| Unit name | Individual Exploratory Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | AENG30003 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Trask |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Year 2 AENG units, depending on actual project |
| Co-requisites |
Occasionally, particular year 3 AENG units, depending on actual project |
| School/department | School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
The aim of the project is to provide the students with an exercise in scoping, preparing and planning a piece of original research of engineering relevance in year three (H-level) of a four-year MEng programme. It may be focused wholly on detailed review and analysis of existing technology and/or literature, wholly on research, or include aspects of novel design, or systems engineering, which is orientated towards theoretical and/or practical work. This project will provide an opportunity to explore a subject, define and plan a series of activities, and undertake preliminary investigations (where possible/relevant) in preparation for a deeper and more focused research activity to be undertaken in year four Research Project (current unit code AENGM0032). A more self-contained project may be chosen by students on the BEng programme. Integral to this IXP project are development of skills in the following: time and resource management; search, acquisition and critique of literature materials; verbal and visual communication; reasoning and planning; originality and creativity in problem solving.
Refer to QAA Output standards matrix • KU1,2 • IA1,2,3 • PS1 • GT1 • US1,2,3 • E1,2,3,4 • D4 • P2,3,4,5,8 • The intended outcomes are the preparation of a comprehensive project report including a literature review; project plan outlining methodology to be applied and tasks to be undertaken; and, where relevant, identification, design and preparation of software tools or hardware rigs/fixtures. These outcomes will be exploited in the year 4 AENGM3100 Research Project
All members of the Aerospace Engineering staff (and occasionally staff from other departments) are involved. Each project has a Supervisor and one Specialist Assessor. A moderator (usually the Head of Department) is also part of the assessment team. Where projects have an industrial dimension, external personnel may also be involved in an advisory role but not assessment.
The assessment is based upon a student's ability to convey and defend their technical research to both specialist and non-specialists in two distinct forums; • A written project proposal (max. 10 pages A4), including a review of the subject identifying the major challenge(s), a description of the intended scientific approach to be taken, a task list, a project timeline, and, if relevant, a summary of preliminary studies/software tools developed/hardware designed.
20% Viva; 30% assessment of the project by the Advisor; 50% report mark Assessors 1&2.
Various, depending on project topic
