PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

(1)

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

1. Awarding Institution/Body Teesside University [TU]

2. Teaching Institution Teesside University

3. Collaborating Organisations (include type)

N/A

4. Delivery Location(s) [if different from TU]

Teesside University

5. Programme Externally Accredited by (e.g. PSRB)

N/A

6. Award Title(s) MSc Project Management

7. Lead School SSE

8. Additional Contributing Schools

TUBS/SCM

9. FHEQ Level [see guidance]

Level 7

10. Bologna Cycle [see guidance]

Secondary Cycle

11. JACS Code and JACS Description

H710 Project management

12. Mode of Attendance [full-time or part-time]

FT and PT Modes

13. Relevant QAA Subject Benchmarking Group(s)

Masters Degree Characteristics (2009)

14. Relevant Additional External Reference Points

(e.g. National Occupational Standards, PSB Standards)

Joint Board of Moderators

(2)

17. Educational Aims of the Programme

This course is aimed at developing managers, and those with management potential, who are working in the manufacturing industries. Students following this program will gain knowledge of and expertise in engineering project management principles relevant to mechanical, manufacturing, and other engineering sectors. Students will gain knowledge and expertise of information technology tools relevant to the management of manufacturing, process and construction industry projects together with specialist knowledge of visualisation techniques, site and supply chain planning, risk management, health & safety and 4D (3D + time)-scheduling.

The overall aims of the programme are to:

 Develop the students’ knowledge of Project Management and develop their intellectual ability for critical analysis

 Develop students who can make reasoned, critical decisions and select and implement effective decision making in solving complex Project

Management problems.



Enable students to acquire a range of practical, ethical, professional and transferable skills for lifelong learning and professional practice

.



Provide the student with lifelong learning skills, a progression route to further professional development and ensure they foster the ethos of continual professional development.

18. Learning Outcomes

The programme will enable students to develop the knowledge and skills listed below. Intended learning outcomes are identified for each category, together with the key teaching and assessment methods that will be used to achieve and assess the learning outcomes.

On successful completion of the programme, the students will be able to: Knowledge and Understanding

K1 Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of techniques, tools and methods relevant to Project Management

K2 Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the breadth and depth of knowledge of current concepts, principles and theories of project management, informed by current research and professional practice in the area of Project Management

K3 Demonstrate an awareness of the professional, legal and ethical framework within project management, and an ability to formulate appropriate working practices.

K4 Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to apply, a systems

approach to plan, undertake and evaluate a negotiated, self-managed major project in project management.

Cognitive/Intellectual Skills

C1 Integrate and synthesise diverse knowledge, evidence, concepts, theory and practice to promote understanding and/or good practice and solve foreseen and unforeseen problems in a project management context

C2 Able to make argued conclusions, to challenge orthodoxy and formulate new/alternative hypotheses or solutions on the basis of incomplete and/or

(3)

contested data.

C3 Challenge orthodoxy and formulate new/alternative hypotheses or solutions Practical/Professional Skills

P1 Exercise initiative and autonomy in undertaking tasks within the professional and legal standards of the project management discipline.

P2 Operate ethically in complex and unpredictable, possibly specialised, situations and has a critical understanding of the issues governing good practice

.

Key Transferable Skills

T1 Identify, manage and reflect on one’s own learning and development, including time management and organisational skills, for continuing professional development

T2 Communicate effectively with a range of specialist and non-specialist

audiences to understand or elicit requirements for, and demonstrate solutions to project management problems

T3 Demonstrate competence in mathematical skills commensurate with the demands of research and scholarship in Project management.

T4 Demonstrate competence in computational and IT skills commensurate with the demands of research and scholarship in Project Management and its professional context.

T5 Collaborate effectively with others in ways appropriate within the professional Project Management context.

19. Key Learning & Teaching Methods

The objective of the programme of study is to produce graduates who possess a detailed knowledge and understanding of particular aspects of project management and the skills necessary to allow them to analyse complex problems. Students will study the latest literature and methods in the field. The programme design is based to promoting effective student learning both in conventional classroom situations and also outside the classroom by producing self-motivated learners. Students will be taught by a combination of methods including conventional lectures, e-learning, tutorials, case based learning and design studies. Reflective practice throughout the programme is a key element to allow the student to examine their own work, identify their own learning needs and challenges whilst providing evidence of what is required to operate confidently, efficiently and ethically in the work place and thereby develop an understanding of good practice and the ability to solve foreseen and unforeseen problems.

