how the Materials Science is applied in an industrial context, and the different ...
basic IT skills as applied to Materials Science, Economics and Management ;.
MATERIALS, ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT Programme Specification for the degree of Master of Engineering.
1. Awarding institution/body
University of Oxford
2. Teaching institution
University of Oxford
3. Programme accredited by
Engineering Council
4. Final award
MEng (classified)
5. Programme
Materials, Economics and Management
6. UCAS code
FLNO
7. Relevant subject benchmark statement
Materials, Engineering, General Business and Management
8. Date of programme specification
August 2005
9. Educational aims of the programme To provide a programme of the highest academic quality in Materials Science, Economics and Management in a challenging and supportive learning environment that attracts the very best students from the UK and elsewhere. To provide students with a broad, balanced knowledge of Materials Science, Management studies and Economics, supported by the necessary background science, mathematical and statistical techniques where appropriate. To engage and enhance the critical skills of the students by the pursuit of specialist options via Management, Economics and Materials options papers To develop transferable skills related to problem solving, communication, practical experimentation, and computing. To bring students to a position on graduation that allows them to choose confidently from many different careers, whether within Materials Science, industry or neither, and enables them to contribute rapidly to their chosen employment. This includes bringing them to a position to start graduate study for a research degree at a leading university either in the UK or overseas.
-210. Programme outcomes The programme is taught jointly by the Department of Materials, the Department of Economics and the Saïd Business School. A. Students will develop a knowledge and understanding of: the general theoretical and experimental principles and techniques of physics, chemistry and engineering in a broad range of Materials Science; Management theory and practice; the historical development of Management thinking and its relationship to broader ideas in social science; international comparisons of Management and business systems; contemporary economic theory and the working of the economic system; tools of analysis and the relevant quantitative methods appropriate for the consideration of economic policy; how the Materials Science is applied in an industrial context, and the different problems associated with the business world; the application of relevant mathematical techniques; sound experimental protocol, including laboratory safety, data handling and analysis, and practical report writing; independent research skills and project Management experience; a knowledge and understanding of sustainability and environmental impact; basic IT skills as applied to Materials Science, Economics and Management ; how to work as part of a team. Related teaching/learning methods and strategies Lectures form the principal means by which the core content of the course is delivered to the students. A guided reading list and course handbooks containing synopses of the lectures supplement the lecture course and where appropriate notes and proofs of the lectures are provided. Practicals (usually in pairs) supplement and expand the lectures, they allow the students to develop key experimental skills and visibly demonstrate the principles discussed in lectures and tutorials. Tutorials (usually in pairs or threes) are used to address the more complex concepts as a means to stretch the more able students and provide focussed help for those students experiencing difficulties. Classes (small groups) are used in certain subject areas to discuss and answer problem sets related to the material delivered in lectures. Computing techniques are developed from the 1st year and students are taught how they may be applied to Materials Science problems. A wide range of software is used including teaching software specifically designed for Materials Science. Industrial visits are undertaken once a term to allow the students to see how Materials Science can be applied to real problems. Students must attend four visits during the Part I of their course, and submit four reports on these visits. The visits are designed to complement the formal academic syllabus of the course. Voluntary Industrial vacation projects: students are strongly encouraged to undertake vacation placements in a relevant company. Students are offered guidance on how to find such a placement. Team design projects undertaken in the penultimate year of the course are designed to teach the students design skills, the benefit of good teamwork and other key transferable skills, including written and oral presentations. The projects require not only design and materials input but also costing and market analysis. 24-week Management project teaches the student how to plan, execute and write up a challenging project, with considered guidance from Faculty members and the industrial partner where the project is taking place. Private study during term time and vacations is both necessary and expected, as it provides opportunities for consolidation and reading beyond the syllabus.
