The module will address the following topic areas –



Project Initiation (project proposal, feasibility, project methods, ethics and health and safety)

Investigation (literature review/research, literature analysis and evaluation)

Implementation/Methodology

Findings/Results Analysis and discussion

Evaluation (evaluate own work critically)

Presentation (present and reference work according to standards and requirements)

Project Management and communication skills

Relevant project constraints

Ethics and the ethical university processes

Completing a risk assessment

Developing research skills

Using techniques such as literature searches, web-based research, data gathering, statistical analysis and presenting the resulting information appropriately

Critical appraisal of projects



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 Management and initiation – Students will need to document and plan their identified project (Learning Outcome 1).

Final Year Report – Students are required to research and carry out a project that includes stages of planning, research, design, implementation, testing, and evaluation (Learning Outcomes 2 to 5).

Project Demonstration/Presentation of Findings – As a final component students will present their project and findings in a 20-minute presentation (Learning Outcomes 2 to 5).

An important part of the learning strategy is the direct one-to-one supervision of your project by a supervisor. Contact hours would typically be 20-40 minutes per fortnight. Online induction sessions are also provided in the form of 1-hour sessions for the first four weeks of the module. The majority of your time will be spent in self-managed learning. The independent learning for this module will include your keeping of a logbook, which will encourage you to reflect about the problems you are meeting and the ways in which you are solving them. You will prepare for and conduct business-like meetings with your supervisor and communicate clearly and effectively with him or her. An important part of your learning will take place in direct discussion with your supervisor.

1. IDENTIFY, SPECIFY AND PLAN A SUITABLE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INCLUDING THE DOMAIN AND TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT; CONDUCT CRITICALLY EVALUATIVE RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATE THE CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT, THE KNOWLEDGE OBTAINED THROUGH RESEARCH, AND DETAIL THE MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT.

Communication,
Knowledge & Understanding



2. INVESTIGATE, DOCUMENT, JUSTIFY, CRITICALLY EVALUATE AND APPLY APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS AND DESIGN METHODS AS PART OF A METHODOLOGY OR FRAMEWORK. CREATE AND DOCUMENT APPROPRIATE MODELS AND DEVELOP AND DOCUMENT WORKABLE, ACCURATE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.

Analysis,
Enquiry, Application



3. DEVELOP, APPLY AND DOCUMENT AN APPROPRIATE ARTEFACT TRANSFORMING THE MODEL INTO AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. CRITICALLY ASSESS, SELECT AND INCORPORATE RECOGNISED STANDARDS AND METHODS IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A QUALITY ARTEFACT.

Analysis,
Enquiry



4. TEST, EVALUATE AND DOCUMENT THE PROJECT ARTEFACT CRITICALLY EVALUATING THE PROCESS AND RESULT.

Learning,
Reflection,
Problem Solving



5. CARRY OUT THE PROJECT IN AN ETHICALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER, FULLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL CODES OF CONDUCT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY RELEVANT LEGAL, EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER ISSUES, SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES AND INCLUDING RELEVANT RISK ASSESSMENT.

Analysis,
Reflection

Planning and Implementing your Final Year Project — with Success! A Guide for Students in Computer Science and Information Systems. By: Mikael Berndtsson; Jörgen Hansson; B. Olsson; Björn Lundell

Research Design - Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches By: John W. Creswell; J. David Creswell, 5th Edition

Education Research - Planning, Conducting, Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. John W. Creswell and Timothy C. Guetterman, 6th Edition.

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

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

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.

Will be determined by the project chosen by the student

This project module aims to provide an opportunity for you to undertake and manage a significant project on an individual basis. This module will enable you to develop Project Management and communication skills and deals with the selection and application of analysis and design methods as well as the development of an effective and feasible artefact, the testing of its suitability, and the critical appraisal of it as an appropriate solution to an identified problem.



You should identify a project suitable to your career. You will write a project proposal detailing the expected outcome of the project and produce a realistic project plan, taking into account any relevant constraints.