Research Planning and Management

Learning Outcomes

Design and Innovation

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health and safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards.

The Engineer and Society

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Sustainability Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems (to include the entire life-cycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts.

Engineering practice

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Teamwork Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. Evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance.

Science and Mathematics

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the particular subject of study and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of engineering.

Engineering analysis

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Problem analysis Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural, science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• M1 Knowledge of and ability to use basic statistics, including distributions, descriptive statistics, regression and inferential statistics, t-test, experimental design and power, ANOVAs and nonparametric tests. M4 Knowledge of and practical skills on literature searching, incl. knowledge of main search tools and their use and interpretation of results. M5 and M7 Knowledge about sustainability in engineering generally, starting with the challenges posed by planetary boundaries, including CO2 emissions and demonstration of practical skills evidenced by a group assignment that involves the conceptual design of a school’s outreach activity exploring sustainability issues. M8 Knowledge of three of the main theories from moral philosophy directed at the solution of ethical problems and modern ethical dilemmas (e.g., the “trolley problem” of self-driving cars) and knowledge of values such as the Royal Academy of Engineering code of practice. Demonstrating knowledge and skills by confronting ethical dilemmas in engineering in an in-class exercise. M9 Understanding risk analysis, including basic concepts of probability and impact, illustrated with examination of the UK national risk register. Demonstrate application of skills and understanding through an in-class exercise where students analysis targeted case studies M10 Knowledge of physical security, cyber-security, and risk-based analysis of security. Knowledge of how threat actors’ capability and intentions combine to give a threat risk and how victim’s vulnerability combines with the threat to determine the threat likelihood. M11 Knowledge about equality, diversity, and inclusion within the context of the UK 2010 equality act, incl. positive discrimination and positive action, and gender equitable research. M15 Knowledge on project management starting with the history of the topic ranging from Gantt charts, via the PERT method, to critical path analysis. Knowledge about projects in controlled environments (PRINCE2 method), agile project management methods (derived from software engineering), and change management. M16 Knowledge on personality, covering topics such as the “big five” personality traits, their early origin and comparison with the widely used Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Knowledge of theories of need and motivation and group and team dynamics. Knowledge of leadership and management including transformational and charismatic leadership and practical skills developed through an associated in-class exercise (linked to a group project). M17 Knowledge on technical writing with the emphasis on preparation for writing technical reports and dissertations and on how style and content of presentation should be adapted to the intended audience together with development of practical skills through in-class exercises that include a report back style presentation with presenters nominated within each group such that all students get the opportunity to present to the class on behalf of their group. Development of writing skills through extended literature review related to the MSc research topic. M18 Development of knowledge and practical skills in continuing professional development (CPD) through a series self-reflection tasks throughout the course and development of a CPD portfolio.

Workshops and lecture sessions covering the material in this course take place through Semester 2. Self-study materials are also available in some cases. Sessions will cover the following areas:

Communication and research skills:

• Ethics and Academic Integrity in Engineering
• The Scientific Method
• Working in teams

Formulating hypotheses, aims and objectives

• Planning research studies: experimental and modelling case studies

Risk assessments

Planning and costing research

• Research impact and exploitation
• Project planning

Data collection methods and technologies

• Writing and presenting research findings

Critical evaluation of research literature

Writing an academic literature review

Preparing posters for presentation

Writing a research proposal

Communicating research to wider audiences

• Sustainability and security considerations in engineering research

IT and data analysis:

• Introduction to data processing and analysis
• Data presentation

Teaching methods include lectures, including guest talks from academic and industry speakers

Practical sessions embedding of learning as part of FEEG6012- MSc Research Project.

Communication and Research Skills: These sessions provide students with training and experience in writing research papers, critically assessing literature and preparing academic literature reviews, scoping research needs and presenting results in seminars, posters and communication with the wider public. Students will also participate in a group activity designing a school’s outreach activity focussing on sustainability in an engineering application.

IT & Data Analysis: These sessions cover the fundamentals of data analysis, presentation and visualization and introductions to relevant data analysis and plotting software.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Summative

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

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.