ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL STUDIES 2 - 2019/0

Module Overview

Expected prior/parallel learning:  Students necessarily take either module EEEM053 or module EEEM054 before taking this module. This module is closely coupled with the 90-Credit Extended Project. As far as is practicable, the coursework in this module relates to and complements the project work, by requiring auxiliary studies on issues relating to the project's wider context.

Module purpose:  The module introduces the students to a range of aspects of engineering professional practice which should enable them to see modern electronic engineering in a wider context, encompassing e.g. sustainability, environmental considerations, human factors, business operation. The module builds on the related Engineering and Professional Studies module that is compulsory in the preceding Semester. This module is designed to be closely coupled with the 90-Credit Standard Project. In particular, the module coursework complements the project by helping to develop the professional skills needed for successful project management.

Module provider

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Module Leader

WANG Ning (Elec Elec En)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes the following.

Unit 1: R&D project management

Leadership and management

Team working

Problem solving

Day-to-day project management

Log-book

Progress meetings (see Project reporting below)

Plan updating

Conflict resolution

Specification of interfaces

System integration

Documentation

Demonstrator

Testing and evaluation

Component testing

Laboratory system testing

User acceptance testing

Field testing

Alpha and Beta testing,

Contract/requirements testing, acceptance testing

Unit 2: Product development

System design principles

Product design

Design for re-use

EMC and Thermal constraints

Human factors

Ergonomics

Usability

Aesthetics

User manual

Unit 3: Commercialisation and exploitation

Business organisation

Business governance

Business planning

Company finance

Market survey

Product/service marketing

Sales infrastructure

Commercial risk and risk management

Exploitation plan

Establishing ownership of ideas

Exploitation routes

Productive partnership

IP and IP protection

IP exploitation arrangements

Unit 4: Standards/Standardisation

Unit 5: Societal impact

Industrial relevance

Sustainability

Inclusiveness

Environmental issues

Engineering ethics

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable: students failing a unit of assessment resit the assessment in its original format.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge of performance characterisation issues and ability to define system testing specification


• Ability to document a designed system, and to assess wider issues such as human factors


• Understanding sustainability issues and the ability to take into account.


• Ability to produce a user manual


• Ability to generate an exploitation plan

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following.

1. Comprehensive system testing specification.  (Circa 6 pages) Due Tuesday Week 4


2. System technical documentation with assessment of human factor and sustainability issues. (6 page maximum) Due Tuesday Week 8


3. User manual.  (3 page maximum) Due Tuesday Week 10


4. Exploitation plan. (3 page maximum)  Due Tuesday Week 12

These deadlines are indicative. For confirmation of exact dates and times, please check the Departmental assessment calendar issued to you.

Formative assessment and feedback

For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.

• During lectures, by question and answer sessions


• During meetings with his/her project supervisor


• Via the marking of written reports


• Via assessed coursework

Module aims

• R&D project management
• Comprehensive testing and evaluation
• Wider design issues (human factors, sustainability, environment)
• Standardisation
• IP and IP protection
• Commercial exploitation of R&D

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the specified learning outcomes by teaching the course syllabus in lectures, and by guided learning using on-line resources. The independent study will be supported by setting the coursework in the context of the 90-credit project. The assimilation of knowledge, and transferable professional skills will be acquired through course work involving four marked items. 

Learning and teaching methods include the following.

• Lectures and seminars (10 hours)


• On-line courses.  (30 hours)


• Guided study

The student is expected to attend all the course lectures before the start of their project. The coursework will be marked against a generic marking scheme defined for each assignment.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEEM055

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.