-3Assessment The assessment procedure for Materials Science, Economics and Management is divided into two public (university) examinations: the preliminary and final examinations, with the latter being further divided into the Part I and Part II assessments. A wide range of assessment methods, both summative and formative, is employed throughout the assessment process. The Preliminary Examination in Materials Science is a pass/fail examination (although distinctions are awarded for excellent performance) consisting of four written papers and continuously assessed work from the first year practicals and crystallography classes, which counts as a fifth paper. It must be passed (a resit is allowed in September) to proceed further on the course. The marks do not count towards the degree classification. The students begin to study Economics and Management after passing their Preliminary Examination. Part I of the finals examination consists of four general written papers on Materials Science, two Economics papers and one Management paper. With the exception of the Introductory Economics paper which is taken at the end of the 2nd year, these examinations are taken at the end of the students’ 3rd year. Additionally the marks for the Materials Science practicals, the industrial visit reports and the team design project contribute the equivalent of a further 1.2 papers. Part II of the final examination consists of a 24-week Management project, a Materials Science Options Paper, and one from a choice of several Management or Economics papers. The 24-week Management project is the equivalent of two papers and is assessed by a 20,000 word report which is marked by the examiners of the Said Business School. This project mark contributes the equivalent of two papers to the overall degree mark. Both the Part I and Part II examinations contribute towards the final degree classification. During the course, formative assessments are carried out within the college and departmental contexts through tutorials, classes and termly examinations (collections). These enable regular feedback and comment on the individual student’s needs thus isolating any possible problem areas as well as highlighting areas of strength.
-4B. Skills and other attributes Students will have the opportunity to develop the following skills during the programme: I. Intellectual skills 1.
Appreciation of the underlying principles of Materials Science, supported by an understanding of the necessary basic science required studying this interdisciplinary subject.
2.
An understanding of the processes and principles involved that lead to the appropriate application of materials, the importance of materials to industry and society.
3.
An understanding of engineering principles in order to understand the manufacturing methods and service performance of materials.
4.
A willingness and ability to challenge orthodoxy and deconstruct practitioners’ accounts of business practice.
5.
An understanding of commercial risk evaluation, supported by the ability to argue persuasively and to marshal evidence and analysis in a logical and coherent way.
6.
Ability to apply appropriate mathematical or numerical techniques to materials-, business-, and economics-based phenomena.
7.
Ability to solve a range of known problems and tackle unseen and more open-ended ones.
8.
Ability to collate, analyse and interpret complex experimental data and infer conclusions where appropriate.
9.
Ability to summarise arguments and facts and to give succinct oral and written presentations using IT-based methods where appropriate.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies The course is designed so that lectures, tutorials, industrial visits & projects, classes, self-study and practicals (both in the classroom and independent projects) complement each other to allow the student to develop the above intellectual skills.
Assessment: Skills 1-7 are assessed through written examinations, written class and tutorial assignments and project work. These skills are also assessed formatively through tutorials, which provide regular feedback on the student’s progress. Skills 7-9 are assessed through practicals, project reports and public presentations.
-5II. Practical skills (where relevant) 1.
Aware of the need for safety in practical laboratories, and the importance of good laboratory practice.
2.
Ability to use a wide range of experimental techniques to make quantitative measurements, and to be able to draw scientifically rigorous conclusions from these observations.
3.
Ability to plan, execute and write up short projects.
4.
Aware of the applications of practical Materials Science.
5.
Knowledge of safe workshop practice and development of workshop skills
6. Listen attentively to complex presentations and identify the structure of the arguments presented and engage in positive but searching discussion with peers. Teaching/learning methods and strategies Skills 1-5 are taught through practicals, undertaken in the 1st 2nd and 3rd years of the course in the Department’s teaching laboratories. The teaching laboratory has an academic supervisor (The Practical Class Organiser) and a Practical Class technician, as well as a team of demonstrators to guide the students through their practicals. The students undertake four industrial visits during the 2nd and 3rd years of the course, a team design project in the 3rd year and a 24-week Management project in their 4th year. These activities all help develop teamwork and independent research skills. Additionally, the students develop coherent analytical skills through the tutorial and class system, which promotes active student participation. Practicals are undertaken as a cohort in pairs or groups of three, and are scheduled throughout the academic year in order to support the lecture courses. The TDP teams comprise 5 – 6 students and the final year research projects are individual pieces of work. Assessment The teaching laboratory practicals, and industrial visit reports are continually assessed and contribute to both the Preliminary examination and the Part I. The 3rd year team design project is assessed both by written and oral presentations and contributes towards the Part I examination. The 4th year project contributes towards The Part II and is assessed by a 20,000 word report examined by staff of the Said Business School.
