University of the West of Scotland

Module Descriptor

Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 22/07/2022 12:35:54

Title of Module: Independent Study

Code: ENGG09018	SCQF Level: 9 (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)	Credit Points: 20	ECTS: 10 (European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:	School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences
Module Co-ordinator:	Parag Vichare

Summary of Module
The subject of the engineering report will be agreed to ensure good alignment with the student's programme of study. The student will provide a topic selection proposal outlining the content of the report. Within the report, the student will be required to demonstrate that a critical review of the topic has been undertaken. Original research need not be undertaken. It is anticipated that student's' final report will be based on literature review, observation, examination and analysis and development of the topic in some considerable depth. It may comprise an alternative design, alternative construction method, analysis of the health and safety implications of a project or design, or the development of a quality assurance system, etc. The report must not be purely descriptive; depth of understanding and technical content will be required. The report may include calculations, student developed designs, comparisons between different solutions etc. During the course of this module students will develop their UWS Graduate Attributes. Academic Universal and Work-ready attributes: Students will gain knowledge and understanding of academic writting as well as having the opportunity to develop a broad range of ICT, technical and transferable skills. This module has been reviewed and updated, taking cognisance of the University’s Curriculum Framework principles. For example, active and engaging, module assessment which reflects use of academic referencing and corresponding referencing resources. Library drop-in sessions for exploring use of subject specific academic journals for undertaking a critical review will be facilitated. To provide students with an opportunity to prepare a significant written work. To allow students to develop skills to undertake a literature review To allow students to develop skills at referencing technical literature for inclusion in academic and engineering reports To allow students to demonstrate some engineering judgement and critical thinking. This module will support students to develop following UWS graduate attributes: Academic - critical and analytical thinking, inquiring, knowledgeable, innovative, and problem solving; Personal - ethically minded, creative, imaginative; Professional - research-minded and socially responsible.

Summary of Module

The subject of the engineering report will be agreed to ensure good alignment with the student's programme of study. The student will provide a topic selection proposal outlining the content of the report. Within the report, the student will be required to demonstrate that a critical review of the topic has been undertaken. Original research need not be undertaken. It is anticipated that student's' final report will be based on literature review, observation, examination and analysis and development of the topic in some considerable depth. It may comprise an alternative design, alternative construction method, analysis of the health and safety implications of a project or design, or the development of a quality assurance system, etc. The report must not be purely descriptive; depth of understanding and technical content will be required. The report may include calculations, student developed designs, comparisons between different solutions etc.

During the course of this module students will develop their UWS Graduate Attributes. Academic Universal and Work-ready attributes: Students will gain knowledge and understanding of academic writting as well as having the opportunity to develop a broad range of ICT, technical and transferable skills. This module has been reviewed and updated, taking cognisance of the University’s Curriculum Framework principles. For example, active and engaging, module assessment which reflects use of academic referencing and corresponding referencing resources. Library drop-in sessions for exploring use of subject specific academic journals for undertaking a critical review will be facilitated.

To provide students with an opportunity to prepare a significant written work.

To allow students to develop skills to undertake a literature review

To allow students to develop skills at referencing technical literature for inclusion in academic and engineering reports

To allow students to demonstrate some engineering judgement and critical thinking.

This module will support students to develop following UWS graduate attributes: Academic - critical and analytical thinking, inquiring, knowledgeable, innovative, and problem solving; Personal - ethically minded, creative, imaginative; Professional - research-minded and socially responsible.

Module Delivery Method
Face-To-Face	Blended	Fully Online	HybridC	HybridO	Work-based Learning

Face-To-Face Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision. Blended A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations Fully Online Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning. HybridC Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus HybridO Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus Work-based Learning Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.

Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:	Ayr:	Dumfries:	Lanarkshire:	London:	Distance/Online Learning:	Other:

Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1		Term 2		Term 3

Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)
On successful completion of this module the student will be able to: L1. To select and then study a topic relevant to the Engineering Discipline of the student to demonstrate good academic literature review techniques. L2. To critically review the information collected. L3. To produce a report that demonstrates skill in technical report writing and engineering judgement.

Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. To select and then study a topic relevant to the Engineering Discipline of the student to demonstrate good academic literature review techniques.

L2. To critically review the information collected.

L3. To produce a report that demonstrates skill in technical report writing and engineering judgement.

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings	During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U)	SCQF Level 9. • Demonstrate further knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of civil engineering. • Further develop the appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding	SCQF Level 9. Possess knowledge, understanding and practical engineering skills acquired through individual project work. Use creativity and innovation. Further application of the use of technical literature and other information sources. The independent study module project will demonstrate the application of knowledge of engineering management principles, commercial context, project and change management, and relevant legal matters including intellectual property rights.
Generic Cognitive skills	SCQF Level 9. • Be able to comprehend the broad picture and thus work with an appropriate level of detail. • Investigate a civil engineering problem.
Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills	SCQF Level 9. • Possess practical engineering skills acquired through individual project.
Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others	SCQF Level 9. • Further develop skills in planning self-learning and improving performance.

Pre-requisites:	Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
	Module Code:	Module Title:
	Other:
Co-requisites	Module Code:	Module Title:

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

Learning and Teaching
This module is mainly directed by the student. The module coordinator will put in place materials that the student can use and will be avialable to provide advice and support as required.
Learning Activities During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below:	Student Learning Hours (Normally totalling 200 hours): (Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery	6
Independent Study	194
	200 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)
The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes: The materials that the student consults is dependent on the topic that is being studied. Students are expected to use the resources of the UWS Library and the Internet. Materials covering the "mechanics" of the module (report requirements, submission details, etc.) will be provided via the University's VLE. Extension Resources: Consultation of the under noted resources is recommended and material from these resources may be of benefit to the student in the assessment process: The UWS library website and in particular the "UWS Referencing Guidelines." The Electronic Resources provided by the UWS library
(*N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

The materials that the student consults is dependent on the topic that is being studied. Students are expected to use the resources of the UWS Library and the Internet.
Materials covering the "mechanics" of the module (report requirements, submission details, etc.) will be provided via the University's VLE.

Extension Resources: Consultation of the under noted resources is recommended and material from these resources may be of benefit to the student in the assessment process:

The UWS library website and in particular the "UWS Referencing Guidelines."

The Electronic Resources provided by the UWS library

(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements
In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

Supplemental Information

Programme Board	Engineering
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail)	No
Subject Panel	Engineering
Moderator	Mohamed Abdel-Wahab
External Examiner	M Ghaleeh
Accreditation Details	This module is accredited by IMechE as part of BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.
Version Number	3.11

Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
Assessment Category 1: Coursework 100%
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed. (ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.)	Learning Outcome (1)	Learning Outcome (2)	Learning Outcome (3)	Weighting (%) of Assessment Element	Timetabled Contact Hours
Dissertation/ Project report/ Thesis				100	1
Combined Total For All Components				100%	1 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

Note(s):

More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity
The programme leaders have considered how the programme meets the requirements of potential students from minority groups, including students from ethnic minorities, disabled students, students of different ages and students from under-represented groups. Students with special needs (including additional learning needs) would be assessed/accommodated and any identified barriers to particular groups of students discussed with the Enabling Support Unit and reasonable adjustments would be made for classes and site visits. UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

Equality and Diversity

The programme leaders have considered how the programme meets the requirements of potential students from minority groups, including students from ethnic minorities, disabled students, students of different ages and students from under-represented groups. Students with special needs (including additional learning needs) would be assessed/accommodated and any identified barriers to particular groups of students discussed with the Enabling Support Unit and reasonable adjustments would be made for classes and site visits.
UWS Equality and Diversity Policy

(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)