Curriculum Information

Document Version

QAA Benchmarks

Educational Aim

Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Level 7 Modules

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

Employer Engagement

Links with Industry

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Industrial Advisory Group

As part of the University’s development strategy and, in particular, its strategic goal of aligning the learning experiences and achievements of students more closely with the current and future needs of employers and professional bodies engagement in an advisory capacity with members of the profession is strongly encouraged.

To meet this objective The Electrical and Electronic Engineering subject area has formed an Industrial Advisory Group (IAG) which meets formally at least twice a year. Industrial members of the Board are invited as senior practising engineers and managers who have close association with the University through student projects, industrial placements, consultancy and research projects and joint professional activities with staff members.

The Board assists in bringing about real improvements in all its areas of operation with a particular focus on this during the review period, review course structure and module content. In addition it has the vision to work in collaboration between academia and industry and develop mutually supportive initiative to promote learning and career opportunities for students oncourse in the subject area. The Electrical and Electronic Engineering subject

board is chaired by Avril Lewis, Managing director of The Electronic and Software Technologies Network for Wales (ESTnet)and has contributed to the structure and module content of courses in the subject for the up coming review of all courses. Members of the IAG have contributed guest lectures to student groups to enhance and provide an industrial insight to the taught programmes.

Mentoring of Students by Practitioners on Work Based Learning

For all courses each student on the supervised work placement year or on a work based learning module is assigned a mentoring engineer in the work place, who supervises him/her during the sandwich year out. A member of staff will visit the student in the work place at least twiceduring the placement periodto ensure that the placement is operating in accordance to the requirements of the industrial placement regulations, from the point of view of the student, employer and USW. The Health and Safety Guidelines are covered prior to the placement plus the necessary workplace H&S induction.

The University has a \\\"Network 75\\\" programme, where employers of a number of SMEs in Wales give a bursary to the sponsored students. The students work three days per week while using the remaining two days to study at the University. In the process, the companies cultivate a suitable work/training environment for the student.

Students are encouraged to contact the Placement Tutor or Network 75 manager whenever they have problems or queries about their work placement, or just feel a need to ‘touch base’. Any issues that may arise during the work based learning period that cannot be resolved in the workplace will be resolved through the University of South Wales extenuating circumstances, students complaints and appeals procedures. The subject area also has an industrial placement and liaison officer Mrs Louise Pennell who is the first point of contact for students either seeking or currently in placement. She also provides a direct interface with industry for all matters relating to student based industrial contact.

Full details of the can be found at the following link.

http://network75.southwales.ac.uk/

Visits to Industry

The subject area encourages visits to industry to enable students to get an overview of the operation of industry in areas relating to the content of their courses. Over the last review period many visits have taken place to industry. These include visits to Panasonic, Sony, and The Centre for Alternative Technology

Visiting Speakers

Experienced and leading practitioners from industry deliver seminars to our students. These usually consist of one hour of lecture followed by a 30-minute question and answer session. These seminars serve to expose our students to UK industry, discuss applications of theory in the real world and highlight some of the opportunities available and the roles they might be expected to         fulfil   upon graduation as well as the skills required. The seminars are held twice yearly, the most recent being on 30th May 2014 when Dr Andrew Chambers, a Senior GNSS Engineer with Airbus Defence and Space at Portsmouth, gave a seminar on Global Navigation Satellite Systems. Other guest lecturers have come from Inmarsat London, STMicroelectronics Bristol, EADS Newport, etc.

Industrial Projects

Each of our students is required to complete a major project during their final year. Some of these projects are research and development projects put forward by participating companies and carried out under joint supervision by an academic staff and a project leader from the company. Recent industrial supervisors of such projects have included Dr Philip Mattos of STMicroelectronics, Dr Chris Walden of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Dr Jon Eastment of Chilbolton Observatory, Mr Phil Charlesworth of EADS Newport, Mr Ian Hopley of ASG Technology Ltd Bristol, Dr Andrew Chambers of Airbus Defence & Space, etc.

Internships

As a result of feedback from international students and agents the subject area has introduced on optional six month internship within three of our MSc courses commencing February 2015. Feedback has indicated that such an initiative will be very popular with international students. The subject area has also had a very favourable response from industry, who see this as a very positive development.

Sponsorships

The subject area has secured the sponsorship of a laboratory by Renasas, the world's No.1 supplier of microcontrollers (MCUs) and a leading provider of microprocessors. Renasas Technology, design and develop some of the most technologically advanced devices ensuring our students are exposed to the most recent microcontroller developments, along with the software design tools. Their continual support has prompted the Department to name our Embedded Systems Laboratory after the company, in recognition for their help and commitment that has contributed to our students gaining a first class experience in learning embedded systems.

It has also secured a full operating licence for the state of the art Mentor Graphics design suite through the ECAD initiative. This has enabled the subject area to provide the student with a range of both hardware and software design resources that would typically be beyond the scope of an academic institution.

Means of Assessment

Assessments have been designed to meet the learning outcomes of the modules and courses. Most of the course running in the subject area will be submitted for professional body accreditation at either IEng of CEng levels, and as such the course and module learning outcomes have been designed to be compliant with the UK-SPEC and IET requirements.