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III. Transferable skills 1. Critical analysis and problem solving in a variety of contexts, relevant to industrial- and scientificbased problems. 2.
The ability to devise and apply the relevant numerical, mathematical or computations skills.
3.
Project Management skills, including time management and organisational, in both a practical and non-practical context.
4. Experience of using bibliographic and statistical databases and internet search engines to find useful and appropriate data 5.
The ability and skills required to study effectively, for example for further research or professional qualifications.
6.
Effective communication skills.
7.
Basic key IT skills required for effective oral or written presentations and information retrieval.
8. The ability to work both independently, with a strong sense of self-direction, and also constructively in co-operation with others. Teaching/learning methods and strategies Skills 1-5 are developed through lectures, tutorials, classes, practicals and research projects. The sixth and seventh through tutorials, practicals and team projects; the eighth through tutorial work, private study, team projects, practicals and the final year project. Assessment: A combination of written examinations, continuously-assessed project work and practicals, public presentations and tutorial feedback mechanisms assess the skills.
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11. Programme Structures and Features In summary, the programme is broadly structured as follows: A four-year accredited programme leading to a degree of a classified MEng degree. The first year covers foundation material in Materials Science, Mathematics, practical, crystallography and engineering drawing classes. The Preliminary Examination in Materials Science (First Public Examination) is taken at the end of the year (with a resit available in September) and must be passed to continue on the programme. The Second Public Examination is taken in two parts. Part I is taken at the end of the 3rd year of the course and consists of four general written papers on Materials Science, two Economics papers and one Management paper, practical work, reports on four industrial visits and a team design project. Part II of the Second Public Examination consists of a 24-week Management project, a Materials Science Options Paper, and one of a choice of Management or Economics papers. The 24-week Management project is the equivalent of two papers and is assessed by a 20,000 word report which is marked by the examiners of the Said Business School.
The following sections describe the programme in more detail. Learning Year 1 Subjects Materials Science 1 - Structure of Materials Materials Science 2 - Properties of Materials Materials Science 3 - Transforming Materials Mathematics for Materials & Earth Sciences Practical work Crystallography classes Engineering Drawing classes IT skills Industrial visits Looking to the future: Career planning
-8Assessment The four written papers, each of 3 hours, must be passed. The pass mark is 40%, with the possibility that failure in one paper by a small margin can be compensated if the overall performance merits it. Students failing up to two papers may retake these in September. Failure on more than two papers requires all four to be taken again. Practical work and crystallography classes are continuously assessed and count as one written paper. Failure of this fifth paper may result in the examiners requiring further work over the summer; the examiners may also set a practical or a written examination on crystallography. The examiners may award a distinction to those who show special merit across all the tests and have passed all papers at one sitting.
Years 2 & 3 Subjects 1.
Structure & Transformation of Materials1
2.
Electronic Properties of Materials1
3.
Mechanical Properties of Materials 1
4.
Engineering Applications of Materials1
5.
Introduction to Management 2
6.
Introductory Economics1
7.
Microeconomics2
8.
Practical work4
9.
Team design project2
10. Industrial Visits 11. Career planning and options3 1
– taken in the 2nd year, 2- taken in the 3rd year, 3- taken in the 3rd and 4th years. 4 - taken in 2nd and 3rd years
Assessment Topics 1-5, and 7 are assessed by written examinations; each consisting of a 3-hour paper at the end of the third year. Topic 6, Introductory Economics is examined at the end of the 2nd year by a 3-hour examination. Additionally, the practical work, the four industrial visit reports, and team design project report and presentation, are assessed continually.
