Module ENGI41090: Masters Research Project

Department: Engineering

ENGI41090: Masters Research Project

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To allow students to undertake an individual, research-based project within an industrial context. The project will allow students to deal with a technical topic of depth and challenge.

Content

• The exact content of the project will be decided in consultation with the academic supervisor, company representative and the student. The project will take into consideration the topics studied by the student during the first half of the MSc.

Learning Outcomes

• To plan and manage an investigation of an industrial process or product design.
• To apply knowledge and skills acquired from appropriate lectures.
• To show appreciation of appropriate methodologies in a factor of design office environment.
• To appraise data and to recommend solutions to the task.
• To transmit findings to the company via oral and written presentations.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The student will undertake the project with academic and industrial support. The project will consist of a number of generic phases:
• Precursor: The first task is to identify a problem in the sponsoring company that is of importance to the company and is suitable for the purposes of an MSc project. The academic tutor and the company representative will work with the student to generate a suitable project brief.
• Analysis: The student will work with the academic supervisor and the company to analyse and understand the problem.
• Project Plan: The student will work within the company to generate a detailed project plan identifying timescales and resources required.
• Investigation: There are a number of forms the main investigation can take, but basically it will consist of design of experiments, data collection, analysis of results, conclusions and recommendations.
• Write-up: It will be necessary for the student to write and defend a report that satisfies both the industrial requirement for a solution to a problem and the academic requirement of understanding both the technology and the process.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

In the first stage of the project, the academic tutor and the company representative will work with the student to generate a suitable brief. This will serve as the basis for providing detailed feedback on the student's proposal. Towards the end of the project period, the student will also provide an outline summary of their report.