Study information

Commercial and Industrial Experience and Individual Project (BEng/MEng) - entry

MODULE TITLECommercial and Industrial Experience and Individual Project (BEng/MEng) CREDIT VALUE45
MODULE CODEECM3149 MODULE CONVENERUnknown
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 11 8-12
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 20
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module will provide you with extensive practical work experience in a business or commercial setting that is of direct relevance to your development as an experienced professional.

 

In this module you will apply the knowledge and skills from taught modules to authentic problem solving in the work place. Working collaboratively with your work placement employer, you will identify an engineering-based project that will constitute your stage 3 individual project. Ideally, this individual project should be based on the work that you will undertake during the placement, but this needs not be the case.

 

Placements will involve a substantial technical role in the host organisation, in line with your degree programme. Individual placements are subject to availability and approval by the Programme Coordinator.

AIMS - intentions of the module

This module is made up of a work placement component constituting 30 % of the module and a stage 3 individual project component constituting 70% of the module.

 

Both the work placement and the individual project will give you the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills that you obtained from taught modules to real engineering situations at a professional level. For both module components you will be expected to use your own initiative and creativity to integrate the knowledge that you gained in several areas of your degree programme to deliver appropriate technical solutions in a professional manner. 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

A: On sucessful completion of the work placement you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1.demonstrate the acquisition of new knowledge and practical skills, the specifics being dependent on the particular work placement undertaken.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

2. apply academic skills from the degree programme to analysis and solution of problems in a workplace setting;
3. write a concise technical report.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

4. write and keep a reflective journal
5. present information visually for non-experts
6. discuss the key features of a learning experience
7. work constructively as part of a team
8. appreciate the constraints imposed in a work situation
9. respond positively to work appraisal
10. reflect critically on their experience

B: On sucessful completion of the individual projet you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

11. demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding in the subject area of the project, sufficient to complete the competent execution of the agreed project work;
12. have used formal project planning methods (software), to plan and manage the progress of a substantial (300 hours work), engineering project.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

13.  demonstrate an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving;
14. apply appropriate mathematical methods, scientific principles or computer based methods for the modelling and analysis of an engineering problem and applied them realistically in a practical application;
15. carry out a complete design, creation of product or piece of research to meet a specified need, from negotiating a specification to verification that the result meets that specifications, justifying all decisions;
16. taken a holistic approach to design and problem solving (cost, life cycle aspects, etc.)
17.  assessed and managed risks;
18. demonstrated the ability to act in a professional and ethical manner;
19. select and use appropriate ICT based tools for analysis, design and communication of designs;
20. select and use laboratory instrumentation correctly;
21. construct prototypes or experimental apparatus to design specifications
22. work safely in laboratory, workshop environments etc., and promoted safe practice.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

23. develop written communication skills to the extent of producing a substantial formal report which conforms to a specified format and communicates the outcomes of 300 hours of work effectively and accurately;
24. manage resources and time for a 300-hour project with the support of a project supervisor;
25. discuss the key features of a learning experience;
26. learn independently, identifying required learning targets;
27. obtain and process information from a wide range of sources, and apply this information in an engineering application;
28. sort, manipulate and present data in a way that facilitates effective analysis and decision making.

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

The work that you will carry out during the work placement and individual project phases depends on the nature and type of placement you are undertaking. However, it is mandatory that your employer gives you the opportunity to work on a substantial piece of work which you will write about in the placement project report. You should also collaborate with your employer to come up with an engineering-based project that will constitute your stage 3 individual project.

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 0 Guided Independent Study 300 Placement / Study Abroad 500
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Placement/Study Abroad 300-500 hours spread out between 8 to 12 weeks during the summer break Independent work in a team with the day-to-day guidance of a project manager
Individual project activities 300 hours spread out in term 1 and 2 Independent individual work under the supervision of an academic and where porssible a representative of your employer during the work placement
 

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Reflective and analytical journal 500-800 words entry for the first fortnight of placement 4, 8, 10 Written and verbal
Interim project report maximum of 40 A4 pages 11 to 28 Written and verbal
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment - Work Placement 30% of Module Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Technical Report 40 (12%) 2500 - 3000 words 1, 2, 3 Written and Verbal Feedback
Reflective and Analytical Journal 30 (9%) 500 - 800 words per fortnighly entry 4, 8, 10 Writen and Verbal Feedback
Poster Session 20 (6%) 1 A2 size poster 1, 5, 6 Written and Verbal Feedback
Overall Evaluation based on Employers Report 10 (3%) A4 sheet completed by the employer 1, 7, 9 Written Feedback
         
Form of Assessment - Individual Project 70% of module Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed
Feedback Method
Preliminary report 10 (7%) 2500-3000 words 11 to 13 Written and verbal
Final report 90 (63%) maximum of 40 A4 pages 11 to 28 Written and verbal

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
All above If you are referred in the work placement you will be required to submit a reflective essay in lieu of the journal and to resubmit the technical report and the work placement poster. All except 7 and 9 Last Week of August
  If you are referred in the project component you are required to resubmit the project report    
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.

If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

 

Other Resources:

Neugebaur, J "Making the Most of your Placement" , Sage Publications (2009), ISBN: 978-184787

Web based and electronic resources: RMIT University. “Reflective Journals”,

https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/2_AssessmentTasks/assess_tuts/reflective%20journal_LL/index.html [Accessed 09 May, 2012]

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set McMillan, K., Weyers, J. How to Write Essays and Assignments Pearson Education Skills Set 2010 978-0273726951
Set McMillan, K., Weyers, J. How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports Pearson Education 2010 978-0273726937
Set Bowden, J. Writing a Report: How to Prepare, Write and Present Effective Reports 8th How To Books Ltd 2008 978-1845282936
CREDIT VALUE 45 ECTS VALUE 22.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 6 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 21st February 2012 LAST REVISION DATE Tuesday 26th November 2013
KEY WORDS SEARCH Individual Project, Industrial experience

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.