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Group Project (MEng) (ECMM102)

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Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 60
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2014/5

Module staff

() - Convenor

Duration (weeks) - term 1

Duration (weeks) - term 2

Duration (weeks) - term 3

Number students taking module (anticipated)

Module description

Working in an engineering environment requires excellent team working skills, and by developing the attributes you will need to become an effective and cooperative member of the group will make you a valued employee. This module aims to provide experience of working as part of a project team in a situation close to one that might be found in an industrial or commercial setting.

Using formal project planning methods to plan and manage the progress of a substantial (600 hours work) engineering group project, you will gain an appreciation for the challenges faced by every project manager. This is an opportunity to bring together many of the engineering skills you have already learned at university.

Module aims

The module aims to provide you with experience of working as part of a project team in a situation close to one that might be found in an industrial or commercial setting. It will give you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills you obtain from taught modules and independent learning to a real engineering situation at a professional level and as part of a team effort. Furthermore, you will get the opportunity to integrate knowledge gained in several areas of the degree course. Finally, the module will encourage the use of initiative, imagination and creativity applied in the context of a team effort.

This module covers Specific Learning Outcomes in Engineering, which apply to accredited programmes at Bachelors/MEng/Masters level. These contribute to the educational requirements for CEng registration (as defined under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence – UK-SPEC).

This module correlates to references D1 - D4, S4, S5, P2, MU1, MU2, ME1 - ME3, MD1, MD2, MS1, MS2, MP1 - MP3 and GM1 - GM3. These references are indices of the specific learning outcomes expected of Bachelors/MEng/Masters candidates set out in UK-SPEC, codified with reference to systems used by professional accrediting institutions. A full list of the standards can be found on the Engineering Council's website, at http://www.engc.org.uk

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the subject area of the project, at the forefront of the chosen discipline;
2. plan and manage, using formal project planning methods, the progress of a substantial (600 hours work) engineering group project.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

3. demonstrate an analytical, systematic and creative approach to problem solving;
4. select and apply appropriate mathematical methods, scientific principles or computer based methods for the modelling and analysis of an engineering problem and apply them creatively and realistically in a practical application;
5. create a complete design, product or service to meet a customer need, starting from negotiation of specifications, to a professional standard, showing creativity and justifying all decisions;
6. take a holistic approach to design and problem solving (cost, life cycle, sustainability issues, etc.);
7. assess and manage all relevant risks;
8. take personal responsibility for acting in a professional and ethical manner;
9. select and use appropriate ICT based tools for analysis, design and communication of designs;
10. select and use laboratory instrumentation appropriately and correctly;
11. construct prototypes or experimental apparatus to design specifications;
12. work safely in laboratory, workshop environments etc., promote safe practice, and (where appropriate) conduct your own risk assessment(s).

ILO: Personal and key skills

13. demonstrate extensive experience of working in a team from a major (450-hour) group project;
14. adopt different roles within a team including leadership;
15. demonstrate an ability to work constructively and supportively with others, taking and giving constructive feedback, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of others and helping them to contribute to a team effort;
16. take part in formal, professional style, project management meetings, in roles including those of chair and secretary;
17. develop written communication skills to the extent of producing substantial formal reports of various types and length which conform to specified formats and communicate the outcomes of 600 hours of work effectively and accurately;
18. contribute to formal team presentations of a professional standard;
19. manage resources and time with little need for advice;
20. learn independently, acquiring skills at the forefront of current knowledge unaided, identifying your personal development needs and goals, reflecting on your performance and managing your personal development;
21. obtain and process information from a wide range of sources, which may have been conflicting, analyse it critically and apply this information in an a practical engineering application;
22. sort, manipulate and present data in a way that facilitats effective analysis and decision making;
23. work safely in laboratory, workshop environments etc., and promote safe practice.

Syllabus plan

As agreed with academic supervisors and industrial sponsor/customer. In two parts:

- broad knowledge and understanding in one specific subject area relevant to the project, at the forefront of the chosen discipline, acquired individually in the first semester;

- completion of a group project, producing a product, design or service to an agreed specification, normally for a genuine industrial sponsor/customer starting from the first semester parallel to the first part.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
0	600	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Guided independent study	600	Guided independent and group study with regular (weekly) meetings with supervisor and other group members

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Not applicable

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Coursework individual report I1	15	20 pages	All	BART sheet; verbal (supervisor)
Coursework individual contribution to group achievement (I2 report)	50	40 pages	All	BART sheet; verbal (supervisor)
Coursework group report G1	10	10 pages	All	Feedback form
Coursework group report G2 and presentation	25	25 pages	All	Verbal (supervisor)

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
All above	Coursework (100%)	All	Completed over summer with a deadline in August

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.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Web based and electronic resources: As per project

Other resources:

McMillan, K, Weyers,J "How to Write Essays and Assignments" , Pearson Education Skills Set (2009), ISBN: 978-0273726951 (set)

McMillan,K, Weyers,J "How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports" , Pearson Education (2009), ISBN: 978-0273726937 (set)

Bowden,J "Writing a report: how to prepare, write and present effective reports" 8th, How To Books Ltd (2008), ISBN: 978-1845282936