations?
The examination for each module is normally set and marked by the lecturer who teaches it.
Where there are two or more lecturers for a module, the paper is jointly set and corrected by both
lecturers. The external examiner (see question 7) approves the questions set and reviews the marks
awarded. Exam scripts are anonymous.
2. How many subjects are there on the programme?
Students complete 5 Business modules, and 3 Language modules. Please note that all Language
modules are worth 10 ECTS credits while Business modules are worth 5 or 10 ECTS credits.
3. Can I repeat any failed modules?
Any courses you fail can be repeated in the supplemental exams at the end of August /beginning
of September.
You have a maximum of four attempts in total to pass a module. Firstly there are repeat
examinations (called "Supplemental" Exams, starting at the end of August) where failed modules
can be taken again. Modules still not passed can be repeated at the following sitting and finally the
following autumn. Please read the General Assessment Regulations carefully on this point.
It is important to strive towards passing all subjects at the first attempt as students who repeat a
module in the Supplemental Examinations will only be awarded a maximum mark of 40%
for a module passed at a second or subsequent sitting. Individual student results are issued in a
transcript of results. This is an official document frequently sought by employers to establish your
academic record.
Please read section 5 for details on award classification.
4. What exactly is the examination board?
This is a formal meeting of all examiners on a programme, held after the papers have been
marked. At the examination board each candidate's marks are reviewed and recorded. A decision
is made as to whether a student should pass, pass by compensation or repeat.
5. What is a Degree Classification in DIT?
The award of a Degree with Honours may be made with the classifications of First Class Honours,
Second Class Honours or Pass as set out in the table below.
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Average Mark
Band
Nature of
Achievement
Classification
= 70% Excellent Performance First Class Honours
60% - 69% Very Good
Performance
Second Class
Honours,
Upper Division
50% - 59% Good Performance Second Class
Honours
Lower Division
40% - 49% Satisfactory
Performance
Pass
Please be aware of the following:
Students who fail the assessment of one or more of the modules which contribute to their
final award classification may re-sit the assessment once for each of those modules without
prejudice to the award of Honours/Merit or Distinction. The result for repeated modules will
however be capped at 40%.
Students who fail the re-sit of any of these modules will not be eligible for the Honours
/Merit or Distinction classification. (General Assessment Regulations 2009)
6. What is an external examiner?
Every course has an external examiner or more. The external examiner is normally a senior
academic from another institution whose role is to monitor the examinations and the evaluation
process to ensure adequate academic standards. The external examiner reads and approves the
examination papers, checks the examination scripts, attends examination board meetings and
formally reports to the examination board on her/his findings.
7. How do I get my examination results?
You receive an email in your DIT email student account once results are released. You are then
able to access your results on EGB. For further details, please check
http://modularisation.dit.ie/studentinfo.htm
Results of Supplemental Examinations
These are normally published in the third week of September. The results are available on EGB.
8. What happens if I am unable to take an exam due to illness or other unforeseen
circumstances? You should fill out a PC1 form
http://www.dit.ie/examinations/kevinstreet/pc1formsrechecksremarksappeals/ This form is for
students who were not able to perform on the day and it must be accompanied by professional
opinion. You will have to repeat the missed examination at the next sitting but you will normally
not lose one of your four attempts if you miss an examination due to certified illness or similar
circumstances.
9. Are continuous assessments compulsory?
A module is evaluated through a combination of continuous assessment(s) and / or an
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examination. The final mark for a module is an aggregate of the various assessment marks.
Failure to submit or sit any assessment component of a module results in marks lost for that
module.
10. What happens if I am late submitting material for continuous assessments?
Materials for assessment may be subject to a penalty or may not be accepted, unless you have a
valid and documented case.
Language project deadlines
Any delay in handing in projects after the stated day and time (see Schedule for Submission dates
for Assignments) will result in a 2-mark deduction per 24hr period or part thereof, week-ends and
holidays included. Projects will not be accepted after 7 calendar days.
