Proposal for a New Programme

 

This form is available for downloading from admin/ar/templates/new_prog - spaces can be expanded as required.

 


This proposal is in      Strategic Phase

 


                Operational Phase

 

1.   Name of Department and Departmental contact

 

        Electronic and Electrical Engineering; Dr Keith Gregory

 

2.   Award and Title of proposed new programme (see * below)

 

        BEng in Systems Engineering

        BEng, DIS in Systems Engineering

 

3.   Month and Year of first intake to the programme

 

      October 2004

 

      Will the programme be offered as:

 

        full-time

 

        part-time

 

        full-time and part-time

 

4.   If the proposed new programme is a revised version of an existing programme, state how this will be phased in, i.e. - year(s) that Parts B, C, D will commence; pathway for students currently on placement/leave of absence and resit students

 

        The proposed new programme is a 3-year BEng or 4-year BEng with DIS variant of the existing MEng programme in Systems Engineering. The programme will be introduced complete for Parts A and B but in an interim form for Part C, which will be revised for 2005/2006. The programme should take normal intake in October 2004 and be available for transfers from the existing MEng programme in any year. The programme will not affect existing students other than to give them another option for elective transfer or transfer on failure to progress on the MEng programme.

 

5.   List the numbers of any new modules proposed.

 

             ELC026 Systems Project.

 

6.   Is it intended that any modules will be available by full/partial Distance Learning?            Yes

                                                                                                                                      No

 

Is it intended that the programme will be fully Distance Learning?                                         Yes

                                                                                                                                      No

 

Guidelines on full/partial DL provision are available on the intranet at:

https://internal.lboro.ac.uk/admin/registry/uniwide/

 

7.   Reasons for the proposal: its purpose and relevance; how it will enhance calibre of teaching and learning; implications for existing programmes and modules in the department (see * below)

 

        The existing MEng programme has been successful for many years and is producing graduates who satisfy the existing sponsors and are generally sought after by industry. However, a need for a different type of Systems graduate has emerged. The graduates from the MEng programme are described by BAE Systems as “Systems Architects”; graduates who are capable of developing, operating and maintaining systems at a high level. However, a need has been identified for “Systems Practitioners”; graduates who are versed in systems theory but who operate at a practical level. These types can probably be differentiated as System Engineers who design and Systems Engineers who do.

 

        The Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) includes Systems Engineering but will, in all probability, only accept 3-year programmes. The addition of a BEng Systems Engineering programme will offer an alternative programme for any military personnel in the scheme at Loughborough.

 

        It has been noticeable at open days and student visits in recent years that a significant number of enquiries about a BEng version of the programme have been received. There is some evidence that many students do not wish to commit themselves to five years at University (at least, not initially) but want to study Systems Engineering.

 

        The new programme will take no extra resources to run but may attract significant numbers of students and, in addition, offer an alternative route to a useful systems engineering degree to those students who cannot maintain the standards of the MEng programme. At the moment such students either leave the Department or transfer to a different programme and are lost to systems engineering.

 

        Implications for existing programmes are all positive. Since all of the taught modules used for the new programme are shared with other programmes it will help, at the very least, to maintain student numbers and may well increase them.

 

8.   Expected student numbers

 

        This is difficult to estimate, however, the programme should help to maintain students numbers at their present level of 40-50 per year with a significant increase being feasible.

 

9.   Staffing implications - adequacy of existing departmental resources; net increase/reduction in staff teaching effort or demands on support staff

 

        The new programme would have little effect on staff loading or departmental resources in the short term. Plans are in place to further integrate the Systems programme with the other Departmental programmes that will require significant changes to the way in which systems material is delivered. In particular, it will be necessary to deal with much larger student numbers on systems modules. It is believed that any additional student numbers generated by the new programme can be dealt with as part of these developments.

 

10.  Additional Library requirements

 

        None in the short term, but it is possible that student numbers will increase in the long term.

 

11.  Additional Computing Support required

 

          Network/Software (please elaborate):

          Lab Space (please elaborate):

 

        All initial software and laboratory requirements can be dealt with internally. Should student numbers increase dramatically then laboratory provision will need to be reviewed.

 

12.  Other resource implications, e.g. - lecture room, lab and other space requirements; equipment, materials; timetabling constraints (block-teaching for example); any special residential requirements

 

        An increase in overall intake of 20-30 would not make the Departmental cohort difficult to deal with within existing constraints.

 

13.  Implications for other departments both providing and receiving

 

        A possible increase in student numbers on some service modules.

 

14.  Evidence of demand and suitability; views of lecturers; current/prospective students; external examiners/ assessors, professional/industrial bodies etc.