The programme employs a diversity of teaching and learning methods including:



Lectures



Tutorials



Seminars (including oral presentations and poster sessions)

(4)

Lectures

Lectures are used to convey substantial elements of the subject content, provide core themes and explanations of difficult concepts, and set the scene for students' independent learning. The traditional format is enhanced through the use of computer-based, or other audio-visual aids, and supported by interactive VLE based provision of lecture notes.

Tutorials and seminars

Tutorials and seminars provide a context for interactive learning and allow students to explore some in project management in more depth. In addition, modules such as Research and Study Skills and Project Management and Enterprise provide opportunities for the students to develop skills such as information retrieval, problem-solving and communication. The Research and Study Skills module also allows the development of the skills necessary to support the individual Research Project.

Computer Laboratory-based Sessions

Most modules in MSc Programme employ a range of computer based-laboratories to permit students to perform simulation and numerical analysis of ‘complex’ systems (using commercial software such as @RISK, nDCCIR, MSc Project). The modules Advance Project Planning and visualisation/Risk Management in Projects use computer based software to interact with the real world and perform online control and analysis operations.

In addition, both of these modules also use computer based module assessment strategy.

Group Work

The primary vehicle for group work within the programme is the Project Management and Enterprise module. This module allows students the opportunity to work as a multi-discipline group. This will allow students to gain an understanding of the mechanisms for working as part of a project team as well gaining an insight into working effectively with people from different academic disciplines. These skills are vital for developing a work ready graduate for the modern working environment. Research Project

Students undertake a substantial individual research project. This project is used to integrate the technical, research and employability skills gained during previous modules. The project enables students to challenge orthodoxy, demonstrate originality, plan and organise with significant autonomy and operate ethically in potentially unpredictable situations.

Practical Health and Safety Skills (0 credits):

This module ensures students are able to work in a safe manner during practical sessions. They will be taught about the need to adhere to health and safety regulations and good practice as well as how to maximise the safety of themselves and those around them.

This module is delivered in a week block structure and involves undertaking some basic health and safety assessments. These assessments are marked as a pass or a fail and you must pass all the assessments to pass the module.

If students fail the assessments on the Practical Health and Safety Skills module, they will only be allowed to undertake a literature based research project.

In addition this programme has two option modules which students choose to study only one of them. This is to ensure that those students who originate from industry and have already gained Prince2 awareness have the option to explore a different

(5)

side of Project Management in The Management of Change module. The learning outcomes for the programme have been developed to ensure that whichever option the students choose does not impact on their overall programme experience. The option modules have a minimum student number of 10 for the module to run. This minimum number is not seen as an obstacle for being able to run both modules each year as they are modules that are shared by other students from other programmes. Students will choose their option module at the start of their academic year in the induction period of their programme.

20. Key Assessment Methods

Assessment is noted to be the single most powerful influence on how and what the students learn. Teesside University’s Teaching and Assessment Strategy emphasises that the informed use of assessment is to promote learning and the matching of assessment to learning outcomes. In this programme, students will experience a broad and balanced range of assessment methods to address the range of learning outcomes identified.

In designing the programme structure care has been taken by the programme team to ensure there is equivalence of assessment(s) between modules. Students are presented have access to an Assessment schedule providing details of the submission deadlines for summative assessments.

Formative assessment has been placed in each module as appropriate so that the students can benefit (i.e. enhancing learning and assisting towards summative assessments) from this within that module and throughout the programme. Example formative assessment methods will include:



Provision of model solutions for tutorial questions.



Tutorial/seminar feedback.



Meetings with project supervisors to gain feedback on project development, direction and deliverables.

Summative assessment methods will include:



Case study exercises based on simulated and actual client briefs



Critically selecting the content for a bibliography



IT Planning and Scheduling software



Presentations



Reflective practice



Time constraint exercises



Research project

The assessment methods above are considered to reflect closely many of the operations and practices that are in place in the Project Management industry. Students will receive timely feedback for summative/formative assessment to comply with Teesside University quality threshold standards.

