Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module COMP51915: Professional Skills

Department: Computer Science

COMP51915: Professional Skills

Type Tied Level 5 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2023/24 Module Cap None.

Prerequisites

  • Programming skills in Python. Basic C programming skills.

Corequisites

Excluded Combination of Modules

Aims

  • Provide training in collaborative large-scale code development.
  • Provide training in essential subject-specific project management, collaboration techniques and version control.
  • Provide training in essential wider professional skills: entrepreneurship, intellectual property, etc.
  • Provide transferable skills training: communicating novel ideas in science, and reflecting on ethical issues around data as well as research in a broader sense.

Content

  • Training on common tools for agile, collaborative code development including build systems and CI.
  • Software development and usage workshops.
  • Entrepreneuership, Research Ethics (Intellectual Property, e.g.), Academic Writing, Basic Project Planning and Timetabling.
  • Communicating Science, Philosophy and Ethics of Data Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • understanding and critical reflection of legal and ethical principles underpinning the application of computational methods and data science in economical and societal context
  • fundamental entrepreneurial/project management and implementation skills
Subject-specific Skills:
  • technical skills in using build systems, CI and common tools for collaborative code development
  • competent management of software projects, understanding of versioning and techniques for quality control
Key Skills:
  • mature research on industrial scale
  • responsible research
  • productive research

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

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshop: Agile and Responsible Code Development, Collaborative Working 2 2 days in one week 10 hours 10
Workshop: Project Management 2 2 days in one week 10 hours 10
Workshop: Communicating Science and Research Ethics 2 2 days in one week 10 hours 10
Workshop: Structured Innovation 2 2 days in one week 10 hours 10
Self-study 120

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Workshop Presentation/e-poster 20 minutes 25%
Workshop Presentation/e-poster 20 minutes 25%
Workshop Presentation/e-poster 20 minutes 25%
Workshop Presentation/e-poster 20 minutes 25%

Formative Assessment:

The successful participation in professional and transferable skills training as well as the entrepeneurial training will be assessed formatively through individual and/or group presentations. Alternatively, the lecturer may ask for a short essay. They are indirectly assessed (project planning, presentation and communication skills, source code handling) with formative feedback by each individual coursework.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University