PHY3303 Professional Experience

2007-2008

Code: PHY3303
Title: Professional Experience
Instructors: Prof. J.R. Sambles
CATS credits: 90
ECTS credits: 45
Availability: Programme F304 only
Level: 3
Pre-requisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Background Assumed: -
Duration: 12 months
Directed Study Time: 400 hours (equivalent)
Private Study Time: 400 hours (equivalent)
Assessment Tasks Time: 100 hours (equivalent)
Observation report: not yet run

Aims

This module gives the student direct experience of undertaking a research project in a in a non-university professional environment, normally an industrial or government laboratory. The project topic will usually be physics-based but in some cases may involve the application of physics-related skills (e.g., mathematical modelling) to another field. Students will experience at first-hand the various pressures, including financial and managerial, and practices of the commercial environment, and apply physics and physics-related skills to real practical problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, the student should be able to:

Module Specific Skills

• apply physics-related techniques in a non-university professional environment
• investigate in a systematic way using appropriate experimental and/or theoretical techniques
• apply physics-related techniques and knowledge to the solution of problems:
  • gather, evaluate and analyse information in order to devise and apply a creative and practical method to solve the problem
  • make effective use of the time and resources available
  • record the process by which a problem is solved in a manner that facilitates independent verification
  • detect errors by making effective use of numerical or statistical information

Discipline Specific Skills

• Manage information:
  • locate, collect, collate, categorise and summarise ideas and information in a systematic way
  • recognise the value of intellectual property
  • understand what is meant by 'confidentiality'
• keep a professional chronological notebook
• give a presentation to appropriate scientific standards
• write a report containing original material and analysis

Personal and Key Skills

• Communicate:
  • give a presentation in a clear and ordered manner, making appropriate use of visual aids
  • write text and reports concisely and convey meaning in a manner appropriate to readers
• Work with others:
  • establish working relationships
  • listen to other team members
• Manage a project:
  • prioritise, plan action and schedule sequence of work to achieve objectives
  • keep appropriate records
• Engage with a commercial environment:
  • work under pressure to meet deadlines
  • understand some of the economic considerations in business
  • recognise the influence of legal and ethical restraints on a business

Learning and Teaching Methods

Project work under external supervision, employee training at place of work, self-study.

Assignments

Preliminary report (week 9), oral presentation in School of Physics (week 26), final report (September 1st).

Assessment

2500-word preliminary report (10%), oral presentation (10%) project work and viva voce examinations (40%), 10000-word final report and viva voce examination (40%).

Syllabus Plan and Content

Note: All students should refer to the detailed description of the Professional Experience - Assignments and Assessment Criteria in the School Handbook.

The student will be working as an employee in a professional environment. They will receive training appropriate to the environment, and will supplement this with their own observations and participation.

They will undertake a research project with supervision provided by the placement establishment. The research topic and provisional work-plan will be agreed in advance between the School of Physics and the placement establishment. Progress will be monitored by two visits from the student's tutor during the year, plus regular contact by e-mail and/or telephone.

Dates of assessments. Week numbers refer to the University teaching weeks.

Week 09	(10%) preliminary report.
Week 13	(20%) assessment of project work: notebook inspection plus viva voce (with written input from industrial supervisor).
Week 26	(10%) oral presentation in School.
Week 26	(20%) assessment of project work: notebook inspection plus viva voce (with written input from industrial supervisor).
Early September	(40%) final report plus viva voce.

Core Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Text(s)

Not applicable

Formative Mechanisms

Students are able to monitor their progress via continuous feedback from their employer, and via assessments of their reports and oral presentation.

Evaluation Mechanisms

Students should raise matters of concern with the Programme Coordinator. The module will be evaluated using information gathered from: (1) the written summary of a debriefing session at the end of the year, (2) an evaluative report from the employer, and (3) measures of student attainment based on summative assessment.