(6)

21. Programme Modules

(additional copies to be completed for each named pathway) Level

Code Title Credits Status _{Compensatable}Non- Compensatable

FPL4011-N Research and Study Skill (SSE) 10 Core Y

CEN4009-N Advanced Project Planning and Visualisation (SSE) 20 Core Y

CEN4013-N Project Management and Enterprise (SSE) 10 Core Y

CEN4018-N Procurement and Contract Strategy (SSE) 20 Core Y

ACC4003-N Managing Operations and Finance (TUBS) 20 Core Y

HRM4026-N Managing Change (TUBS) 20 Option Y

MUL4049-N Managing Projects in Prince2 (SCM) 20 Option Y

CEN4017-N Risk Management in Projects (SSE) 20 Core Y

PCI4002-N Practical Health and Safety Skills (SSE) 0 Core Y

(7)

22. Programme Structure

Overview of structure of the modules across the Academic Year.

Students commencing their studies in October will commence on Block 1. Students commencing their studies in February will commence on Block 2 and complete Block 1 before progressing to their project (project with commence week 18)

Typical Full Time Programme Research and Study Skills (SSE) 10 credits Managing Projects in Prince2 (SCM) 20 credits OR Managing Change (TUBS) 20 credits Procurement and Contract Strategy (SSE) 20 credits Practical Health and Safety Skills (SSE) 0 credits Advance Project Planning and Visualisation (SSE) 20 credits Block 1 Week1-17 Managing Operations and Finance (TUBS) 20 credits Risk Management in Projects (SSE) 20 credits Project Management and Enterprise (SSE) 10 credits Block 2 Week 18-27

Research Project (SSE) 60 credits

Week 30 onwards

Typical Part Time Programme Research and Study Skills (SSE) 10 credits Practical Health and Safety Skills (SSE) 0 credits Advance Project Planning and Visualisation (SSE) 20 credits Year 1 Week1-17 Risk Management in Engineering Projects (SSE) 20 credits Project Management and Enterprise 10 credits Year 1 Week 18-27 Managing Projects in Prince2 (SCM) 20 credits OR Managing Change (TUBS) 20 credits Procurement and Contract Strategy (SSE) 20 credits Year 2 Week1-17 Managing Operations and Finance (TUBS) 20 credits Year 2 Week 18-27

Research Project (SSE) 60 credits

Year 2

(8)

23. Support for Students and Their Learning

Students are encouraged to talk to staff and ask for help, academic or pastoral, as and when required, allowing the University mechanisms to support them. Students are provided support throughout their period of study and can access this whenever required from the various sources noted below:

Programme Team

Programme Leader with overall responsibility for the programme. Module Leaders with responsibility for each of the individual modules. Programme Design

Programme and Module Handbooks containing comprehensive information.

e-learning@tees (a Virtual Learning Environment) sites for each programme and module.

Provision of assessment schedules to allow the students to manage their time more effectively and prepare for submission.

Student Programme Representatives who can raise issues on behalf of individuals or the whole cohort.

School

Retention Support Officer to act as a point of contact and champion student issues. Student Representatives who sit on many of the School’s committees.

Student Mentors provide advice for students from a student perspective.

Student Services provide assessment and support facilities for disabled students which are implemented in the School by the Disability Co-ordinator.

Academic staff are available for pastoral and academic guidance to all students on a drop-in and appointment basis with at least two hours of surgery time, timetabled each week per member of staff.

Specialised workshop facilities containing relevant equipment and supported by appropriate technical staff.

School ICT helpdesk provides support for computing. University

University Drop-In Study Skills Centre (DISSC) provides help with skills such as essay and report writing and presentations.

University Library provides freelance computing facilities, on-line database materials and group study areas as well as books and journals.

Development of student career planning is facilitated by the University Careers Service.

Student Services provide a range of facilities including financial, accommodation and health advice, chaplaincy and professional counselling.

Students’ Union staff and facilities and Advice Centre.

Support for Students and Their Learning Induction

Induction is seen as an important aspect of the programme and helps to prepare students for studying at Master’s level and to familiarise themselves with the facilities and support mechanisms available to them. A shared induction day across the Master’s programmes gives students the opportunity to meet other students on their programme and other Master’s programmes. Students also have the opportunity to meet with the Programme Leader to obtain programme-specific

(9)

information. Induction (and early modules) will also provide support in the development of skills to support ‘online’ learning as this will be a new method of studying for some students.

