Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To introduce new concepts and refresh existing skills in the areas necessary for research, which will be useful for not only student’s individual projects, but also their future careers. These areas include practical and computing skills, data management, information acquisition and sorting, and presenting complex information.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module introduces the important skills necessary for research projects. These include the use of industrially relevant computer packages and languages, the ability to locate, analyse, and critically evaluate appropriate published material, the skills to present this to an appropriate technical audience, both textually and verbally, and to demonstrate the ability to reflect on the ethical aspects of research.

Assessment for this module is conducted through the development of a literature review, which underpins the creation of a poster presentation.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The mapping of AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended knowledge outcome is indicated in each point. By the end of the module:

1.       Students will have been introduced to good data practices, shaping techniques, and approaches, through a value chain framework [M2].
2.       Students will have been exposed to a software-driven approach to the collection, storage, exploration, analysis and communication of data in support of robust decision making and evidence-based research [M2].
3.       Students will be able to identify key journal titles and authoritative sources in a research area [M4].
4.       Students will be able to perform advanced searching techniques in a range of subject-specific resources, and be able to articulate and justify the decisions they have made in choosing and using sources appropriate to their needs [M4].
5.       Student will be able to follow the development of an area of research, critically evaluating contributions in different publications and identify open research problems [M4].
6.       Students will have been exposed to the environmental and societal impacts of solutions to complex engineering problems [M7].
7.       Students will be able to identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct [M8].
8.       Students will have developed their practical skills in a lab environment [M12].

Intended Skill Outcomes

The mapping of certain AHEPv4 learning outcomes to each intended skill outcome is indicated in each point below. By the end of the module, it is expected that:

1.       Students will be able to demonstrate competency in retrieving, appraising, describing, and sharing data-driven insights using a software-driven approach [M2].
2.       Students will be able to interpret and describe technical information [M1, M4].
3.       Students will be able to find literature on unfamiliar topics using appropriate software [M3]
4.       Students will be able to cite literature using appropriate software (e.g. Endnote) [M3]
5.       Students will be able to demonstrate organisational and planning skills and be able to communicate findings of their literature surveys to a professional / organisational audience [M17].
6.       Students will be able to use Matlab and SPICE software to simulate complex engineering systems and solve problems [M3].
7.       Students will be able to use laboratory instrumentation to build and evaluate electronic circuits [M12].

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module will have a combination of in-person and recorded lectures. The in-person lectures will teach fundamental skills on reviewing literature, report writing, communication skills, appropriate use of data, the importance of ethics and responsible use of AI tools, and risk management. Recorded lectures will focus on presentation skills and poster creation.
Practical and computer session will look to introduce the fundamentals of Matlab and Python, strengthen electronics circuit skills, and discuss fundamental data practices.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The literature review and poster presentation will assess the students’ ability to summarise a cutting-edge research area and their communication skills to an audience of experts and non-experts. It will also assess their understanding of the research area. Both of these will be valuable for other modules on the programme, including the individual project. These cover knowledge outcomes 1-5 (M2, M4), and skill outcomes 1-5 (M1, M2, M3, M4).

The formative Ethics assessment will assess students understanding of ethics and ethical conduct. This covers knowledge outcomes 6-7 (M7, M8).

The formative Matlab exercises allow students to learn how to use Matlab to solve general engineering problems, which will be useful for other modules and the individual project. This covers skill outcome 6 (M3).

General Notes

N/A