Year 3 See above Subjects
Assessment
-9Year 4 Subjects A compulsory Materials Option Paper, at least 4 from 8 courses must be taken. Currently these are: Origins and Stability of Microstructure; Structural and Functional Nanomaterials; Structural Biomaterials, Fracture and Fatigue; Melt Processing; Advanced Engineering Alloys – Design and Applications; Advanced Characterisation of Materials. 1. One further paper from a selection of Economics and Management papers. Currently, these include. Economics Options: Economic Decisions within the Firm, Statistical Methods in Social Sciences, Econometrics, Macroeconomics. Management options: Information management, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Business Policy. 2. A 24-week Management project normally undertaken on placement in industry or business and occasionally within the university on an industrial-related project. Assessment Industrial or industrial-related project report assessed by the examiners. Two three hour written examinations.
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12. Support for Students and their learning
All undergraduates reading Materials, Economics and Management have a college tutor responsible for their academic welfare. This person will normally also hold a university teaching post in the Materials Science department and is the main source of advice on course content/options for a student. However, in later years the students also have tutorials from Economics and Management tutors. In addition to college tutors, the College provides more general welfare support and liaises with the University Counselling Service. Most Colleges are able to house the majority of their undergraduates throughout the course and provide social and sports facilities.
The Department employs a Director of Studies and an Academic Administrator who, amongst other tasks, are responsible for the organisation and administration of the undergraduate course. The Director of Studies also arranges skills training for the students including talks on career planning, finding a summer placement, information skills, project management, scientific writng & IPR and presentation skills. He is Chairman of the Department of Materials Academic Committee (DMAC) and is a member of the staff-student liaison committee (JCCU) which is chaired by an elected student, who in turn sits on DMAC.Information about the courses is provided in the Undergraduate Course Handbook, distributed at the start of each year to all Materials, Economics and Management undergraduates in residence. The handbook and other information pertaining to the course are published on the Materials Science, Economics and Management department websites. During the first three years of the Materials, Economics and Management course, college tutors are responsible for organising the tutorial and class teaching that complements and exercises the Materials Science course covered in lectures. The students are able to negotiate with their tutors, however, on which areas of the syllabus they feel they need to explore further through a tutorial. Question sheets from the lecture courses are used to assist the structuring of tutorials. Tutorials in Economics and Management are used in various ways, and may involve varying numbers and be of varying length; typically they are for between two and four students and last an hour. Some tutors will discuss student work that has been handed in and marked in advance; in other cases, work is presented at the tutorial and marked subsequently. In some cases the tutorial will largely involve the students doing most of the talking; in others, the tutorial can contain more didactic content. A great strength of the approach is flexibility; the tutor can vary the format and style of the tutorial to suit the material and the needs and skills of the particular students. In all cases the system is characterised by considerable interaction and feedback to the student. Moreover, it is the desire to do well in the tutorial that provides an important incentive for the student’s independent learning. Classes are used in various aspects of the course, including occasionally in the Introduction to Management course (at the discretion of tutors) and extensively in Economics in the second and third years. Classes are used when the material in question lends itself to being dealt with by a larger group. Some of these classes will entail group work and presentations; others entail the use of problem sets which are discussed in the group, often with one of the class leading the others through the solution. Some classes make use of videos, competitive tests and exercises. All colleges have good library provision and at university level, the Hooke library provides a lending service for science subjects. Undergraduates are also entitled to make use of the Radcliffe Science Library (non-lending research library). The Department has its own library, which is also valuable resource for the students. This library contains most of the core texts that form the reading list for the course, many prominent journals and has a librarian to assist the students with any queries. The Sainsbury Library at the Saïd Business School offers an innovative information service with a strong emphasis on electronic sources and delivery. The state-of-the-art library comprises two spacious floors. The busy Lower Reading Room contains lending copies of books and off prints (copyright cleared photocopies of book chapters or journal articles) on reading lists, the main Issue Desk and numerous study desks and PCs. The Upper Reading Room, designed for quiet study and research, contains the main book and journal collections and an Enquiries Desk. Students can borrow up to six seven-day loans and eight two-day loans.
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12. Support for Students and their learning cont.
The Business School intranet also gives undergraduates access to the Virtual Library which provides access to a wide range of on-line data. This includes access to the major online research tools including Proquest, Business Scource Premier, the JSTOR collection, and Lexus/Nexus. A vast array of other material is also available, including on-line case studies, library catalogues and links to sources of official data. This service is accessible from anywhere within the University. Usernames and passwords are provided early in Michaelmas term of the first year. Students may take advantage of database training sessions on e-journals and specific business databases such as Bloomberg and DataStream Advance.
