The module gives the students the opportunity to develop their IT skills, knowledge and concepts, at a level appropriate to their programme of study, in the context of a real technology scenario. Projects will be industry-based, being delivered from the student's place of employment. Projects should:



- Have technology content.

- Involve elements of work that are not part of the student’s normal employment duties.

- Involve project management, evaluation and communication.



Subject to these requirements, projects will be of a great variety, but will typically include at least one of the following:

- Implementation of a technology system, involving hardware and/or software.

- New and/or modified usage of existing equipment or system.

- Review and evaluation/report of specified technology practice or system.

- Commissioning a piece of software or business process and writing a manual and/or instructing others.

- Proof of concept to alleviate subcontractor issues with MOD contracts.

- A project which adapts personal or team-working activities.



BCS (British Computer Society) criteria of:

Careers SFIAplus

The function of economics on systems and architecture

System documentation - plans, requirements and specifications

Legal, social, ethical, and professional issues within the computing industry

Design process models and trade offs

Risk assessment and forward thinking

Team organisation, team-working, and effectiveness of individual roles within

Professional practices in the computing domain

Solution support and customer care

Utilisation of accepted computing standards



SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO THE EMPLOYABILITY FRAMEWORK, this module covers:



Promoting yourself for careers and beyond

Building confidence with different formats

Determining life goals

Creating CPD portfolio’s and the key includes

Identification of potential barriers and organisational restrictions to career paths

Understanding personal strengths and how to promote these in different media, including paper and online presence

Recruitment processes

Skills and issues, job applications, CVs, and interviews

Personal development reflection (Personal Development Planning)

Identification of common career routes/pathways

Determination and adherence approaches

The need for professional competencies

The need for skills currency

Communications skills development for specific employment roles

The traditional internship process

Coaching and mentoring approaches

Strategies, efficiencies, and lifelong planning

Personal skills of evaluation and reflection

Addressing unsuccessful job applications / career moves

Learning to read recruitment process and expectations

Working in teams / becoming a team player

Shining a highlight to personal attributes

Understanding the different types of employment from industry to self-employment

The role of entrepreneurship (identifying opportunity, channelling, evaluation, and exploitation)

Finance and monetary systems

Legal requirements of working

The digital workforce and worker within

Social mobility skills

Reading job markets – local and international

Employment and the fit to lifelong learning

Project Initiation Document – A project proposal to define the problem and the students proposed work and solution (Learning Outcome 1).

Project report – An executive style report that completes and documents the work outlined and specified within the students PID document (Learning Outcomes 2 and 3).

Project presentation – A 15-minute presentation that will be recorded and uploaded to BB. This will present the students work in terms of their taken approach and achievement (Learning Outcomes 2 and 3).

Students will carry out a project identified through their negotiated learning agreement (PID). They will receive support from an academic supervisor to complete the project. Students will use the VLE and will work through the module material provided on the VLE. Students are encouraged to discuss relevant aspects within discussion forums that are part of the VLE. The forums will allow discussion with the student's peer group as well as the module tutor. Regular opportunity to discuss with the supervisor and module tutor during the semester will be made available.

1. Draft a Project Initiation Document (PID) and Project Plan, implement the plan and monitor progress against the aims and objectives of the PID.

Analysis,
Knowledge and Understanding,
Communication



2. Explain orally and in writing the strategic framework and outcomes of the project.

Analysis,
Communication,
Reflection



3. Consider a range of established techniques and select an appropriate one to provide a solution to the identified problem.

Application,
Enquiry,
Learning,
Problem Solving

Students will be expected to engage with independent reading, which should include texts, journals, websites that are pertinent to the learning outcomes and the issues or areas that form the focus of the module. Indicative texts:-



Albrechtslund, A. (2007). Ethics and technology design.¿Ethics and Information Technology,¿9(1), 63. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.staffs.ac.uk/10.1007/s10676-006-9129-8

Dawson, C. (2009) Projects in computing and information systems: A Student's Guide. Harlow, Pearson education

Hunt, A. (2005) Your Research Project: How to Manage it. London, Routledge

Oguz, A. (2022) Project Management: Navigating the Complexity with a Systematic Approach. Place of publication not identified: MSL Academic Endeavors.

Weaver, P. (2004) Success in Your Project: A Guide to Student System Development Projects. Harlow, Prentice Hall

Wright, C. (2022) Agile Project Management, Assurance and Auditing: A Practical Guide for Auditors, Reviewers and Project Teams. Ely: IT Governance Ltd.

Trotman Education, (2022), Careers 2022, Trotman Education; 18th edition

Sosna, E. (2021), The Career Equation: Coaching a Culture of Career Conversations, Open University Press

Newton, A, J. (2021), Start a Successful Career Today in Information Technology: Computer Science + Computer Engineering Career Guide, Independently published

Harbash, R. (2019), Professional Practice in Engineering and Computing: Preparing for Future Careers, CRC Press; 1st edition

Cornwell, D. (2020), Software Company: Advice on how to start, grow and exit a software company, Beaten Metal Books Ltd



British Computer Society code of conduct and code of good practice.

As appropriate to the students individual project

Must have passed all other modules on the directed course as the Work Based Project is the application of final learning to a personally identified project.

This module is designed for students to carry out a work-based project, which has suitable academic content, and receive credit for that work. Students will need to plan for the project carefully and create an initial project initiation document, and then move on to carry out and document the project, before finally presenting it.