Introductory description

ES327-30 Individual Project

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

A project topic may be selected from published lists or, alternatively, students may themselves propose suitable topics in consultation with Personal Tutors or potential supervisors.

Project work is undertaken during the Autumn and Spring terms.

5 hours of briefings to include:

• Introduction to project management methodologies
• Keeping a logbook
• Project risk management
• Reviewing literature
• Writing the technical report

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Design a project defining aims and objectives.
• Evaluate risk & constraint issues including general project risks, time, uncertainty, information, data, commercial, environmental, sustainability, health, safety, security, intellectual property rights, standards and create a project plan which demonstrates appropriate risk management
• Apply and integrate knowledge and principles from a range of disciplines, including new technological developments, as appropriate to analyse and solve a problem holistically, including consideration of production, operation, maintenance and disposal.
• Comprehensively obtain, analyse and assess results and communicate feasibility of implementation to technical audiences.
• Plan and carry out a personal programme of work demonstrating project management by monitoring and adjusting throughout the project lifecycle and managing budget.
• Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct and use IT facilities to produce professional documentation.
• Reflect on the project and opportunities for skills development evaluating lessons learned and the role of the project in lifelong learning as well as planning future learning and demonstrating improvement.

Research element

Student are expected to carry out independent research / investigation within the self study hours. This may involve collecting primary data, in which case SofE ethical approval must be sought. Research for other literature / sources may be required using both resources available from the University of Warwick library or www.

Subject specific skills

Ability to recognise, conceive and realise an opportunity or challenge in an engineering context.
Ability to develop economically viable and ethically sound sustainable solutions to such an opportunity or challenge.
Ability to be consider challenges and solutions with a rational approach, taking logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality
Ability to seek to achieve sustainable and commercially viable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative and innovative within known constraints.
Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities

Transferable skills

Identify and apply suitable analysis methods leading to the recommendations optimal solutions
Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities
Communicate complex technical and commercial concepts in both written and oral formats (to technical and non-technical audiences) .
Plan self-learning and recognise necessary performance improvements, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD
Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including time management
Overcome difficulties and challenges by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner
Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue
Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication
Be professional in their outlook and conduct, become effective communicators and be able to exercise responsibility and sound management approaches.