Referring to knowledge

Referring to abilities, skills

Referring to attitudes, values and norms

The subject combines theoretical and practical activities, with a participatory and applied approach that promotes critical understanding of the content.

In the in-person theoretical sessions, the lecturers explain the fundamental content of the topics, illustrate the concepts with examples and resolve cases or situations that promote understanding.

In the face-to-face practical sessions, students solve exercises individually or in small groups, with the support of the lecturers, who encourage discussion and justification of the answers. Some of these activities may be presented in class or submitted for correction.

In those groups where it is considered appropriate, lecturers may choose to organize part of the sessions in small subgroups, in order to facilitate more personalized teaching. This division can be made in various ways: for example, assigning different time slots to each subgroup within the same weekly session, or alternating attendance on a fortnightly basis. These sessions may include case studies, practical activities, tutorials or guided debates. The specific format is communicated at the start of the course via the Virtual Campus and the relevant group program. These activities allow the development of skills such as teamwork, critical argumentation and the ability to analyse social and organizational situations.

The specific training activities for each group are defined by the responsible faculty and are announced at the beginning of the course via the group program and the Virtual Campus. They are directly aligned with the competences described in this teaching plan. The teaching staff may schedule joint classes and activities with other first-year subjects, so as to give students a cross-disciplinary perspective of some of the basic concepts and areas covered.

The Virtual Campus is used as a teaching support tool. It provides access to learning materials, assessment activities, task instructions, and communications from teaching staff. It may also host non-contact formative activities and track student work. In addition, individual and group tutorials are scheduled to resolve queries and guide learning.

The acquisition of competences is evaluated by means of the following activities:

• Written tests or alternative tasks (such as the compilation of a learning portfolio and other forms of continuous assessment).
• Submission of compulsory activities specified in the teaching program for each group.

The assessment system is outlined in the specific teaching plan for each group and is designed to ensure consistent standards and workload across all groups.

If, for whatever reason, a student sits an exam in a group other than the one in which they are officially enrolled, the instructor of the student’s registered group may record the grade given by the examining instructor.

In line with the University of Barcelona’s regulations, which state that “as a general rule, assessment should be continuous” (Art. 4.3 of the Regulation on Assessment and Grading of Learning), students retain the right to opt freely for single assessment (Art. 6.4). Exercising this right does not result in any “discrimination with respect to continuous assessment in relation to the maximum grade that may be obtained” (Art. 6.3).

Continuous assessment

Continuous assessment consists of two components: exam(s) and assessed activities. The mark for the first component represents a maximum of 60% of the final grade, while that for the second represents the remaining 40%.

• The first component comprises one or two examinations, scheduled at the discretion of the teaching staff. These tests are based on the lectures delivered in class and the textbooks designated as essential for the course.
• The second component comprises a minimum of one and a maximum of three activities, which may be completed individually or in groups, as established by each group’s lecturer.

Examination-based assessment

Single assessment consists of a final exam held on the date set by the Studies Committee. It evaluates the extent to which students have achieved the learning outcomes of the course and is based on the textbooks designated as essential for the course. Teaching staff must specify the type of exam in the course programme and on the Virtual Campus at the start of the semester. Similarly, and in accordance with the Criteria and complementary general guidelines for the Faculty of Economics and Business of the Regulations for the assessment and grading of learning outcomes (Art. 3.2), "students may be required to complete additional activities, which do not require their direct attendance (e.g., submission of coursework) apart from the final exam".

Students who wish to opt for single assessment must notify the course instructor in writing within 30 calendar days from the start of the semester, in accordance with Art. 6.4 of the University of Barcelona’s Regulation on Assessment and Grading of Learning (approved by the Governing Council of the UB on May 8, 2012 and modified in July 2023). Notification must be made via the Virtual Campus or using the form made available by the Faculty.

The single-assessment exam is held on the official date established by the Academic Board and published in the Faculty’s academic calendar.