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Module Specifications

Archived Version 2023 - 2024

Module Title
Module Code
School

Online Module Resources

NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 30
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Description

The purpose of this module is to give the students the opportunity to use and demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and practical experience to carry out a substantial research project at Masters level. In this module students will plan and manage the project, critically review literature in the public domain (principally from journals), undertake the work required to apply engineering solutions to the problem, analyse the effectiveness of the solution and report progress and findings in written, presentation, poster and meeting forms. In addition, the impact of the project on society will be evaluated through health & safety, risk and environmental impact assessments. Students will participate in the following learning activities: Project Planning and Management; Running project meetings; Sourcing, reading and critically reviewing literature; Analysing an engineering problem and developing a solution; Risk assessment, Health & Safety, Social and Ethical, reviews implementing the solution; Critical Evaluaion of the implementation and effectiveness of the solution; Presentation of project work in final report, poster presentation, oral presentation and meetings. This module may also be taken by distance learning students

Learning Outcomes

1. Plan and undertake a research project at Level 9
2. Critically review and extract relevant information from literature in the public domain
3. Critically review the project and technology with respect to society. Health & Safety, Risk Assessments, Personal Ethics
4. Apply knowledge from other modules to complete the project
5. Design experiments, undertake them and analyse the results to evaluate the effectiveness of the work undertaken in the project
6. Report the findings in both verbal and written form to level 9 standard
7. Manage schedules and meetings with interested parties
8. Record activity on and on-going basis
9. Present findings visually and orally in a critical forum



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Independent Study750Background research, Project planning, Execution & reporting
Total Workload: 750

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Literature survey/research
This survey should include recent journal publications in addition to text book and other sources. Must be properly referenced and form a significant section of the final report

Analysis of the problem
Use of research and knowledge to break down the problem statement and analyse the challenge.

Proposed solution
Development of a project plan to implement a reasoned engineering approach to complete the project

Implementation of solution
Activity carried out to fulfill the project plan. May take many forms - laboratory work, computer based analysis, cognitive reasoning etc.

Testing/results
Evaluating the outcome from the activities and the new information developed during the project in a "critical" manner.

Documentation of outcomes
Mainly the project report which should document every aspect of the project and reach conclusions. Also includes presentation and interview.

Meeting with supervisors, technicians and other interested parties
Formal engineering meetings for which records should be kept

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable
Indicative Reading List

  • Adedeji B. Badiru: 0, Project management for research, 0412588900
Other Resources

None
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