MEC2008 : Mechanical Engineering Professional Skills II
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Weicheng Huang
- Lecturer: Mr Graham Cole
- Other Staff: Mr Martin Jolley, Ms Sara Williams
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 5 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 5 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To enable students to develop software, employability and business enterprise skills appropriate for professional mechanical engineers.
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction to professional employability and career development.
Awareness of the industrial and business enterprise contexts of engineering.
Further development of IT and computing to support engineering applications.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 8 | 0:30 | 4:00 | Professional Development/Careers background materials (Semester 1) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 8:00 | 8:00 | Target non-timetable hours to complete computing coursework tasks and assignment submissions. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Target non-timetable hours to complete Professional Development Portfolio (CV, Cover Letter etc), plus interview research and preparation. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 11 | 0:30 | 5:30 | MATLAB background lecture materials (Semester 2) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Computing practicals guided tutorial session outlining and working through programming examples - including weekly exercises. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Student interviews by Industrialists |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 2 | 4:00 | 8:00 | Industrial visit to local engineering company and follow up presentation (offsite). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Drop-in tutorial session for Professional Development/Careers support. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 34:30 | 34:30 | Recommended regular personal study throughout teaching period to follow up taught classes. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Introduction to all aspects of the module |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The initial elements of the module and assessment focus on the "softer skills" that graduates will require for professional employment and are delivered at Stage 2 to prepare students for placement and graduate job seeking. These elements are assessed as part of a personal Professional Development Portfolio with engagement and support from Careers and Industry. This contains elements of self-reflection - analysis of current skills and characteristics, along with an identification of gaps in professional development and research into means by which these gaps could be filled. This portfolio includes CV, Application Letters, Mock Interviews, Company Visit Review Presentation and evidence of a development of Entrepreneurial, Innovation and Team Working Skills.
Separate programming and computing skills build on the previous Stage 1 content with consolidation/practice exercises throughout. Learning is assessed with engineering-focussed programming assignment and backed up with microcontroller hardware implementation and software control lab task.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 2 | M | 50 | Computing Skills - assessed MATLAB programming exercise C3 |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 50 | Assessed professional development Portfolio - Completed across semester incl. CV, Covering Letter, Mock Interview. C11, C13, C16, C17, C18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | CV & Cover Letter online quiz providing immediate formative feedback and assessing of learning. C11, C13, C16, C17, C18 |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Employability and wider professional skills are assessed by evidence gathered within the Professional Development Portfolio as appropriate to these particular skills. Professional Development Portfolio, assessment for this module is completed throughout Semester 1.
Computing skills assessed in practice through lab-based hardware programming & computer-based software tasks.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MEC2008's Timetable