Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The overall aim of this programme is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, key skills and attributes to make a substantial impact within the sports equipment industry.  To achieve this, the programme provides the relevant background in engineering and sports science, knowledge of materials, design and manufacturing processes and an understanding of the sports equipment business.  In combination this equips students with the skills to conceive and develop innovative sports equipment designs and turn them into manufacturing reality and profitable products.  The depth offered by this MEng programme enables students to achieve Chartered Engineer status after further industrial experience and progress rapidly both technically and managerially in a range of sports equipment related organisations.

Specific aims are:

A1.  To produce high quality graduates with a strong academic background, excellent communication skills and the ability to progress to positions of responsibility

A2.  To deliver technical depth in core engineering subjects and specialist applications leading to a broad understanding of engineering knowledge, and a critical awareness of current insights within sports equipment engineering and management.

A3.  To support graduates to manage their own learning and solve complex problems individually and in teams.

A4.  To train skilled sports engineers with a broad appreciation of the essential practical, commercial and social aspects of engineering.

A5.  To provide an engineering degree programme for highly motivated students that applies engineering design and sports science principles to sports equipment

A6.  To produce graduates with the analytical and transferable skills that will enable employment in a wide variety of professions and to make a valuable contribution to society.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) – ‘Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering’, (Feb.2015).
• Engineering Council (UK). ‘UK-SPEC, UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence’, 3^rd Edition, Jan.2014.
• Engineering Council (UK). ‘The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’, 3^rd Edition, May 2014. 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

K1.  the underpinning science, mathematics and other disciplines associated with careers related to the sports engineering / equipment design and manufacture;

K2.  the characteristics of engineering materials, equipment and processes and mechanical workshop practices;

K3.  the role of instrumentation and measurement techniques within sports equipment evaluation and experimental protocol design;

K4.  the principles of sports equipment design, engineering design and manufacturing design and the ability to manage a design project;

K5.  ergonomics and aesthetic considerations and how they impact on sports equipment design;

K6.  relevant developing technologies, sustainability issues and the broad range of concepts necessary for effective sports equipment design and manufacture;

K7.  principles governing the mechanics and biomechanics of sports movements;

K8.  management techniques, business practices and the commercial and economic context and drivers of the sports equipment / engineering business;

K9.  intellectual property issues and environmental, legal and ethical issues within the modern industrial world;

K10.     engineering principles, quantitative methods, mathematical and computer models related to sports equipment design / engineering;

K11.     codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues, including new developments and limitations, as applicable to a sports equipment design / engineering career.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

The MEng graduate will be able to use such knowledge and understanding in a creative way and be able to:

C1.  identify and define a sports equipment design / engineering problem in unfamiliar situations and generate innovative solutions;

C2.  apply and adapt appropriate methods to model such solutions and assess the limitations of each method;

C3 .  analyse engineering solutions using contemporary computer-based systems and appreciate their limitations;

C4.  investigate new and emerging technologies using fundamental knowledge;

C5.  apply biomechanics to the analysis of movement in sport;

C6.  demonstrate an awareness of form, function, fit, aesthetics, environment and safety;

C7.  analyse, objectively evaluate and apply the principles of sports equipment design, engineering design and manufacturing design to product design and development;

C8.  evaluate commercial risk and market trends within the sports sector;

C9.  integrate knowledge from all aspects of the programme, applying understanding to novel and challenging situations, while being aware of the limitations of solutions;

C10.  generate innovative designs for systems, components or processes to fulfil new needs.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

P1.  research technical information and apply new methods required for novel situations;

P2.  communicate design ideas through the presentation of concept drawings, computer visualisations and conventional sketching;

P3.  prepare engineering drawings, computer visualisations and technical reports and give technically competent oral presentations;

P4.  test design concepts via practical investigation;

P5.  use appropriate computer software and laboratory equipment to collect, analyse and present mechanical and biomechanical data;

P6.  present technical and business information in a variety of ways to create deeper understanding and/or greater impact;

P7.  manage and lead the design process taking account of customer constraints such as cost, health and safety, risk and environmental issues;

P8.  apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints;

P9.  identify and apply methods to minimise measurement uncertainty.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

T1.  demonstrate high levels of computer literacy and numeracy;

T2.  apply creative, structured and evidence-based approaches to problem solving;

T3.  communicate effectively through written, graphical, interpersonal and presentation skills;

T4.  work effectively independently, in a team and as a team leader;

T5.  demonstrate advanced organisational and management skills to meet deadlines;

T6.  learn new theories, concepts, methods etc. in unfamiliar situations outside the discipline area;

T7.  demonstrate self-learning to improve performance.

4. Programme structure

INTRODUCTORY MODULES     

Part A

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules  (80 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

DEGREE MODULES

Part B

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules  (80 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

Part I

For candidates who are registered for the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) or Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS), Part I will be between Part B and C or Part C and D and will be in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XI and Regulation XX.

Part C

Students must select at least one of MPC012 and WSC606 in their optional modules.

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules  (50 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

Optional modules  (Students should select modules totalling 20 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules  (10 credits) 

Optional modules  (Students should select modules totalling 20 credits) 

Part D

Students must select at least one of MPD014 and WSD606 in their optional modules.

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules  (50 credits) 

Semester 1

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

Optional modules  (Students should select modules totalling 20 credits) 

Semester 2

Compulsory modules  (20 credits) 

Optional modules  (Students should select modules totalling 10 credits) 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1       Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, from C to D and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

5.2       Criteria for Candidates who do not receive Permission to Progress or gain the Award of a Degree

Any candidate who fails to achieve the criteria for progression from Part A to Part B, Part B to Part C or Part C to Part D shall have the opportunity to repeat module assessments in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XX.  Alternatively, the candidate may elect to enter the BEng Honours Degree programme in Sports Technology, provided that the candidate has satisfied the criteria for progression on the BEng programme at the appropriate point.

Any candidate who, having successfully completed Part C, is unable to commence or complete Part D or who fails to achieve the criteria necessary for the award of MEng may, at the discretion of the Programme Board, be awarded the degree of BEng in Sports Technology with a classification corresponding to the candidate’s achievements in the Part B and Part C assessments and determined on the basis of the weightings given for the BEng programme.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidate’s final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B, C and D in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The overall average percentage marks for each part will be combined in the ratio (Part B 20: Part C 40: Part D 40) to determine the final percentage mark.