This module forms the capstone experience for the course. This major project is undertaken throughout the final year of the programme and allows you to research and study in depth an aerospace engineering topic which is of personal interest. It requires you to: analyse and evaluate relevant subject areas previously covered in the course, acquire and appraise new knowledge, show willingness to apply individual judgement and creativity to new problems, show organisational capability and communicate with others.
This module provides you with an opportunity to further enhance the independence and employability skills industry is looking for in graduate engineers seeking professional recognition as Incorporated Engineers.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Students are provided with a list of possible projects to enable them to identify an appropriate area of study before the start of the academic year. A project supervisor is allocated to each project to encourage the student to achieve the project goals and to monitor progress. Students are required to maintain contact with their supervisor at formal meetings at least once a fortnight. Guidance on skills required by all students (including research methods, data retrieval, report writing and oral presentation) is given through written guides, discussion with the project supervisor and occasional lecture presentations. Outside of meetings with the supervisor the student is expected to commit the remainder of the module to independent study.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 3 x 1 hour lectures on aspects of managing the project. 12 x 1 hour scheduled meetings with supervisor (or equivalent). | 3 12 |
| Guided independent study | Regular independent study such as research, preparation of reports, experimentation, etc. | 285 |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
The summative assessment for this module is 100% coursework and is achieved through a portfolio of work made up of a preliminary report, usually written, worth 15% of the total, a presentation and poster element worth 10%, an engagement element based upon the student's interaction with the project supervisor and organisational skills worth 5% and the final written report worth 70%.
Formative opportunities will be provided through the regular meetings and discussions with the project supervisor. Submission of early drafts of sections of the dissertation, presentation etc. will provide opportunities for the supervisor to give regular detailed feedback and feed-forward to the key summative points. It is envisaged that these on-going discussions will encourage the student in developing strategies for improvement and enhancement.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Evaluate the viability of a project and set realistic goals and milestones. | Interim Report and Log Book assessed by the Project Supervisor. |
| 2) Arrange and conduct regular meetings with the project supervisor to review progress and to discuss and appraise ideas and data. | Formative assessment by the Project Supervisor at formal project meetings once a fortnight (or the equivalent) leading to summative assessment at the end of the project. |
| 3) Set out and defend augments and conclusions both orally in a presentation and visually in the form of a poster-style display. | Project seminar and poster assessed by an academic panel. |
| 4) Write a well-structured report in clear English providing a description of work undertaken, a synthesis of the data collected and present a logical discussion of the processes, results and conclusions. | Final report and log book assessed by the Supervisor and a Second Reader. Overall moderation provided by a Project Moderation Committee. |
| 5) Produce project work appropriate to a BSc standard always being aware of their personal and professional responsibilities. | Final report and log book. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Project planning report and logbook | 15% |
| Practical exam | Seminar and poster presentation | 20% |
| Coursework | Final dissertation | 65% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any category of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Pears R and Shields G, 2010, Cite Them Right, Palgrave; ISBN-13: 978-0230272316.