Run by School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering

30.000 Credits or 15.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Mr Aled Williams

Workplace experience is central to the course, it allows students to experience working as a designer in a commercial environment. This module continues the series of Year1 and Year2 workplacement modules with further attention being given to self-evaluation of professional development.

This module aims:

1. To raise students' understanding of leadership, management, decision making, strategy and ethos in business.
2. To raise students' ability to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of companies and commerce.
3. To raise students' awareness of the role and importance of design within business.
4. To raise students' awareness of some of the key issues that influence the design and manufacture of products.
5. To provide students with experience of the way in which practical considerations constrain or compliment the application of theory in the workplace.
6. To give students valuable 'real world' experiences which will positively contribute to their portfolio and CVs.

The workplacement is a key aspect of the course and gives students the opportunity to work with companies and industrial partners to gain valuable practical experiences. Students typically approach this series of workplacement modules (one in the first year, one in the second and one in the third year) with the following strategies:

• gather a broad range of experiences by focusing on skill acquisition - for example, placements in design studios, small or large scale manufacturing companies, specialist CAD or graphic companies, or
• target specific companies where the student would like to work in future.

During the 6 week placement, students are expected to compile a report about specific aspects they observed and to link their analysis to their own professional development.

In Year 3, there are six weeks of placement time, typically arranged as a single block in Semester 2. To achieve the learning outcomes, students will guided in their preparation by university tutors, supported in the workplace by dedicated mentors (trainer) and monitored by visiting university tutors. In addition to the focus of the study in the previous workplacements (see XUC|E1048 and XUC|E2048) it will examine further issues that influence product design and manufacture, such as:

1. company ethos, vision, mission and values
2. leadership and management
3. marketing, political and consumer trends
4. quality control and sustainability
5. analytical skills
6. self evaluation of work and contribution to the company
7. self evaluation of personal development and skills

threshold

See the learning outcomes.

good

A good overall grasp of all the learning outcomes and how they relate to one another.

excellent

A very good grasp of all the learning outcomes and the ability to reflect on their relationship to one another in an analytic way.

1. Develop their analytical report writing skills

2. Develop their presentation skills

3. Evaluate their own professional development progress

4. Analyse the leadership, management, vision mission values, ethos, and marketing of a company

5. Analyse the innovation and design processes within a company

6. Evaluate their own work contribution to furthering design or business elements within a company

7. Analyse quality control and sustainability factors within a company

8. Evaluate their own learning in regards to their analytical skills and understanding of theoretical approaches to commerce

Type	Name	Description	Weight
	Workplacement Report		90.00
	Workplacement Presentation		10.00

		Hours
Work-based learning	Students spend about 30 days a year in the workplace. The total time of 240 hours for the Year 3 module includes time spent in the workplace, in preparation, and on the report.	240
Private study	Private study time for research, and assessment preparation	60

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
• Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
• Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

• Be conversant with all practical elements of health and safety within the design and manufacture of products.
• Make informed choices regarding social, ethical and environmental issues which are related to the processes of design and manufacture
• Work effectively and in an organised manner within subject specific tasks
• Develop the skills, qualities and attributes required for working independently, as a participating member of a team and across organizations, through the close working relationships between students, lecturers, and industrialists.
• Appropriately implement the skills, knowledge, and understanding gained in both college and industrial situations

Compulsory in courses:

• W240: BSC Product Design year 3 (BSC/PD)
• W242: BSc Product Design with International Experience year 4 (BSC/PDIE)