Prerequisites for Module
Completion of the PgCert Instrumental Analytical Sciences or equivalent.
Corequisite Modules
None.
Precluded Modules
None.
Aims of Module
To enable students to acquire the knowledge and skills required to effectively plan a short period of work. To provide an opportunity for the accomplishment of this industrially related work which will normally be carried out during a placement period in an industrial, commercial or public laboratory or equivalent.
Learning Outcomes for Module
On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
| 1. |
Plan and negotiate a work placement learning agreement that addresses a project at SCQF 11.
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| 2. |
Satisfactorily complete the work detailed in the learning agreement, negotiating changes in the agreement if necessary.
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| 3. |
Demonstrate professional competence in identifying appropriate reported work and critically appraise its relevance to the topic(s) being studied.
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| 4. |
Critically evaluate, report and defend the work undertaken within the placement.
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Indicative Module Content
Project Management: calculation of duration, sequencing of activities, resource profile. Techniques: networks, Gantt charts, critical paths, floats. Management: manning, monitoring, control.
Work Placement Agreement: The student is required to produce, after negotiating with industrial placement supervisor and University supervisor, a satisfactory learning agreement to cover the work to be done during the placement period. This agreement is completed and approved in advance. This learning agreement represents a "contract" between the student and the Course Management Team.
Work Placement: The student carries out the learning outcomes identified in the Work Placement Agreement over a six week period in industrial laboratory or equivalent.
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Indicative Student Workload
Contact Hours
| Full Time | Part Time | Laboratory Work
| 210 | 210 |
Directed Study
| | | Directed Study
| 50 | 50 |
Private Study
| | | Private Study
| 40 | 40 |
Mode of Delivery
The project management component is delivered through seminars and workshops. Once the allocation process is complete each student is provided with the names of the industrial supervisor and University supervisor. A flow diagram which identifies the suggested steps to be undertaken to realise the learning agreement along with examples of such agreements is provided to the student in the course booklet. Normally students will drive the process from that point but the University supervisor will, if necessary, intercede to ensure the timely completion of the work placement agreement. Whilst the student is on placement the day to day running of the project is in the control of the industrial supervisor. Normally two visits are made by the University supervisor, though a different number may be made if judged appropriate.
The work placement involves the planning and carrying out of a short piece of work in an industrial laboratory or equivalent, normally over a six week period.
Assessment Plan
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Learning Outcomes Assessed
| | Component 1 | 1,2,3,4
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The assessment modes are agreed in the learning agreement and include drawing up the learning agreement (20%), a written report, normally this will include a written report covering preliminary practical work carried out and a critical review of the relevance of published material to the topic proposed (60%), an oral conducted at the end of the project planning stage to determine the depth of appreciation gained by the student of the techniques applied or to be applied (20%).
Indicative Bibliography
| 1. | The appropriate scientific bibliography will normally be recent journal publications.
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Additional Notes
The safe working practice of the host industry must be followed, and course members must always follow procedures agreed in advance with the supervisors.
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