The Economics Library is situated in the Economics building, and is both a reference library, with a wide range of journals and statistical data, and the main lending library for economics. A wealth of journals are available on-line as well as in hard-copy. Students have access to computers in college and in the Department’s teaching laboratories. Many college rooms have Internet access. Colleges have IT Support Officers who help train the students in basic IT skills and assist with any IT problems at a college level. Additionally, the Materials department runs basic courses in general IT skills with the University Computing Service. The University Computing Service also has facilities for undergraduates and provides an extensive range of training courses. The Materials Department has a large and well-equipped teaching laboratory for the undergraduates. Each practical is run by a senior academic and the practical courses are coordinated by the Practical Class Organiser (a senior academic) and supported by a senior teaching lab technician. Additionally, a number of experienced and trained postgraduate students act as junior demonstrators . The University Language Centre has extensive facilities for language development for both curriculum and personal development purposes.
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13. Criteria for Admission Two of Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry at A2-level are essential and it is desirable to offer the third subject at A2 or AS-level. A background at either A2 or AS-level in Further Maths and/or Design & Technology has also been shown to be useful at various times during the course. Candidates with equivalent qualifications to A or AS levels are encouraged to apply, such as Scottish Highers or the International Baccalaureate. Applications are made to Colleges of the University, and interviews are conducted by College fellows who are also members of the Department. Each short-listed applicant is guaranteed two interviews in two different colleges. Additionally, an Economics or Management fellow at the first College will usually interview candidates. Offers are made on the basis of the student’s academic record, the recommendations of their teachers and their performance in interviews held in Colleges in December. Tutors are looking for students with the ability to apply logical reasoning to problems in physical science, and an enthusiasm for thinking about new concepts in science, engineering and an interest in Economics and Management.
14. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning
The Standing Committee for Engineering/Materials, Economics and Management oversees the arrangements for the course, approves changes to course content and/or structure. This Committee meets once a term. The Committee includes representatives from the Department of Engineering Science & Materials Science, the Department of Economics and the Business School, together with a student representative. Input to the Committee comes from the Academic (or equivalent) Committees in the Economics Department, the Said Business School and the Departments of Materials and Engineering Science. Any changes to the MEM course are discussed by the Standing Committee, which refers them first to the relevant Committees in Economics, Said Business School, and the Materials Science Department. Once approved at this level, the changes are then discussed again by the Standing Committee and referred upwards to the Social Sciences, and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Divisional Boards.
As a course run by the Department of Materials, the quality of the course is monitored on a regular basis by the Academic Committee of the Department of Materials. The Academic Committee has the following terms of reference: (i) to define the educational objectives of the Department at all levels (ii) to develop, implement and review strategies for meeting those objectives (iii) to review continually the quality of teaching and learning at all levels in the Department (iv) to respond to and liaise with bodies external to the Department concerned with teaching (v) to advise the Department about the resourcing requirements for teaching and learning in the Department (vi) to develop and implement strategies for enhancing recruitment of high quality undergraduate and postgraduate students (vii) to oversee and maintain records of all students (viii) to produce the lecture lists each term. The Academic Committee reports to the Materials Science Subfaculty (essentially all staff involved in teaching in any capacity). Input to these bodies on the different educational aspects of the course comes from a variety of sources as discussed below.
