CSC8419 : Capstone Project for Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeship (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Mujeeb Ahmed
- Lecturer: Dr John Mace
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 30 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 30 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This individual work-based project is a substantial piece of independent work which is designed around apprentices’ job roles and the cyber security specialism being taken. Apprentices are expected to solve real-world cyber security problems in their workplace and demonstrate their specialist expertise* in the project topic while further improving and demonstrating their professional development skills. Apprentices will work closely with their academic and workplace supervisors.
Specifically, the module aims to equip apprentices with the following knowledge and skills:
1. To deepen, through practice, the core professional competencies and Cyber Security Specialist KSBs
(Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) acquired in the programme.
2. To develop an awareness of real-world problems in Cyber Security.
3. To develop an awareness of the range and limitations of available security technologies.
Outline Of Syllabus
Apprentices will agree upon a business-related cyber security project, based on the apprentice’s job role and cyber security specialism, with their academic and workplace supervisors. As the project will inform the business report submitted for End Point Assessment (EPA), a Capstone project proposal will be sent to the independent EPA assessor for approval. If the apprentice or their employer need to change the Capstone project scope, the apprentice will resubmit an updated Capstone project proposal for the EPA Assessor to approve.
The agreed project will present a typical business task, appropriate for demonstrating the skills and knowledge on the Cyber Security Specialist standard. In every project there will be a research component and a strong design, programming and/or analytic element.
1. Project Definition and Planning: The agreed project will be comparable in terms of content and complexity
for all apprentices – it is the context within which the knowledge, and skills must be demonstrated that
will vary. The project is undertaken and completed on programme and pre-gateway to the EPA. The Capstone
project itself is not part of the EPA.
2. Supervision: Each project has at least one academic supervisor and one workplace supervisor. The apprentices
will meet regularly with their supervisors throughout the period of the Capstone project.
3. Research: Background research will be undertaken in the selected topic using library and online resources.
4. Development and Analytics Skills: The core of the Capstone project will largely involve carrying out the
project plan independently, but with guidance from the supervisors.
5. Project Report: A Capstone project dissertation will be prepared, describing the problem being studied, the
technical background, the work undertaken, the analysis of results and directions for further work. Guidance
on the style and content of the dissertation will be provided by means of lectures and through the academic
supervisor.
6. Project presentation: apprentices will demonstrate their ability to communicate their work to Capstone
project stakeholders.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Demonstration of software and / or discussion on project. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 100 | 1:00 | 100:00 | Write and submit project dissertation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:30 | 3:00 | Module overview, expectations, create plan of action, and short activities. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Complete and submit ethics form |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 45 | 1:00 | 45:00 | Create and submit project proposal |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Background research for dissertation |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 400 | 1:00 | 400:00 | Conduct project research, implementation, testing and analysis |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 26 | 0:30 | 13:00 | Individual supervisor meetings/discussions |
| Guided Independent Study | Online Discussion | 26 | 0:30 | 13:00 | Asynchronous discussions, status updates, and group support space |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The project is undertaken with an academic supervisor, working collaboratively with the apprentice’s employer. There will be a designated Degree Apprenticeship Skills Coach to offer additional assistance or advice.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 3 | M | 100 | Word count: 10,000 words(+/-10%) |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
| Description | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | M | Complete and submit ethics form. |
| Oral Presentation | M | Demonstration of software and/or discussion on project. |
| Oral Examination | M | End Point Assessment (EPA). This element places a block on awarding the MSc until EPA is also completed. This assessment is not listed in the Teaching Activities grid as it does not contribute to the overall module mark. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | 2 | M | Submit a project proposal for supporting supervisor allocation. |
| Written exercise | 3 | M | Submit a 2,500-word draft dissertation for feedback. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The dissertation allows apprentices to apply and demonstrate their accumulative cyber security knowledge and skills. The ethics form is a requirement to gain approval for all university research-based projects. The project proposal will ensure a suitable, achievable, and agreed project has been selected. Submitting a draft dissertation will help provide apprentices with feedback and help prepare their final dissertation. The oral presentation will provide an opportunity to showcase their projects to stakeholders. Overall, the dissertation and oral presentation will help prepare apprentices towards the apprenticeship Gateway and End Point Assessment.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8419's Timetable