 

Departmental staff are supportive of the proposal and subscribe to the basic premise that students are attracted to BEng programmes because they do not want to commit to 4 or 5 years in University with the concomitant debt. Whilst it is understood that the new programme may cause a reduction in MEng numbers it is generally believed that an overall increase in student numbers is possible. In addition, there is anecdotal evidence of interest from student visits and open days.

 

Mr Alan Seabridge of BAE Systems, – the External Examiner for the existing systems programme wrote:

 

“I believe that the introduction of a BEng programme will be a good move to adjust to the changing needs of industry. Presumably the BEng students will be more aligned to process with added technical domain knowledge - rather than broad systems architects. Industry needs both types, and there have been occasions where we in the aircraft industry have failed to satisfy the aspiration of the MEng population with the type of 'systems' work we do. From an external examiner's point of view there is likely to be more consistency in marking and assessment since the more subjective assessment of project marking will be removed. This was an especial issue in the group project of  assessing fairly an individual's personal contribution. It may be necessary to introduce a process for assessing suitability of people to recommend for progression to MEng or MSc, but I'm sure that the University has a process for this.

 

Industry has a need for people with a Systems Engineering degree at this level to introduce a systems richness into the more traditional engineering domains. It will provide an ingredient to improve the synergy of engineering teams to our advantage by allowing a mix of systems process and domain engineering skills.”

 

Mrs Samantha Brown, Deputy Chairman, BAE Systems, Systems Engineering Council wrote:

 

BAE Systems welcomes this development as providing greater choice, both for students considering a course of study in Systems Engineering, and for their prospective employers. We recognise that, whilst the MEng is the ideal course of study for future Systems Engineering Managers and Systems Architects, the BEng option provides a more suitable qualification for those planning to embark on a role as Engineering Technicians within a Systems Engineering environment. The provision of a common curriculum across the first two years, as currently planned, will give each student the opportunity to find their own level, and to transfer between courses if appropriate. BAE Systems will seek to attract graduates from both courses, according to the specific demands of different business units, programmes and roles.

 

The Systems Engineering MEng Steering Group has already made great progress after being re-established last year, engaging both academic staff and a range of BAE Systems business unit representatives. I hope that we will be able to extend its remit to include the BEng and therefore leverage even greater benefits going forward.

 

15.  Implications for employability

 

Graduate employment for the Systems Engineering programme is already excellent and the new programme can, at worst, maintain that record.

 

16.  Any other relevant information

 

        None.

 

 

·         A department proposing a group of new programmes/titles with a higher proportion of common modules, or proposing to add a new programme/title to an existing group of this kind, should produce information clearly defining the award pathways and justify the differentiation of the award titles.  Proposals of this type should be flagged up during the strategic phase, bearing in mind that the case may be driven by non-pedagogic issues (such as marketing, recruitment or administration)

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

Regulations for the Honours Degree Programme in
Systems Engineering 2004/2005

These Programme Regulations must be read in conjunction with the General Regulations for Undergraduate Awards (GRUA) and the relevant Module Specifications. For students entering the programme in 2000/2001 onwards GRUA (2000) applies. Notices of change will be given by the Department responsible for the programme.

1.         Structure

 

1.1       Administrative responsibility for the programme rests with the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

1.2       The programme leads to the Degree of Bachelor of Engineering.

1.3       The duration of the programme is 6 taught semesters. If industrial training is undertaken, as required for the award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies or Diploma in Professional Development (Graduate Professional Development Award), this will occur after completion of Part B.

1.4       Modules taught in both semesters have elements of their assessment in both semesters. All Part A and Part B examinations take place during the summer examination period.

2.         Content

2.1    Part A - Introductory Modules

All Part A modules are compulsory (total modular weight 120)

Code

Title

Modular
Weight

Semester

COA252

Programming for Engineers

10

1

COA126

Computer Systems for Engineers

10

2

ELA001

Circuits

15

1 and 2

ELA004

Signals, Systems and Control

15

1 and 2

ELA005

Electromagnetism

15

1 and 2

MAA303

Mathematics A

15

1 and 2

ELA003

Electronics A

20

1 and 2

ELA007

Systems

20

1 and 2

2.2    Part B - Degree Modules

All Part B modules are compulsory (total modular weight 120)

Code

Title

Modular
Weight

Semester

MPB020

Materials Engineering

10

1

HUB502

Human Factors in Systems Design

10

2

TTB022

Aerodynamics and Propulsion

10

2

ELB046

Electrical Power B

15

1 and 2

MMB140

Engineering Mechanics

15

1 and 2

ELB006

Programming for the Real World

20

1 and 2

ELB007

Systems Theory

20

1 and 2

MAB303

Mathematics B

20

1 and 2

2.3                Part C - Degree Modules

 

