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Unit information: Research Project 4: Introduction to Research in 2021/22

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Research Project 4: Introduction to Research
Unit code AENGM0067
Credit points 30
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Professor. Tom Richardson
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

Students have not previously taken Research Project 3 (AENG30017) or equivalent.

Co-requisites

None

School/department Department of Aerospace Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of this project is to provide students with the opportunity to scope, plan and execute original research of engineering relevance. This involves evaluation of academic literature to establish the state of the art in the relevant discipline, in order to address a novel and open-ended engineering question through analytical, numerical and/or experimental methods. The scope of project topics includes theoretical and applied academic research, as well as aspects of novel design, systems engineering and technical prototyping.

Integral to this research project are development of skills in the following: time and resource management; search, acquisition and critique of literature materials; reasoning and planning; originality and creativity in problem solving; written, verbal and visual communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this project, the student will have acquired skills to:
1. evaluate and critique academic and technical literature
2. apply engineering knowledge to solve novel and open-ended problems
3. independently develop technical depth (analytical, numerical, experimental) through application
4. critically analyse and evaluate technical results
5. effectively communicate in-depth technical knowledge in a technical report
6. effectively discuss and defend technical knowledge verbally

Teaching Information

Students are supervised by an academic member of staff throughout the duration of the project, who will discuss technical aspects and advise on project direction in regular meetings. The individual research supervision meetings are complemented by a series of seminars, covering topics such as project planning, searching and evaluating literature, report writing, etc.

Assessment Information

Formative assessments
- technical writing exercise (ILO 1, 5)
- technical communication panel (ILO 2, 6)

Summative assessments
- [80%] technical report (ILO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- [20%] poster/presentation (ILO 6)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. AENGM0067).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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