Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

This module is only open to and compulsory for years 1 to 3 WIRe PhD students and must be registered on the
8209F or 8209P Programme Code.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The Summer Challenge week is a component of the training programme of the WIRe CDT. The
Summer Challenge is an annual assessed one-week activity hosted in turn by the partnering
organisations. Students will address group design challenges, focusing on the interconnectivity of
water infrastructure and the interface between the natural and anthropogenic water cycles. These
challenges will be centred on the consortium’s UKCRIC testing environments and observatories,
giving students the opportunity to interact and experiment with these unique facilities. The challenge
will be designed by the hosting university and will change scope from year to year. Teams for the
group work will be composed of intra-cohort student groups (Yrs 1 to 3), providing a range of
experiences in the teams, offering significant opportunities for peer-to-peer learning.

Outline Of Syllabus

Each summer students will attend an annual assessed Summer Challenge. Hosted in turn by the
partnering organisations, students will address a new group design challenge, focusing on the
interconnectivity of water infrastructure and the interface between the natural and anthropogenic
water cycles. These challenges will be centred on the consortium’s UKCRIC testing environments
and observatories, giving students the opportunity to interact and experiment with these unique
facilities. As the CDT progresses, teams will be composed of intra-cohort student groups (Yrs 1 to 3),
providing a range of experiences in the teams, offering significant opportunities for peer-to-peer
learning. Project teams will enhance their communication skills through delivery of a video-log of their
learning journey at the end of the challenge. These will be uploaded to on-line media channels
supported by the CDT, acting as tools to recruit students and encourage outreach of the programme
to the general public. To encourage student involvement in shaping the training programme, Yr4
students will support academics in designing, delivering, and managing the challenge (non-assessed
for Yr4). Each annual challenge assessment will be equivalent to 10 credits, resulting in each student accumulating a total of 30 credits for three summer challenges.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

• Analyse a complex problem and identify the key challenges that need to be overcome.
• Formulate a plan to develop a portfolio of possible approaches to solve these challenges.
• Compare proposed solutions and identify an optimal one based on background knowledge, current
experience, relevant literature, stakeholder engagement.
• Develop an appraisal of the selected solution to identify key strengths and weaknesses.
• Develop an implementation plan to apply the solution to the specific context of the challenge.
• Deliver a presentation of the proposed solution addressing the expectations of the review panel and stakeholders.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Problem solving
• Team working
• Communication skills
• Equality, diversity and inclusivity
• Responsible research and innovation

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Group assessment; oral presentation; the WIRe CDT management team identify a problematic area relevant to the
UK water industry and WIRe PhD students have to analyse, select, develop and present innovative solutions or
management approaches.
WIRe students will collect 30 credits over 3 years
1 summer challenge week is worth 10
The students will work in groups to develop a presentation to be delivered at the end of the week about a challenge
set by the WIRe CDT management team. This presentation will be up-loaded to Canvas as evidence of content and
delivery.
Pre-reading material will be provided ahead of the challenge week related to the topic of the challenge.
Written and verbal feedback will be provided after the presentations have taken place each year (minimum 50% pass
mark).

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The students will work in groups to develop a presentation to be delivered at the end of the week about a challenge set by the WIRe CDT management team.
Pre-reading material will be provided ahead of the challenge week related to the topic of the challenge.

General Notes

Pre-reading material will be distributed to WIRe PhD students ahead of the challenge week to prepare on the topic of the challenge