Industrial Studies

Module overview

This Industrial Studies module is part of our MEng and MComp programmes with “Industrial Studies” in the title. It allows students to go on to a 1 year placement in industry after finishing Part 3 of their programme. It is a great way to give our students a competitive edge among graduate recruiters by showing they can relate their academic skills and knowledge to contemporary industrial practice. It can help them to connect with future employers, add value to their CV or launch their career in a new-found direction, as well enabling them to develop business and team-working skills in their chosen industry. To be eligible for the one year placement, students are required to meet specified progression criteria. We require students to reach a Part 3 average mark of no less than 58%. They are also required to meet the criteria at the first time of asking. We would anticipate that the majority of our placement students would achieve at a significantly higher level than this criteria. Overall, this module helps improve students' appreciation of their degree programme and make them more attractive to future employers. On top of this, they get to earn a salary to pay back some of their tuition fees.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of role within the work organisation
Demonstrate an understanding of the business practices and environment of the host company selected for your placement
Understand the importance of intellectual property rights and confidentiality issues related to industrial project work
Evaluate health and safety risks associated with industrial work and identify procedures to keep them to an acceptable minimum
Work successfully as a member of a diverse team

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Relate the academic knowledge and skills acquired in your studies to real industrial problems
Apply design and technical skills to analyse and provide solutions to real problems in industry
Identify, develop and demonstrate new technical and management skills acquired from host company

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

A deeper understanding of the relevance of the material studied in your degree to a successful career in industry
Experience of applying your academic skills and knowledge to solving real problems in industry

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

An Introduction session will be held at the beginning of semester one in Part 3 for students who are planning to go on a placement at the next academic year. Applicants will be required to attend an interview training workshop and CV clinic with the Careers Hub or Module Leader. These activities aim to improve the students’ skills in placement application. A briefing session will also be held at the end of semester two, prior to the start of the placement. After the students have started the placement. The day-to-day supervision and direction of the project is carried out by a designated Industrial Supervisor at the collaborating organisation for the duration of the placement. The Industrial Studies programme is an opportunity to demonstrate their independence working in a professional environment (while enrolled), which they will be receiving more guidance and supervision from their host line manager. However, we also expect at least monthly meeting/engagement throughout their placement with their Module Leader and/or academic supervisor for a brief update of their placement. The meeting could take place by email, phone call, Skype or in person depending on distance and availability. Additionally, they can contact their personal tutor and/or a Senior Tutor as required.

Study time
Type	Hours
Completion of assessment task	100
Wider reading or practice	50
Total study time	150

Assessment

Assessment strategy

To evidence fulfilment of the learning outcomes, students are required to complete an end of placement report (~10,000 words) of their industrial experience. To support this report, students must also complete monthly summaries of their work progress by emailing monthly report to their respective industrial line manager and Industrial Studies module leader. If a student fails the industrial placement, a referral assessment will be implemented by re-submitting the final placement report. The monthly report mark will not be carried over in the referral assessment. If a student fails the referral assessment, the student will go on to complete the final year of their degree without earning the 'with Industrial Studies' title. There is no repeat opportunity for this module.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Report	15%
Final report/ Presentation	85%