This module aims to provide you with an experience of group working and design, focusing on an application within the Biomedical/Biomechanical field. You will consolidate analytical and conceptual aspects of engineering design. The module will offer you a variety of project types, achieved and delivered within a group. Project, time and financial management will be practiced and required for providing solutions that can be considered successful to address a given design problem. 

• LO1 : In a group-based environment, critically analyse and identify a solution to a ‘real-life’ problem from the biomechanical/biomedical sector. (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4, M5, M6, M16). 
• LO2 : Produce designs to a given specification applying engineering principles and working within any commercial constraints.(AHEP4 M1,M2,M3, M4, M5, M6, M12, M13) 
• LO3: Critically appraise existing designs, to propose an enhanced solution. (AHEP4 M1, M4) 
• LO4 : Discuss issues including health & safety, ethics, costings, legal implications, equality and diversity, and sustainability, where appropriate.( AHEP4 M8, M9, M15) 
• LO5 : Communicate relatively complex technical concepts and design decisions through written and oral forms (AHEP4 M17).  
• LO6: Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of your design (including a life-cycle analysis of your product) to minimise adverse impacts (AHEP M7). 

The Engineering Council sets the overall requirements for the AHEP (Accreditation for Higher Education Programmes). It is the standard used by the UK engineering profession to assess the competence and commitment of individual engineers and technicians and is in its 4th iteration. Link: ahep-fourth-edition 

The module will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face teaching, online learning material and group work sessions. 

Each small group will focus on a specific research problem. Classes will be delivered from the academic staff, industrialists and clinicians on an appropriate basis, to ensure that you have an underpinning knowledge of the relevant subjects. Informal workshops and seminars will be included to discuss specific design issues and progress of the groups. 

Subject-Specific Skills:  

Throughout the module, you will develop industrially relevant skills as well as critical thinking, communication and collaborative skills in a number of ways: 

• Evaluate new and emerging technologies that could provide an enhanced solution. 

• Critique problem and existing solutions. 

• The ability to work effectively in a team, and its reliance upon effective communication. 

• Analyse and demonstrate the integrity of the design. 

• Demonstrate a range of communication skills. 

• Demonstrate the ability to understand relevant protocols standards, and specifications. 

Professional & Practical Skills (AHEP4):  

• AHEP M1 - Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems. Much of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the particular subject of study and informed by a critical awareness of new developments and the wider context of engineering 

• AHEP M2 - Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions. This will involve evaluating available data using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles, and using engineering judgment to work with information that may be uncertain or incomplete, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed 

• AHEP M3 - Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex problems, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed 

• AHEP M4 - Select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems 

• AHEP M5 – Design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards 

• AHEP M6 - Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex problems 

• AHEP M7 - Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems (to include the entire life-cycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts 

• AHEP M8 – Identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct. 

• AHEP M9 - Use a risk management process to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks (the effects of uncertainty) associated with a particular project or activity 

• AHEP M12 - Use practical laboratory and workshop skills to investigate complex problems 

• AHEP M13 - Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations 

• AHEP M15 - Apply knowledge of engineering management principles, commercial context, project and change management, and relevant legal matters including intellectual property right. 

• AHEP M16 - Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. Evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance 

• AHEP M17 - Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used 

Transferable/Employability Skills (Graduate Attributes): 

• Collaboration Skills: 

  • C1: Contribute positively and effectively when working in a team, having an impact from the outset 
  • C2: Demonstrate enthusiasm and the ability to motivate themselves, and positively influence others in meeting agreed responsibilities 

• Effective Communicators: 

  • EC1: Listen to and take account of the views of others 
  • EC2: Communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences 
  • EC3: Contribute to discussions, negotiate and present with impact 
  • EC4: Deliver, accept and act on constructive feedback 

• Ethically, socially and environmentally aware: 

  • ESA1: Consider own personal and professional ethical, social and environmental responsibilities, and act as global citizens 
  • ESA2: Demonstrate personal and professional integrity, reliability and competence 

• Independent and critical thinkers 

  • ICT1: Identify, define, and analyse complex issues and ideas, exercising critical judgement in evaluating sources of information. 
  • ICT2: Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and engage in the pursuit of new knowledge and understanding. 
  • ICT3: Investigate problems and offer effective solutions, reflecting on and learning from successes and failures 

• Innovative, enterprising and commercially aware: 

  • IECA1: Generate original ideas and apply creative, imaginative and innovative thinking in response to identified needs and problems 
  • IECA2: Take the initiative to act on own ideas and the ideas of others, balancing risk and returns and making things happen 
  • IECA3: Be confident in pursuing entrepreneurship as a viable and rewarding career path 

• Reflective & Resilient 

  • RR2: Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and creativity in dealing with challenges, and be open to change 
  • RR3: Identify and articulate own skills, knowledge and understanding confidently and in a variety of contexts 

This module will be assessed in a number of ways. The assessments are: 

LO1, LO3 and LO5: Oral progress presentation:  this will be a Powerpoint presentation and take place around the end of the Autumn Semester/ beginning of the Spring Semester. This will allow the assessors to mark the groups’ progress against a marking scheme. This will account for 30% of the total mark. 

LO1 – LO6: Final report, poster and viva: A written group report (moderated by peer assessment) will be produced by each group, describing their design. The group will then defend their approach at a viva examination, alongside a poster.  This entire assessment will account for 70% of the total mark. 

LO1: An individual reflective summative statement to evaluate personal development gained from the module and reflect on effectiveness of own and team performance (5%). This is a qualifying element of the module. 

Each assessed component is a group-based summative assessment to reflect the relatively complex nature of each project, as these typically require an effective team-based approach, while also being aligned with Engineering Council accreditation requirements. All marks are subject to peer review. The peer review outcomes are scrutinised by the module leader to ensure they are reflective of the team dynamics observed throughout the academic year.  

The opportunity for reassessment 

The opportunity for reassessment in this module will be set at component level. This can include an individual resit submission, the remit of which will be set by the module leader while also mapped against the module learning outcomes.  

Opportunities for re-assessment is only permitted provided you have not failed more credit than in the resit rule adopted by your programme. If the amount of credit you have failed is more than permitted by the relevant resit rule, you may be permitted to repeat study if you are within the threshold set for the Repeat rule adopted by your programme.  You will be notified of your eligibility to resit/repeat any modules after the Examining Board in the Summer period. 

All resit assessments will be held in the Resit Examination period, prior to the start of the following academic session. 

Understanding a specific element of biomedical engineering. 

Analysing a complex problem to define a series of specifications. 

Developing potential solutions and critiquing these against the project specification. 

Working within, and managing, a team and the dynamics associated with delivering a complex project. 

Managing a budget, data and ethics as per the appropriate guidelines and constraints.  

Presenting via a range of media including oral and written assessments.