Module Descriptors

This module is designed to provide apprentices/students (hereafter referred to as students) with an opportunity to gain experience of undertaking an applied research project work at a strategic level within or for an organisation. The work must be of strategic importance to the organisation and address a specific business challenge/problem. The project must be selected and arranged by, and agreed with, the client, university and student and supported by a tripartite agreement.  The tripartite agreement will define specific learning and practice outcomes for the student and confirm required elements of support and commitment from all parties.

Supervision will be provided by a member of academic staff (normally the module coordinator or an appointed supervisor) and, although the work may be carried out for the student’s employer or for an external client and involve site visits, the approval and supervision of the project is normally internal to the University. The students will have access to the University's Civil Engineering lab facilities for conducting experiments where appropriate to support their research project.

Where required, the student’s preparation for the project covers health and safety, legal and ethical issues, employability, goal setting, reflection and PDP.  While undertaking the project the student will use various academic, technical, practical and transferable skills already learned through their academic programme of study.

This module will support students to develop their UWS graduate attributes, namely: Academic (critical and analytical thinking, inquiring, knowledgeable, innovation, and problem solving); Personal (effective communicator, creative, imaginative); Professional (Collaborative, research-minded, and socially responsible).

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

L1. Critically identify, define, conceptualise and analyse complex professional problems and issues and negotiate appropriate learning objectives in conjunction with the University and, if appropriate, an external client.

L2. Execute a defined project of research, development or investigation and achieve agreed outputs and outcomes.

L3. Apply knowledge, skills and understanding of self-reflection, criticality, observation, evaluation, cooperation, autonomy and initiative to demonstrate and reflect upon own ability to develop learning, analysis, problem solving, interpersonal, social and other personal and professional skills in a workplace environment.

L4. Derive conclusions from the research conducted and formulate recommendations to industry and/or future researchers.

Demonstrate a broad and integrated knowledge and understanding of the scope, main areas and boundaries of working at a strategic level in a civil engineering (& related activities) workplace environment.

Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in using a wide range of the principal professional skills, techniques, practices and/or materials associated with the work-based learning objectives defined for the project.

Execute a defined project of research, development or investigation and identify and achieve relevant outputs and outcomes.

Carry out forms of research for projects involving sustained independent enquiry; retrieve and generate information and evaluate sources, in carrying out research, including the ability to quote from and acknowledge written sources.


Practice in a range of professional level contexts that include a degree of unpredictability and/or specialism.

Critically identify, define, conceptualise and analyse complex professional problems and issues

Offer professional insights, interpretations and solutions to problems and issues

Make judgements where date/information is limited or comes from a range of sources.

Present or convey, formally and informally, information about specialised topics to informed audiences.

Communicate with peers, senior colleagues and specialists on a professional level.

Interpret, use and evaluate a wide range of numerical and graphical data to set and achieve goals/targets.

Exercise autonomy and initiative in professional activities.

Work with others to bring about change, development and/or new thinking.

Practise in ways that show awareness of own and others' roles and responsibilities.

Manage complex ethical and professional issues in accordance with current professional and/or ethical codes or practices, recognising the limits of these codes and seeking guidance where appropriate.

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

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

1.05

1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
2. 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.