This course provides a foundation for engineering and communication skills across all engineering disciplines, as such it contains many different elements taught at an introductory level.

The course covers six key areas, general study skills, creativity skills, digital skills, workshop skills, design, build and test skills and communication skills.

The design, build and test section is specific to the student's particular degree programme within engineering.

2 lectures per week for the first 6 weeks of semester 1.

4 hours of creativity labs in semester 1.

Other workshop, studio and lab times vary.

None

None

40% Report: group report for design build and test section, this will include an element of peer assessment

30% Set Exercise: 10% Creativity exercise, sketch and data sheet creation, 20% digital skills submission

10% Written Assignment, including Essay: written summary of a standard / regulation

10% Project Output: design, build and test prototype, this will include an element of peer assessment

10% Oral Assessment and Presentation: design reviews of project progress

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

The aims of this course are to:

■ act as an extended induction to students starting their degree programmes in Engineering;

■ provide students with the basic digital, workshop and communication skills required for further study in engineering;

■ integrate engineering design activities with the application and construction of components, structures and systems, and to develop the basic skills relevant to team work and the role of engineers in industry.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ explain of how the degree programme and the School of Engineering work including code of assessment, plagiarism, Moodle;

■ describe the university services are available to support studies;

■ act as a member of a team working towards a common goal in an engineering context;

■ describe the role of a professional engineer including professional ethics;

■ discuss the role of regulations and standards in engineering;

■ use research to inform engineering design;

■ create a solution to an open creative brief;

■ create a design solution from a detailed brief and existing initial concept;

■ create prototypes of a quality suitable to prove concept or design;

■ test, evaluate and subsequently redesign a prototype/model;

■ use a range of CAD packages leading to the creation of basic drawings, models and assemblies conforming to engineering standards;

■ produce a basic computer program;

■ use basic software packages to prepare reports, calculations and present data;

■ create a simple part from an engineering drawing using basic mechanical workshop hand-tools;

■ use various manufacturing processes to support prototype/model construction;

■ construct a basic electrical circuit from drawings and fault find;

■ write a technical written report conforming to engineering standards;

■ use correct engineering conventions to cite references;

■ give and receive critical feedback, both verbal and written, and demonstrate its impact;

■ keep written records of progress which demonstrate an understanding of the information required e.g., lab books, portfolios or logbooks;

■ communicate through functional sketches;

■ present data and graphs in a manner conforming to engineering standards;

■ write up a calculation for a professional reader in a manner conforming to engineering standards.