MEEN40530 ME Professional Work Experience

Academic Year 2023/2024

The aim of this module is to give students the opportunity to gain on-the-job experience in a structured setting, preferably linked to their Engineering discipline, for a period of 6 to 8 months, beginning in January. Candidates will normally have already completed 3.5 years of engineering education.

In the case of this 30-credit module, the placement is expected to involve work outside UCD on a full-time basis. Students will not normally be able to complete other credit-bearing modules during the placement period.

Work placement opportunities are sourced typically in engineering companies. Students make application for these placements and may be offered interviews by the placement providers. Students may alternatively recommend a placement provider for approval by the Programme Board. Overseas placements are also permitted.

A member of the academic staff will be appointed as academic supervisor to liaise with the student during the period of their work placement. The placement provider will nominate a sponsor within the organisation to oversee the placement. A programme of work will be agreed between the academic supervisor and the sponsor, to ensure that students can meet the learning outcomes associated with this module using the opportunities that are available during the scheduled period of placement. The supervisor will maintain regular contact with the student, and the student's sponsor, throughout the work placement period. Special arrangements for supervision apply in the case of students on placement overseas.

Attendance requirements are agreed in consultation with the student, supervisor and sponsor and may in certain cases exceed the minimum requirements of the module descriptor.

Assessment Components:
• Students are required to keep a Diary of their experience, to be shown to the module coordinator or academic supervisor, on request. The Diary must be included as an Appendix to the Final Report.
• Students must complete a Final Report, summarising their experiences, with specific reference to the “General Learning”, “Technical Learning” and “Personal Learning” headings.
• Students must prepare a 10-minute presentation on their experience. The presentation must be included as an Appendix to the Final Report.
• An assessment will be sought from an employer or Academic Supervisor commenting on the engagement of the student with the process and highlighting any particular achievements.
• Students may be required to present for Oral Examination on completion of the placement.

The module will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. Successful completion of the module will result in the award of the credits, with a module grade "P" assigned. This module is grade point neutral and will not contribute directly to the Degree GPA. An unsuccessful attempt at the module will result in the credits not being awarded.

All aspects of the placement will be managed in accordance with the UCD policy document 'Work Placement / Practice Experience Guidelines & Good Practice', 12th April 2007, Version 1.4.

Please note that this module is assessed on a 'Pass/Fail' basis and is “grade neutral” in the context of Degree GPA calculations.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be expected achieve outcomes under three headings:

1) General Learning:
• Understand the need for high ethical standards in the practice of engineering.
• Understand the health and safety issues and responsibilities of engineering practice
• Critically reflect on their experiences during the placement.
• Describe the business organisation and the functions and responsibilities of key elements of the organisation in which they worked.

2) Technical Learning:
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate classroom theory with workplace practice, through the application of academic learning in the workplace. This learning will be specific the discipline studied and the nature of the placement, and specifics will be agreed between the academic supervisor and the sponsor over the course of the placement.

3) Personal Learning:
• Describe the business organization and the responsibilities of key operatives in the enterprises/organizations on which they were located.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of workplace culture
• Demonstrate interpersonal and self-management transferable skills such as:
 Work independently in unfamiliar situations;
 Manage their time effectively;
 Develop their communication skills.
 Work effectively as a team member and respecting the views of others in the team;
 Accept and respond to constructive criticism;
 Account for their actions and decisions;
• Based on their contacts and experiences, be able to critically identify and develop potential sources of appropriate employment for their future career.
• Identify potential areas of interest for their ME project.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Placement/Work Experience

720
Total

720
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Experience in a professional working environment. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students are expected to have completed at least 3 years of undergraduate engineering education (Level 8).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
EEEN40180 - ME Electrical Power PWE(short), MEEN40540 - ME Prof. Work Exp. (Short)

Equivalents:
ME Electrical Power PWE (long) (EEEN40190)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Journal: Diary of experiences. Final Report summarising experiences under "General Learning", "Technical Learning" and Personal Learning" headings. Appraisal forms from Employer and UCD Academic Staff. Unspecified n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

.

Name Role
Professor Donal Finn Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor James O'Donnell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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