Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims to examine what forms mobility will take in the near future, what scenarios might influence the forms of that mobility, and what technologies will underpin those future transportation networks. The module does this by focusing on five example areas. The aims being:

1. Provide some base material through workshops and seminars on key challenges in different sectors of transport and mobility, which will include:
• Electromobility and the wider decarbonization of transport;
• Future Freight and Logistics;
• Smart Port Operations;
• Automation of road transport; and
• Smart Cities

2. Introduce the students to a range of stakeholders who will present their role in future mobility and the challenges thy have going forward, asking the students to discuss the challenges and opportunities and coming up with visions of how future transport can tackle their challenges.

3. Through visits to stakeholders and facilitated, challenge based workshops, create and environment where the students can discuss and debate the challenges and come up with innovative solutions, backed up by evidence and references.

4. Understand how the above processes and experience enable them to transition into transport, mobility and logistics professionals.

5. Utilize the experience of engaging with leading edge companies and stakeholders in future mobility will enrich their understanding of what is and where future transport and future mobility is evolving.

The module will be challenge led, with lectures enhanced through a series of visits and workshops co-created with stakeholders who can elaborate on the challenges they have.

Note that the module includes contributions from external speakers from industry, therefore the precise structure and format of lectures may vary from year-to-year, based on speaker availability.

Outline Of Syllabus

Workshops and seminars on key challenges in different sectors of transport and mobility, which will include:
•       Electromobility and the wider decarbonization of transport;
•       Future Freight and Logistics;
•       Smart Port Operations;
•       Automation of road transport; and
•       Smart Cities

The module will be delivered as a series of lectures and internal workshops to cover policy, energy, future modes, and technology deployment.

These areas will be reinforced by field trips to relevant local organisations deploying future technology – typically VANTEC – logistics supplier to Nissan); Smart and net zero ports (hosted by the Port of Tyne); smart cities; 5G vision and automated public transport (hosted by the Sunderland City Council’s smart cities

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The mapping of certain AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended knowledge outcome is indicated in each point. By the end of the module a student will be able to:
1.       Understand the complex set of relationships that form the broad area of future mobility and be able to apply their knowledge to address problems and challenges in the sectors that make up this discipline. (M2, M4, M5 and M6);
2.       Through workshops with stakeholders understand the priorities and needs of stakeholders and how future mobility solutions may be applied to their sectors to deliver positive outcomes. (M6 and M7)
3.       Be cognizant of the wider interactions of the sector and that the stakeholders nor their operations exist in a silo but require the understanding of the wider context of the ecosystem in which they operate and the constraints and opportunities these may bring (M4, M7, M8 and M11)
4.       Appreciate the underlying business practices and financial constraints that underpin future investment decisions in future mobility solutions and (M7, M11, M15)
5.       Identify, develop and propose a high-level solution to a major Transport Challenge as a small group piece of coursework (M5, M7, M11, M17 and M18)
6.       Undertake an individual piece of coursework to apply their knowledge and learning to a smart mobility/smart city context (M5, M7, M11, M17 and M18)
future.

Intended Skill Outcomes

The mapping of certain AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended skill outcome is indicated in each point. By the end of the module, it is expected students will be able to:
1.       Learn and study/research independently (M1, M2, M5, M18)
2.       Manage and organise time (M15 and M16)
3.       Manipulate and analyse data (M2, M4, M15 and M16)
4.       Appraisal and evaluation (M6, M7 and M8)
5.       Report writing and presentation of ideas and visions both at the individual student level and in group working (M17)
6.       Improve decision making/problem solving capabilities (M11, M15, M16)
7.       Interact with business leaders, transport stakeholder and city authorities to understand, analyses and propose solutions to their challenges (M14, M15, M18, and M19)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The delivery of this module combines traditional lecture, workshop-based activities, and site visits with discussion and groupwork. This combination allows students to learn the fundamentals of new technologies, as well as the process of development and deployment. Groupwork allows the problem-based exploration of different technologies with the formative assessment allowing groups to present and learn from each other on a range of applications. The site visits allows students to both see technology in action, and to hear about the constraints affecting their use along with plans for the future. The coursework allows students to self select both an innovation and a location that they are familiar with, and describe the various aspects of technology design and deployment necessary for successful, sustainable transport innovation.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written report will test students understanding of the concepts of automated driving, the use of simulation in studying new technologies and their ability to apply data processing and statistical techniques to that data – skills that are required by industry. [M1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19]

The formative assessments based on workshops all students to further develop their wider context of thinking (critical for masters students) and their knowledge of key technology and innovation topics (eg Artificial Intelligence).

General Notes

N/A