Changes may occur in the course of the year due to circumstances beyond our control.
Check the notice board and DIT email at least once a week.
Any deviation by a student from the assessment scheme in major or second language will
result in the student being referred to the Head of School.
11. Appeal Procedure
Should you feel you have grounds for appeal, contact the Examinations Office and the Head of the
School of Languages. The appeal must be lodged within 7 working days after the results are
released. Late submissions will not be accepted.
12. Do I have to attend all lectures? It is compulsory to attend lectures and take part in any coursework required by lecturers.
13. What is the Year Co-ordinator’s role?
If you have a problem with a course, you should in the first instance discuss the matter directly
with the lecturer concerned. If this does not solve the problem, you should approach the Year Co-
ordinator. There are also student representatives on the programme Committee who can be
approached for advice.
14. Who is responsible for the programme?
The Head of the School of Languages, Law and Social Sciences (Dr Kevin Lalor) and the
Assistant Head of Languages (Dr Siobhán Ni Laoire) have overall responsibility for the
programme. The Head of School works with Ms Kate Ui Gallaghoir, (Head, School of Marketing,
College of Business) and Dr Amr Arisha (Head of Department in the College of Business). Dr
Amr Arisha and Odette Gabaudan, School of Languages, Law, Social Sciences, are joint chairs of
the International Business and Languages Programme Committee.
15. Can students contact lecturers or talk to them outside of lecture time?
Students are encouraged to approach their lecturer about any concerns they may have during the
course of the programme. Lecturers‟ contact details are available on the DIT website.
16. Who can I talk to about personal problems?
Student counsellors are available for problems of a personal nature. This service is free of charge.
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Plagiarism: practical guidelines for IBL language modules
In accordance with DIT Plagiarism statement which expressly forbids all forms of plagiarism, it
is the policy of the School of Languages to refuse work which is plagiarised.
In simple words: plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of someone else‟s work. That „work‟
may be a published book or article, information downloaded from the Internet, or the work of
another student. Plagiarism can take various forms: copying, paraphrasing (summarising in
one‟s own words a passage of someone else‟s work), or adopting someone else‟s detailed line of
argument, without acknowledging the source.
Plagiarism is a form of „unfair practice‟ (see General Assessment Regulations, Chap.11), and a
student found guilty by the Panel of Investigation may face serious penalties.
In written essays, projects or presentations students should:
- append a bibliography listing all sources used;
- place any portions of text directly quoted between quotation-marks;
- identify and correctly reference the source of ideas and arguments presented;
In written essays, projects or presentations students should not:
- submit language assessments corrected by a native speaker, as work so corrected and
re-written may not in the end be one‟s own, and is therefore a form of plagiarism7;
- resort to translation engines under any circumstances8.
Format of oral examinations
- Students should note that neither reading from notes nor the unbroken presentation of
material evidently learned off by heart will be acceptable.
The examiners may therefore ask the examinee to leave any notes aside, to cover the
same point(s) again or to discuss points further without reference to such notes.
All students must be prepared to take questions from the examiners during their
presentation and demonstrate that they are able to cope with such interruptions. These
are designed to give students a chance to show that they fully understand what they are
presenting and are able to discuss it in a meaningful two-way exchange, such as would
occur in a real life situation. Accordingly, delivery and active participation on the part of
the examinee are just as much under assessment in oral examinations as are content and
linguistic accuracy, and these elements are not to be understood as separate from each
other.
7 Tuition in the School of Languages is designed to help you learn the language; Native-speaker competence is not expected of
language students.
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For an information leaflet in relation to what Plagiarism is and how to avoid it, please
check http://www.dit.ie/media/library/documents/researchersandplagiarism.pdf or the
information leaflet in Appendix 1 of the General Assessment Regulations (see link below).
In the same document (chapter 11 and Appendix 1), you will find the procedure for
suspected cases of plagiarism and other breaches of DIT’s regulations.
http://www.dit.ie/qualityassuranceandacademicprogrammerecords/student-assessment-
regulations/general/