Aim, Outcomes, and Guidelines for Engineering Projects

Underpinning Science and Mathematics

Aim: To specify, research, and complete a project related to the theme of their course, thus utilising material taught while developing independent research skills that enable a dynamic work plan to be generated and followed; producing results from which conclusions can be drawn and presented.

Outcomes:

At the completion of the module, the student is expected to be able to demonstrate:

Underpinning Science and Mathematics

1 A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of mechanical and related engineering disciplines.

2 An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

Engineering Analysis

1 Ability to apply mathematical and computer-based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

Design

1 Use creativity to establish innovative solutions

2 Ability to generate an innovative design for products, systems, components or processes to fulfil new needs.

Economic, social and environmental context

1 Knowledge and understanding of commercial and economic context of engineering processes

2 The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks Engineering Practice

1 A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments

2 Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc)

3 Understanding use of technical literature and other information sources

Plagiarism and collusion are very serious offences that can result in expulsion from the University. This is because those found guilty of plagiarism or collusion will not only have attempted to represent someone else’s work as their own but have also sought to gain an unfair advantage over their fellow students.

1. You should make it very clear what sources of information have been used; where material/information from these sources is quoted it must be clearly referenced using the Numbered Referencing System.

2. Never attempt to copy or paraphrase another student’s work.

The following list summarizes several important points of style to keep in mind when preparing your report:

· Use bold for emphasis but keep its use to a minimum. Avoid using underlining in your paper;

· Use a consistent UK spelling style throughout the report;

· Use single quotes;

· Use %, not percent;

· Do not use ampersands (&) except as part of the official name of an organization or company;

Engineering Analysis

· Keep hyphenation to a minimum. Do not hyphenate ‘coordinate’ or ‘non’ words, such as ‘nonlinear’;

· Do not end headings with full stops;

· Do not start headings at the foot of a column or with only one line of text below; put the heading on the next column or page; and

· Leave one-character space after all punctuation.

References must be included in your Thesis to:

a. Support a statement, making it clear that the statement, if not based on evidence you have presented, is based on someone else's evidence.

b. Show how your work relates to that of others, demonstrating that by knowledge of other work, you have used existing knowledge and not duplicated the work of others.

c. Allow readers of the report to find out more information by accessing the sources to which you refer.

d. Acknowledge your sources, thus not claiming others' ideas or words are your own.

(a) Project planning and management 15%

(b) Information search and review 15%

(c) Initiative shown, project implementation, and results 25%

(d) Analysis of results and critical discussion of work 30%

(e) Presentation of project report (written)

Here should be described HOW the objectives are to be achieved. This will require you to think in detail – and will take a considerable amount of effort on your part.

For each of the objectives stated above – state how they will be achieved – this then becomes the instruction set for you to follow. You need to think

logically and linearly with respect to timing

I have said the same thing twice in the hope that you might absorb and follow the instructions! If you don’t the form will be rejected.

The general process for securing ethical and safety approval is as follows:

1. Student investigator writes project/dissertation proposal and completes ethics and safety approval proforma.

2. Project/dissertation proposal, including methodology, together with necessary ethics and safety proforma and related paperwork are submitted to project/dissertation supervisor

3. Dissertation supervisor assesses research proposal, ethics and safety proforma and related paperwork and either:

a) confirms that the paperwork is in order for consideration by the E&SC, or

b) returns the paperwork to the student and explains what additional work is required prior to it being submitted to the E&SC.

4. Once the paperwork is considered appropriate, the supervisor submits research proposal, ethics and safety proforma and related paperwork to the E&SC.

5. If the proposal is rejected, the student reworks the proposal with support of the supervisor and resubmits to the E&SC.