Part of the induction programme for the Project Management students will involved other students from programmes within the Project Management cluster and will be an across schools event.

Programme E-learning@tees Site

All students on the programme will have access to the programme e-learning@tees site which will provide students with specific information about their programme; support communication between students and the programme team; and allow students to communicate with each other, thus supporting a sense of programme identity among the students.

In addition, the programmes comprising the Project Management Cluster will share a joint programme support site which will unite all the programmes under one project management theme.

Programme Handbook

All students will be provided with a Programme Handbook at the start of the programme which will include key information for the students about their programme, the core and option modules they will be taking and the research project. The Handbook will also provide details of the support available to students. In-sessional English

All international students are required to complete a diagnostic study skills test which will stream them into appropriate support with Academic English and Study Skills. The course is a free in-sessional academic study skills programme of up to 20 weeks with a maximum of 1 x 2 hour class a week.

Academic Support

Academic support is available throughout the programme from the Programme Leader, Module Leaders, and Module Tutors. Students will also be encouraged to access the Drop-in Study Skills Centre (DISSC) in the Library if they need additional support. In addition all Masters students have access to a drop-in support session each Thursday where the framework coordinator and other support staff from within the University are present to address any academic or personal concerns

School and University Support Mechanisms

University-wide support mechanisms such as student services and the Student Union are available to students on the programme. A number of mechanisms are also available within the School to provide additional support for students who are struggling to complete their programme, such as mitigating circumstances, and late submission; and students will be encouraged to access these when required, to enhance retention and progression

(10)

24. Distinctive Features Programme Structure

The programme has been designed for project manager and engineering in all engineering/management industrial sector wishing to enhance their career and/or next step of their career towards project management and/or educational development. The programme will be of particular interest to graduates with a bachelor’s degree and who are employed in, or have an interest in, the project management, Engineering co-ordinator or Management facilitator career. The most distinctive feature of the programme is the unique combination of the study of Engineering and management module with the equal emphasis on Project management; Engineering fields in which the Teesside University has long been internationally acknowledged. This distinctive mix enables graduates to gain employment in a wide range of industries but is particularly useful for employment in any engineering and/or management industries and/or organisation, such as those local to the University.

Research informed Teaching and Learning

In the last RAE for Engineering, 80% of the school’s research was deemed internationally or national excellent. Research active staff fill key roles and help inform the delivery of the programme, either as course leader, subject group leader, module leaders or project supervisors. The high level of research activity within the School is embedded within the teaching.

Course Resources

The Project Management Engineering degree programme is supported by excellent laboratory facilities including, MS Project, nDCCIR 5D Technology, @RISK Tool laboratories as well as excellent library and computing facilities.

External recognition

The MSc programme (at level-7) has been designed to deliver industry appropriate graduates. The students are encouraged to register as APM member and use MSc programme as foundation for progression to Practitioner of the Association of Project Management.

Support for ‘Mastery’

Making the transition to Master’s level study can be difficult for some students and support with making this transition is seen as an important element of the Project Management Programme. Support is provided during the programme induction and within the module ‘Research and Study Skills”. This support is designed to help students understand the requirements of academic study at Master’s level; to develop their skills in academic writing and referencing, critical thinking and writing; the concept of ethical research and in the key IT skills such as information location. A formative assessment is carried out early within this module in order to help students develop their research and study skills, this is then built upon within the summative assessment for the module.

International Student experience

The Masters teaching staff is composed of academics from a variety of different countries that helps contribute to a truly international taught teaching experience for our students. A number of these academics have previously taught or worked in an international market and their experiences provide an invaluable insight into the international market place which is reflected in the development of taught modules This internationalisation of the School’s programmes is further enhanced with the

(11)

industrial links nurtured within some Masters projects; where available students can undertake projects of an international nature either with an international industrial partner or a project based on an international theme.

Across Schools Project Management Cluster

The Project Management programme sits within a three School Project Management Cluster, this affords students a unique opportunity to experience a diverse range of staff and students throughout their studies as well as access to a wide range of teaching resources. The students within the cluster are encouraged (through a shared induction experience and shared modules) to develop their cluster identity and network within the different Project Management programmes.

(12)