Course specification for ENG4111

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ENG4111 Research Project Part 1

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Research Project Part 1
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 039999 - EnginTech not classified
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: ENG3902 and ENG4110 and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BCNH or BCON or BEBB or BEBC or BEHB or BEHI or BEHS or BENG or BENH

Other requisites

Undergraduate students must have completed 22 units in their program.

Rationale

Project work undertaken by individuals is a central part of engineering and spatial science practice. At the professional level project work routinely involves research in the sense that there are non-standard requirements to be met and non-standard problems to be overcome. This course, combined with ENG4112 Research Project Part 2, prepares the student for professional-level technical project work. With the guidance of supervisor/s, the student will augment, integrate and demonstrate skills spanning both the technical and non-technical dimensions of engineering and spatial science at the professional level. The project (ENG4111 Research Project Part 1 immediately followed by ENG4112 Research Project Part 2) will develop and test the ability to define and analyse the problem, to develop solutions to the problem, to make the necessary decisions, convert ideas into useful outcomes and to cope with the unexpected problems encountered in testing and evaluation. All of this must be accomplished in a tight timeframe, within resource limitations and with due regard for safety, social and ethical considerations.

Synopsis

The project (comprising ENG4111 Research Project Part 1 immediately followed by ENG4112 Research Project Part 2) is intended to integrate and augment the student's total formal knowledge by means of its application to a real problem at the appropriate professional level. This course (being the first half of the project) will comprise firstly the selection, negotiation and approval of a project topic appropriate to the student's major study. Following this the student will (i) research the background, context and literature, (ii) develop an appropriate methodology, (iii) demonstrate a sound appreciation of the overall task and its constraints by formal reporting, and (iv) make substantial progress in the execution of the work.

Objectives

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. commence and make appropriate progress in a major technical task;
  2. find and critically review the quality and value of information from published literature and other contextual sources;
  3. identify sustainability, safety and ethical issues associated with a major technical task;
  4. define the goals, determine an appropriate methodology, a realistic schedule, and the resource requirements for the execution of a major technical task involving research;
  5. provide an appropriately structured project appreciation report;
  6. establish, manage and maintain appropriate interaction and reporting with the designated supervisor during all phases of a major technical task.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Project work in which students will plan, commence and make substantial progress in an individual, generally open-ended task which will encompass a range of technical skills appropriate to the student's major study. These will include ALL of the following: literature research and evaluation; determination of consequences; and planning and self management. 30.00
2. Project work tasks will also include some (and often many) of the following: planning and management; feasibility assessment; experimental work and trialling; fieldwork; data analysis; design; prototype construction and testing; simulation and modelling; financial analysis. 40.00
3. Project work will be undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor/s appointed from the academic staff of the Faculty. Sponsors and technical advisors external to the Faculty may also be involved. 10.00
4. Report writing. 20.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=ENG4111)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

There are no texts or materials required for this course.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
The project will require full use of the resources of the Library and via the Internet, including literature searches, research papers, journals and trade literature files.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 20.00
Project Work 90.00
Report Writing 30.00
Supervisor Consultation 15.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Objectives Assessed Notes
ASSIGN 1 TOPIC ALLOCATION 1 04 Mar 2020 1 (see note 1)
ASSIGN 2 PROJECT SPECIFICATION 1 18 Mar 2020 2 (see note 2)
ASSIGN 3 PROGRESS REPORT 100 100 27 May 2020 1,2,3,4,5,6 (see note 3)

Notes
  1. Refer to Assessment Note 1 in the Assessment Notes of the Course Specification.
  2. Refer to Assessment Note 2 in the Assessment Notes of the Course Specification.
  3. Refer to Assessment Note 3 in the Assessment Notes of the Course Specification.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or directed required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily students must meet the requirements of the item as setout in the ENG4111/2 Project Reference Book.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of a passing grade a student must FIRSTLY complete each of the three (3) assessment items satisfactorily (which will result in the temporary grade of IIP (Incomplete In Progress) being awarded for this course); and SECONDLY, in the semester immediately following, satisfactorily complete the course ENG4112 Research Project Part 2. The passing grade awarded will then be the same for both ENG4111 and ENG4112. Students who do not complete course ENG4112 in the semester immediately following (as above) will be regraded FNC (Fail - Did Not Complete) in course ENG4111.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grade will be determined on the basis of the ENG4112 dissertation which will encompass the entire ENG4111 plus ENG4112 Research Project.

  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Not applicable.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (.

  2. TOPICS AND SUPERVISORS (Assessment No. 1). (i) Students who have not indicated topic preferences or made an acceptable topic proposal (as set out in the ENG4111/2 Project Reference Book) by the date indicated above will normally be dropped from the course. (ii) Both project topics and supervisors will be allocated by the examiner on the advice of one of the assistant examiners and will depend on the student's major study, staff availability for supervision and, as far as practicable, student preferences. (iii) It is the responsibility of students to maintain regular communication with the supervisors, normally weekly or as required by the supervisor/s, and to keep whatever records of progress the supervisor/s may require (eg a log book).

  3. PROJECT SPECIFICATION (Assessment No. 2). (i) An individual project specification will be developed by the student and supervisor for each project (spanning ENG4111 Research Project Part 1 and ENG4112 Research Project Part 2), endorsed by the student, the supervisor and the assistant examiner/examiner. (ii) A revised project specification will be written during the program of the project if the work diverges significantly from the original project conception and endorsed by the student, the supervisor and assistant examiner/examiner. (iii) The project specification will be used for management and assessment purposes throughout the duration of the project, ie including course ENG4112 Research Project Part 2.

  4. PROGRESS REPORT (Assessment No. 3). (i) The Progress Report shall be submitted in accordance with the guidelines and requirements set out in the ENG4111/4112 Project Reference Book. (ii) A Progress Report which is unsatisfactory, in part or as a whole, must be reworked and resubmitted until satisfactory, as directed by the Examiner. (iii) Students whose Project Progress Report is not satisfactory by the Progress Assessment Due Date will be graded IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up) or F (Fail)

  5. Referencing in Assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library’s referencing guide. These policies can be found at

Other requirements

  1. ENROLMENT. Students will normally undertake the project courses (ENG4111 Research Project Part 1 followed by ENG4112 Research Project Part 2) in the same calendar year; and this is normally expected to be their final year of enrolment in their degree program.

Date printed 19 June 2020