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o
Examinations In order to monitor examination standards and procedures, once the examinations are over, all internal examiners write a report on the papers they have been charged with examining. In addition, the University appoints External Examiners from other Universities. The External Examiners see all the papers at the draft stage, monitor the marking and final decision process, and submit written reports. These internal and external reports are then discussed by the Department of Materials Academic Committee who submit a written response to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee considers the reports from each of the contributing Departments and then provides a written response to the Social Sciences and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Divisional Boards and thence to the University’s Educational Policy and Standards Committee (EPSC).
o
Teaching Quality The Department of Materials Joint Consultative Committee for Undergraduates (staff-student) consists of staff representatives and 3 student representatives from each year. The Committee meets termly to discuss issues raised on all courses. The minutes from this Committee are then presented to the Department of Materials Academic Committee by the Chair of the JCCU (who is always a student). The Academic Committee always considers the issues raised by the JCCU seriously. Additionally, a student member of the JCCU also sits on the Standing Committee. Direct feedback on the tutorials and lectures is gained by the use of student questionnaires. These questionnaires are analysed by the Academic Administrator in the Department of Materials and then discussed in detail by the JCCU. The Chairperson of JCCU then raises points as necessary with the Academic Committee. Tutors may informally gather feedback on the course, and refer this to the Academic Committee via the Tutors’ Committee. Direct feedback from the students on the lectures via tutorials plus formal College evaluation of tutorial provision.
University reviews of the department by the Division and by the Education Policy and Standards Committee of the University happen roughly every five years (on interleaved 10 yearly cycles).
A subset of students also meets with the Department’s Industrial Advisory Panel on an annual basis. The Panel feedback the students direct comments to the Faculty. A similar meeting is held between the industrial and business members of the E(M)EM Standing Committee and a group of students.
Accreditation of the course by the Engineering Council on a five-year cycle also provides an opportunity for review.
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15. Regulation of assessment First Public Examination The Preliminary Examination (as it is known) takes place at the end of the students’ first year, and is set out in Section 11. There are four internal examiners for this process. Final Examination The Final Examination is taken in two sections: Part I, and Part II. This is also described in Section 11. Both parts of the final examination are set, conducted and marked by a group of 6 internal Materials examiners, 2 internal Management examiners, 2 internal Economics examiners and 1 external examiner from each subject. The internal examiners serve a term of two years and examine in both Part I and Part II each year. To ensure continuity half the internal examiners are replaced each year . The formal procedures determining the conduct of examinations are established and enforced by the University Proctors. The Examiners are appointed by the Proctors and act independently from the Department and from those who lecture the courses. The Board of Examiners, under their elected Chair, are responsible for setting all papers, and marking the scripts of the examinees. They may appoint Assessors to assist in the setting and marking of the more specialist papers. After scripts have been marked, the Board of Examiners meets to classify the students in accordance with the rules established by the Examinations Committee. External Examiners are appointed in order: 1.
To verify that standards are appropriate to the award, in part by comparison with the standards of comparable institutions, and to ensure that the assessment procedures and the regulations governing them are fair and otherwise appropriate.
2.
To ensure that the conduct of the examination and the determination of awards has been fairly conducted, and that individual student performance has been judged in accordance with the regulations and conventions of the Examining Board. This will entail signing the Class List as an endorsement that the processes of examination and classification have been fairly conducted.
External Examiners are expected to report to the Vice-Chancellor in each year in which they act. These reports are then considered, as described in Section 14, by the Academic Committees, the Standing Committee, the Social Sciences, and Mathematical and Physical Sciences Divisional Boards, and ultimately the University’s Educational Policy and Standards Committee. The Externals’ reports are expected to cover all the following points: • • • • • • • • •
•
the standards demonstrated by the students the extent to which standards are appropriate for the award the design, structure and marking of assessments the procedures for assessment and examinations whether or not external examiners have had sufficient access to, and the power to call upon, any material necessary to make the required judgments students’ performance in relation to their peers in comparable courses the coherence of the policies and procedures relating to external examiners and their consonance with the explicit roles required of them the basis and rationale for any comparisons made the strengths and weaknesses of the students as a cohort the quality of teaching and learning which may be indicated by student performance
- 15 Where an external examiner’s report contains particular suggestions or criticisms, it is the responsibility of the Standing Committee to ensure that full consideration is given to these by the relevant Committee in the appropriate Department. The Department of Materials Academic Committee will also monitor this. Further discussion or action is then taken, as required, and the external examiner is informed within a reasonable time of what is done. Classification The examiners follow the following degree classifications. Marking Scale >70
Class I
60-69
Class II(i)
50-59
Class II(ii)
40-49
Class III
30-39
Pass