The development and review process for modules has been to map the modules to the required professional learning outcomes and then design assessments to meet these outcomes. If all the learning outcomes can be met by all assessments then the module is a bonded module, if not it is designed as a non-bonded module.

The assessment regime for each course aims to measure the skill and competence of the individual student by means of a structured and integrated approach to a defined coursework schedule. The assessment strategy has been devised to reflect the diverse nature of the module content with a balance between those modules assessed through assignments, coursework and class tests, and others that are examined at the end of the session.

The criteria set for each element of coursework in each module is designed to meet the learning outcomes of that bespoke module hence meeting the level of achievement for the given level of study as set out in the learning outcomes matrix for each course. This is in keeping with the University’s strategy for assessing and quantifying standards of achievement expected by QAA benchmark statements and professional guideline documents.

Modules which are used to develop the student's understanding of fundamental principles are assessed through the formal, end of year examinations. These examinations generally contribute between 50% and 100% of the available marks for the module, with the remainder being allocated to practical or assignment work. There are two modules that are assessed by 100% coursework, which are engineering applications and the 2nd year group project.

At all five levels of assessment, the examinations are normally either of 2 hours duration for a 10 credit module or 3 hours duration for a 20 credit module.

Oral presentations are used at all levels, especially in design and group work, and in the individual project in Level 6 of the degree awards. This addresses modern industry requirements for graduates to be able to confidently present information. Elements of self and peer assessment are used, especially in group design and project activities.

The assessment profile, together with its weighting and number of assessments (student workload), is presented for all levels of all courses in the tables within the relative course specification documents.

The development of key skills is incorporated throughout each course. It is located within the modules and related to relevant assessments, as appropriate.

For each of the courses the attainment level for each of the learning outcomes and key skills is indicated by the number of occurrences stated in the learning outcomes and key skills matrices.

Regulations for Assessment Derogation to University Regulations

The MSc courses have asked for derogation from the University’s Assessment Regulations to meet the requirements of the IET accreditation criterion.

Learning Support

Student support

The students in the subject area receive support both academic and pastoral through a variety of mechanisms, these include:

Student Administration Service

The faculty has a dedicated student administration service which provides a range of academic and non academic related support and includes the student advice centre

The Advice centre Team is available throughout the year to offer students general advice and guidance related to study within the Faculty. The advice centre offer confidential and impartial guidance and advice, and are also able to assist students in identifying more specific sources of help and information should they need it. The centre works with other faculty academic and administrative staff to support students and improve the student experience. The Advice Centre is open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 4.00 and has an appointment system for students outside those hours to accommodate part-time students. The Advice Centre works closely with the Student Administration Office to provide a seamless service to students, parents, prospective students and other stakeholders. The Advice centre also helps students identify more specific sources of help and information should it be needed and as such the centre staff liaises closely with other support services throughout the University, the main ones listed below;

• A study ‘Drop-in’ centre - provides academic support in curricula areas such as maths and English;

• Student counselling – confidential counselling and self-help publications;

• International student support office – advice on a variety of issues impacting on international students such as visas, working and studying, money issues and meeting other students;

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• Medical centre – on site provision with resident nurse and visiting GP;

• Disability Service – advice and support for students with disabilities;

• Student Money Service – advice on all aspects of finance;

• Childcare – well-equipped and professionally run nursery situated on campus.

Academic Support

Undergraduate and Post Graduate Programme Managers

Each programme has a Programme Manager who is responsible for its academic administration. The manager is also responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the

academic awards within the programme and liaises with the individual course leaders to ensure successful operation of the courses at either undergraduate of postgraduate levels.

The Programme Managers report to the Head of Subject

Academic Supervisory Support

Students undertaking taught modules within the subject area receive academic support from the module leader who liaises with individual staff on the module to ensure consistency of

delivery and assessment. Students undertaking project modules which are largely self directed receive academic support from a project supervisor who meets with the student on a regular, typically weekly basis to ensure the projects are progressing satisfactorily. A member of academic staff is also appointed to manage the allocation and overall running of projects within the subject area and produces a student project handbook to aid the students in the delivery of the project. Students on placement receive support from the industrial liaison and training officer, who assist with obtaining placements, and gives advice on interview techniques and completing a CV prior to applying, then provides support to the students when on placement. Students are also visited twice during their placement to ensure everything is running smoothly The following additional support systems are in place to further enhance the students learning experience:

• One week induction programme for new students.

• Student online induction programme, learning and assessment schedules, key procedures and regulations.

• On-line database defining all modules.

• Printed teaching handbooks.

• On-line learning through Blackboard MLE.

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• Modern computer laboratories providing both programme specific facilities and centrally managed open access cluster facilities

• Modern well equipped laboratories with technician support.

• Modern Learning Resources Centre providing a range of text, journal and on-line material and a wide range of study facilities.

• Student email accounts providing access to support from academic staff.

• Open door policy of academic staff.

• Student drop-in centre based in LRC to provide help with core subjects, such as Mathematics.

• Grad Edge - http://gradedge.southwales.ac.uk/

Course Exit Points

Progression Route

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

A minimum 2:2 Honours degree in an appropriate discipline, or HND in appropriate discipline plus three years experience in relevant industry. Applicants not meeting these qualifications may be considered on an individual basis. The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A