2.3.1          COMPULSORY MODULES  (total modular weight 40)

 

Code

Title

Modular
Weight

Semester

ELC026

Systems Project

30

1 and 2

ELC057

Systems Project Management

10

1

2.3.2   OPTIONAL MODULES: Choose modules with a total weight of 80 from:

Group A:

 

Code

Title

Modular
Weight

Semester

ELC205

Computer Networks C

15

1 and 2

ELC214

Software Engineering C

15

1 and 2

ELC219

Microprocessor Architecture C

15

1 and 2

ELC202

Communications C

15

1 and 2

or

 

 

 

ELC203

Renewable Energy Sources C

15

1 and 2

ELC204

Control System Design

15

1 and 2

or

 

 

 

ELC239

RF Systems C

15

1 and 2

Group B:

Code

Title

Modular Weight

Semester

ELC013

Electromagnetic Compatibility C

10

1

ELC014

Photonics Engineering C

10

1

ELC040

Electrical Machines and Systems C

10

1

ELC051

Programming with C++

10

1

ELC054

Electronic System Design with FPGAs

10

1

MMC801

Advanced Heat Transfer

10

1

MMC912

Laser and Optical Measurements I

10

1

TTC001

Computational Fluid Dynamics 1

10

1

TTC050

Gas Turbine Theory

10

1

TTC051

Aerodynamics 1

10

1

TTC052

Aircraft Stability

10

1

ELC007

Electromagnetism

10

2

ELC009

Electrical Machines and Drives C

10

2

ELC015

Operations Management

10

2

ELC028

Java/Internet Programming

10

2

ELC041

Advanced Topics in Control C

10

2

MMC106

Finite Element Analysis

10

2

MMC803

Turbomachinery

10

2

TTC043

Computational Fluid Dynamics 2

10

2

TTC056

Aerodynamics 2

10

2

TTC057

Flight Control Systems

10

2

Modules from Group A must be taken in pairs.

Total module weight for the year must be exactly 120, so modules must be chosen from Group A in pairs. Module weighting should be arranged as 60 per semester but different semester weightings are allowed subject to the approval of the Programme Director. Any difficulties arising from such a choice will not be considered as the basis of a claim for impaired performance.

As an alternative to those options listed in Section 2.3.2, language modules to a maximum total weight of 20 may be chosen subject to the approval of the Programme Director. Modules below level 4 are unlikely to be approved.

All module choice is subject to availability, timetabling and prerequisite restrictions.

3.         Assessment

 

3.1       Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In addition to satisfying the requirements set out in GRUA candidates must satisfy the following criteria:

In order to progress from Part A to Part B candidates must obtain at least 100 credits from modules taken in Part A and must normally obtain:

(a)       a mark of at least 30% in each of the remaining modules taken in Part A.

(b)       an overall average mark of at least 40% in modules taken in Part A.

In order to progress from Part B to Part C candidates must obtain at least 100 credits from modules taken in Part B and must normally obtain:

(a)      a mark of at least 30% in each of the remaining modules taken in Part B.

(b)      an overall average mark of at least 40% in modules taken in Part B.

To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Engineering candidates must obtain at least 100 credits from modules taken in Part C. To be eligible for the award with Honours the Part C credit must normally include the Systems Project module ELC026. Where applicable, the Advanced Systems Project ELD050 is an acceptable alternative to ELC026.

3.2       Relative weighting of parts of the programme for the purposes of final degree classification

Final degree classification will be determined on the basis of performance in degree level module assessments in parts B and C, in accordance with the scheme set out in GRUA. The average percentage marks for each part are combined in the ratio: Part B - 20, Part C - 80.

3.3       Criteria for candidates who satisfy the requirements for progression on an MEng programme

Any candidate who at the first assessment satisfies the requirements for progression from Part A to Part B on any MEng programme in the Department would normally be allowed to transfer to Part B of that programme should they so wish.

Any candidate who at the first assessment satisfies the requirements for progression from Part B to Part C on the MEng programme in Systems Engineering would normally be allowed to transfer to Part C of that programme should they so wish.

Such transfers are subject to the prerequisite requirements of the chosen MEng programme.

3.4       Re-Assessment

Provision is made in accordance with GRUA for candidates who have the right of re-assessment in any part of the programme to undergo this in the University's special assessment period. However:

(i)         Where a candidate has achieved fewer than 60 credits in any part of the programme, reassessment in that part may not be undertaken in the special assessment period.

(ii)        Coursework re-assessment for exercises undertaken in groups and/or involving constructional, experimental or laboratory work may not be available during the special assessment period.

 

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