Industrial Studies | ELEC3200 | University of Southampton

Module overview

Students on our MEng and MComp programmes can follow a variety of curricula in their third and fourth years, offering a number of different experiences and opportunities.

Each programme will offer slightly different challenges yet students graduating from them will have achieved the same level of learning outcomes and studied the same extensive core curriculum. However, they will have had different opportunities for specialisation in both practical and theoretical research.

To be eligible for the one year placement our students are required to meet specified progression criteria at the end of their first, second and third years where appropriate. We require that they reach a standard of 58% averaged across all their studies, and that they pass all their studies at the first time of asking. Students achieving at this level at the end of the second year should be aspiring towards a minimum of an upper second class degree on graduation. We would anticipate that the majority of our placement students would achieve at a significantly higher level than this.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

Identify, develop and demonstrate new technical and management skills acquired from host company
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

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

Syllabus

Throughout the placement each student is contracted to their host organisation but remain enrolled on their university degree. The nature of the work undertaken by our students on placement is managed by the host organisation but we do ask that the following key aspects of the placement are recognised and accommodated.

(a) We are looking for placements on which our students work in a safe, supervised environment on activities that will use and develop their academic skills related to their degree programme.

(b) The students need to have the opportunity to demonstrate initiative and their ability to apply their knowledge and develop research and technical skills in the placement environment.

(c) The placement is assessed and contributes directly to their degree. Successful completion of the placement and assessments will mean that the title of the degree awarded will be appended ‘with Industrial Studies’.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

A briefing session will be held at the start of the placement.

Applicants will be required to attend an interview training workshop and CV clinic with the Careers Hub or Module Leader.

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 your independence working in a professional environment (while enrolled), which you will be receiving more guidance and supervision from your host line manager. However, note that we expect at least monthly meeting/engagement throughout your placement with your Module Leader and/or academic supervisor for a brief update of your placement. The meeting could take place by email, phone call, Skype or in person depending on distance and availability. Additionally, you can contact your 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 of 10,000 words and presentation of their industrial experience. To support this report, students must complete a monthly summary of their work progress by email to their respective industrial line manager, Industrial Studies module leader and School of Electronics and Computer Science Student Office.

If a student fails their industrial placement, the student will go on to complete the final year of their degree without earning the 'with Industrial Studies' title. There is no referral or 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	100%