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

- A project that may adapt working practices for the individual or team



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 report – A project report of 3000 words to document the investigation of a research problem (that is career focused). The report should be based on current literature and take a forward perspective. Alternative solutions should be discussed, and a final solution suggested (Learning Outcomes 1 to 4).

Project presentation – A 15-minute presentation that will be recorded and uploaded to BB to present the key findings and approaches used in creating the report (Learning Outcomes 1 to 4).

Students will carry out a project identified through negotiation with the Course Leader. They will then receive support from an academic supervisor to complete the project via supervisory meetings.

Investigate a research problem, describe the context in relation to your career, technical aspects and fundamentals for the Research Project.

Enquiry,
Knowledge and Understanding,
Learning,
Reflection



Demonstrate Knowledge of the State-of-the-art literature in terms of the research problem.

Knowledge and Understanding,
Analysis,
Reflection



Propose an innovative solution to address the research problem and apply appropriate analysis and design methodology.

Analysis,
Application,
Problem Solving,
Reflection



Compare and contrast different solutions to fill the gap and critically compare/evaluate them to solve the problem.

Analysis,
Application,
Reflection,
Communication

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:-



Blaxter, L., Hughes, C., Tight, M., How to Research, 4th Edition. Open University Press, ISBN: 9780335238675

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 required for the project

Must have completed all other modules on the course prior to starting

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 undertake an up to date review of literature and propose a solution to a problem through the trade off of multiple solutions.