Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

A1. Independently formulate, undertake and report on a substantial design or research project.
A2. To carry out an independent piece of technical investigation involving project integration, design and/or some research methods.

Outline Of Syllabus

The students will spend the most time independently carrying out research on their chosen topics in maritime engineering. The following issues will be discussed in the class:
(1) The nature and basic requirements of research work;
(2) How to carry out and present a literature review, research proposal and project plan;
(3) How to write the final report in the form of a scientific journal paper and effectively communicate the findings through an oral presentation.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completing this module, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding to:
IKO1 - Conduct a literature review and communicate its findings through an oral presentation, outlining the selected projects aim, objectives, methodologies and work plan (C1-C6).
IKO2 - Execute and report on a substantial design or research project, incorporating ethical consideration and present the final project outcomes through an oral presentation (C1,C6,C8).

Intended Skill Outcomes

Opportunities are afforded to develop the following subject-specific skills:
ISO1 - The ability to use library and web-based resources to research the selected topic (C7-C11).
ISO2 - The ability to plan and manage a self-directed research or design project (C1-C6).
ISO3 - The ability to write a journal paper and associated supporting materials and present the final outcomes through an oral presentation (C12-C18).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures provide students with the acquisition of the fundamental research skills and the project framework in terms of timetable, milestones and arrangement for supervision (IKO1-IKO2, ISO1-ISO3).
The project provides an opportunity to be able to independently formulate, undertake and report on a substantial design of research project (ISO1-ISO3).
The student should select a member of staff as a supervisor for their intended project who will help establish the scope and focus of the project.
The student should formally agree with the selected member of academic staff that they will act as their supervisor. The supervisor needs to sign both the initial project specification and literature review & project plan to confirm that they are willing to do so.
The supervisor is also responsible for helping the student with all matters relating to the project and is the primary point of contact for all technical and project management issues.
Students are responsible for maintaining regular contact with their selected supervisors and to maintain a written record of their meetings that is subsequently appended to ‘supporting materials’.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The project is intended to provide the students with an opportunity to carry out a substantial and largely independent piece of research related to maritime technologies including the initial development of research proposal ideas enabling a project specification with aim, objectives and methodologies. The selected project is then supported by an academic supervisor. The literature review and final project dissertation are intended to assess the acquisition and application of several learning skills including the project management, time management, data management, writing a professional report and oral presentation of both the literature review and final project outcomes to verify the student's understanding and achievements as outlined in IKO1-IKO2 (C1-6, C8, C11). Oral presentations eliminate the misuse of AI in generating a textural report for the literature review and enable students to experience a professional dissemination of their project with interactive discussion and direct face to face feedback from a panel of academics.

General Notes

N/A