This module will cover topics of:

Project proposal specification planning.
Methods and skills of critical literature review.
Address of inclusion and accessibility issues related to the project.
Selecting and using appropriate technologies available (e.g., library, digital library, Internet facilities and other sources).
Gathering data from a range of primary sources, including experimental programming.
Techniques for testing project artefacts.
Techniques to analyse data and to present the results in a suitable format.
Critical evaluation of project outcomes.
Critical reflection on one’s performance in the project.
Course-specific guidelines for the individual project.
Project planning and management.
The project must identify employability and professional practice issues that are involved.
Entrepreneurship – The need to think creatively for innovation in both technology design and its fit to the business world.
Health and safety.
Legal, ethical, professional, sustainability, and social issues.
Application of Business Enterprise skills throughout the project.

BCS / TechSkills / Employability elements:
A full system modelling process will have taken place
Commercial and business issues must be considered in full and evaluated
Economic and efficiencies of the project must be considered in depth
Full documented management and planning must have taken place
Security principles need consideration within the artefact solution
Full evaluation of the artefact must have taken place
legal, social, ethical and professional issues must be considered throughout the project
Problem solving and solution exploration will be extensively completed
Sustainability issues must be considered and documented

REPORT - Project proposal - During the inception phase of the project you will work with your supervisor to develop an idea into a suitable proposal. Once completed and approved by the Course Leader you will then develop your ideas through research toward an analysis of the problem domain. You will present your findings in a review (see below). To aid you, you will be provided with an exemplar proposal at the start of the module.

PRESENTATION - Mid-Point Review – A Mid-point review is a one-to-one informal but assessed interview with your assessor to discuss the project progress and projected direction at the completion of the research stage of the project. You will need to show your project plan, literature review, and design work completed to this stage in time.

REPORT - Final Report - Model, create and document an artefact that is relevant to your course of study and that extends and applies the solution to the problem set out in your proposal. Write a report describing the technical aspects of the project’s model and artefact, the processes involved in the performance of the project, and critically reflect on the project’s findings and outcomes. The report should conform to prescribed standards of referencing. The Written report is weighted at 50%, of which 30% is for the written report and 20% for the created artefact.

PRESENTATION - Viva Presentation - A presentation and demonstration of the technical aspects of the project, including a demonstration of the artefact and a critical evaluation of the project outcomes. You will need to demonstrate clearly your achievement. In terms of time the presentation/demonstration lasts 40-minutes with 10-minutes of questions.

An important part of the learning strategy is direct one-to-one supervision of your project by a supervisor, which would typically be 20 minutes per week. Most 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 them. An important part of your learning will take place in direct discussion with your supervisor. During the development of your project there will be opportunities made available for you to show and get formative feedback on your progress.

Additionally, there are a series of lectures which cover the process and best practices you will need to be successful in your project. These sessions will aid you to develop associated research skills, project management skills, and technical skills related to artefact creation.

1. Use critical analysis to devise and specify an individual academic project proposal, with objectives of the work, projected plan and proposed management practices.

Communication
Knowledge and Understanding

2. Identify and propose appropriate tools and techniques to develop and document a model solution to the problem.

Application and Problem Solving
Digital Literacy

3. Create and document a solution to the problem you have identified following professional practice.

Reflection

4. Follow industry professional guidance in the testing and evaluation of the artefact.

Critical Reasoning and Collaboration
Research Skills

5. Conduct the project in full compliance with professional, risk assessment, legal, social, ethical and security considerations, making critical review of decisions taken.

Personal Development and Entrepreneurship

As determined by the chosen project

Newton, R. (2024), Project Management Step by Step: How to Plan and Manage a Highly Successful Project, Pearson Education.

Johnson, A. (2025), Develop critical thinking, decision making and problem-solving skills: 2025 (General Management Book 27), Independently Published.

Burton, H, M. (2021), Your First Research Paper: Learn how to start, structure, write and publish a perfect research paper to get the top mark, Independently published.

Sternad, D. and Power, H. (2023), The Thesis Writing Survival Guide: Research and Write an Academic Thesis or Dissertation with Less Stress: Research and Write an Academic Thesis with Less Stress, Econcise Publisher.

This is your opportunity to create something totally unique as the culmination of your course. It is your chance to define your difference, no two projects are ever the same.

You will begin by developing an idea into a proposal, outlining the intention of the work. You will then develop this into an artefact suitable for your course, such as a piece of software, a specification or a code of practice by undertaking rigorous, professional academic research techniques and applying the summation of your knowledge and skills from your course, work experience, if possible, and personal development. All of this work will be presented in a professionally produced, academic report detailing your findings and reflections on your achievement.