48901 Professional Service Project A

This suite of subjects develops an appreciation of the service obligations and non-financial rewards associated with the award of professional status. Students participate in one or more professional service activities and thus build their understanding of the culture of engineering and the current debates surrounding it.

Students are required to analyse the impact of the activity on the recipient organisation and to evaluate the competence they need to be able to perform the service in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics. In many cases, students work with professionals from non-engineering disciplines. This increases their awareness of engineers' interdependence on other professions as well as enhancing their experience in managing group dynamics.

Students gain an understanding of the role engineering plays in society and in particular the perception that the community at large has about engineering.

Students are able to volunteer for professional service projects throughout their course for which they receive a certificate.

Assessment: Individual assessment requirements are agreed in the negotiated learning contract for each project. Normally, assessment includes written, oral and graphic components and the demonstration of enhanced communication and service skills.

To meet the requirements of this subject, each project has associated with it a supervisor, a negotiated learning contract and a learning value as measured in professional service points (PSPs). On completion of each project, students are issued with a certificate confirming the PSPs awarded. One PSP is equivalent to a total of one hour of preparation, service and reflection/documentation. When students formally enrol in this subject they can use previously earned PSPs towards the required service work of the subject. While formally enrolled in this subject students can also be involved in further significant professional service projects. Each learning contract specifies the skill level to be reached before undertaking the project, how the training is to be provided, the task itself, and the nature of documentation and reflect that is to take place at the end of the task.

Typical availability

Autumn semester, City campus
Spring semester, City campus