This module explicitly focuses on introductory elements required for the achievement of STAFFORDSHIRE GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES:

- Work-ready and employable;
- Understanding of enterprise and entrepreneurship;
- Understanding of global issues and their place in the global Telecommunications economy;
- Communication skills;
- Presentation skills;
- The ability to interact confidently with colleagues;
- Team working skills;
- Ability to carry out inquiry-based learning and analysis
- Technologically, digitally and information literate;
- Able to apply Staffordshire Graduate attributes to a range of life experiences to facilitate life-long learning.

The module will cover the following topics:

-Telecommunications industry;
Service Provider and Equipment Provider Career routes, nationally and internationally;
-Commercial opportunities in Telecommunications;
-Personal Development Planning (PDP);
-Skills audit and career planning;
Principles of team-working;
Effective communication;
Information searching;
Evaluation;
-Network fundamentals,
concepts around the OSI model;
TCP/IP;
network design;
interconnection problems;
network devices;
Ethernet routing and switching
LAN, WAN, PAN
Wireless networks (WLAN)based on 802.11.

-Certification Paths;
CMF, ITIL, TOGAF, CISCO, Juniper, Huwawi, EngTech, IEng,CEng

-Applying for a suitable job and creating a 5 year plan

1. A COURSEWORK weighted at 50%.

50% Coursework consisting of a portfolio assessing learning outcomes 1 and 2.

The portfolio (1,500 words excluding appendices) will consist of
1) Research into the Telecommunication industry and career opportunities in a global context (20%).
2) a personal development and career plan that reflects on a skills audit of industry(a phased series of tasks) will comprise a series of written and practical exercises (30%)

2. A FINAL COURSEWORK weighted at 50%,

50% Coursework consisting of a CV, letter of interest and an interview and a reflective journal assessing learning outcomes 1 and 3.

1) Find a suitable job for a Telecommunication Engineering Graduate, apply with a CV and letter and be interviewed by a panel (30%)

2) An individual reflective journal (20%)

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via the VLE and throughout the semester.

48 hours of Lecture/practical based teaching supported by VLE.

Lecture (2 hours per week), tutorial/practical laboratory work (2 hour per week)
Directed reading, information gathering, and student supervised learning (102 hours)

The course relies heavily on prescribed reading with lectures supporting the student in complex areas. The lectures will comprise a mix of delivered material (including presentations) and guided tutorial work, which will include individual and group activities.

The tutorials will include problem based learning where students will be set a specific problem that requires a solution to be found, working through a tutorial book or analysing a case study.

Weekly lecture to supplement on-line material and Lab sessions to gain practical experience and re-enforce theory.

Extensive use is made of the technique of learning via problem solving.
The students will be able to identify the extent and type of help the students require from these sessions by active learning self assessments which will be provided as an integral part of the module.

Kathleen McMillan and Jonathan Weyers, (2006), Smarter Student's Study Guide: Skills and Strategies for Success at University, Pearson Education Ltd, ISBN-10: 0273695320

Northedge, A. et al., (2002), The Sciences Good Study Guide, The Open University.

Gower , (2002), Reflective learning in Practice, Aldershot, Hants, England, Burlington, VT : available as e-book form University library ISBN/ISSN: 0566083779

Jayraj Ugarkar, (2010), The Essentials of Telecommunications Management, AuthorHouse, ISBN: 9-7814-34397-256

Anastassios Gentzoglanis, Anders Henten, (2010), Regulation and the Evolution of the Global Telecommunications Industry, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9-781-84844-5888

Martha Rosengrant , (2006), Introduction to Telecommunications, 2nd ed, Prentice Hall, ISBN: 9-780-13112-6152

Kularatna, Nihalm Dias, Dileeka, (2004), Essentials of Modern Telecommunications Systems, Artech House, ISBN: 1580534910

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, David J. Wetherall , (2011), Computer Networks, Prentice Hall, Fifth Edition, ISBN-10: 0-13-212695-8

PC’s with Internet access, Pebblepad and Modeller Academic Edition

1. Demonstrate the use of proative and reflective practice for personal and professional development within the context of the telecommunication industry sector. (Application, Learning, Reflection).
2. Demonstrate knowledge and explain the telecommunication industry and network design. (Application, Enquiry, Knowledge and Understanding, Learning, Communication).
3. Communicate ideas (orally, electronically or in writing) accurately, reliably, and in a structure coherent argument. (Analysis, Communication).