YEAR 3 PROJECT - 2021/2

Module Overview

Expected prior/parallel learning: Appropriate background knowledge related to the project topic.

Module purpose: The purpose of the Year 3 Project is to prepare students for independent problem solving and independent work in engineering (or elsewhere), and to further develop their professional skills in presenting their work. This is achieved by undertaking an extended piece of research-and-development work on a particular topic over two Semesters, and then presenting the outcomes of this work via a written Final Project Report and an oral presentation, both these being subject to viva-voce examination.

 

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

WELLS Kevin (Elec Elec En)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

The project forms an integral and important part of your programme. It is intended to occupy some 300 hours spread over two semesters. The normal arrangement is for students to carry out a project in the Department, but projects suggested by and in collaboration with industry may also be available and are welcome.

Students are expected to spend time each week on dedicated project work, organise their time effectively allowing for lead times on ordered components, development time for sub-modules or sub-tasks, and adequate time to write up their mid-project report as well as their final project report. They are also expected to keep a log book, as well as meet with their supervisor regularly, ideally each week, but at least once every two weeks.

Students are expected to gain an understanding of relevant background theory/technology in their topic area, and understand the context and motivation for the project work being undertaken. They are expected to report this in a professional manner, being able to report on the successes and limitations of their work.

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 success in the process of carrying out a project. (It is helpful if the project actually works, but presentation of a clear understanding of why a project has not worked can also be valuable from an engineering point of view.)


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

• Mid project report (10%)
   


• Final written project report  (45%)
   


• Oral presentation and viva-voce examination  (45%)

 

The Final Project Report needs to cover the objectives, methods and achievements of the project, needs to be professionally presented, and should conclude with a critical appraisal of the student's own work, including reflections on what has been learnt during the project. The report is assessed both as a measure of your technical achievement, and on the quality of its production (clarity of layout and reporting, and also English structure and grammar).  The oral presentation and related questioning are also assessed both as a measure of your technical achievement, and on the quality of your performance. 


 

Formative assessment and feedback

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

       During regular meetings with his/her project supervisor

• During the mid-project review meeting 

Module aims

• To provide an opportunity for the student to tackle a research and/or development problem, and to gain experience of the process of doing this, including experience in having to work independently on project-related activities, and experience of needing to produce a report and defend their work under viva-voce examination conditions.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to allow students to achieve the specified learning outcomes by means of study and research & development work. This is supervised by a full-time academic or an experienced research worker via regular meetings. In this way, a student can gain mentored experience in applying knowledge achieved during academic studies to particular theoretical or practical problems. As part of this process, the student will need to critically evaluate the relevant literature, marshal ideas for research or lab evaluation, and produce a reliable and coherent report.

Students are expected to arrange a project with a supervisor before the end of the first few weeks of Semester 1. Most project ideas come from the supervisors, but students may propose their own projects. Students returning from a professional placement often come with an idea inspired by their year in industry, and/or actively supported by their company, which is encouraged. A student who wishes to carry out a project that he/she has personally proposed will need to find a member of the academic staff who is willing to supervise the project.

Students are expected to plan their own use of time with feedback from their supervisors. Most hardware-oriented laboratories are available for student use during normal working hours during semesters.

 

Learning and teaching methods include the following.
 

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• Introductory project-oriented lecture


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• Training organised by the project supervisor, where relevant


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• Project-student-directed information research, retreival and assessment activities.


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• Research and/or development activities (hardware, software, information or science, as relevant to the nature of the project), including trial-and-error methods and/or build-and-test methods where appropriate.


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• Regular meetings with the project supervisor

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• Experience of the project-management process.


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• Experience of preparing both a written project report and an associated oral presentation, and of being subject to viva-voce examination.

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: EEE3017

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 2021/2 academic year.