Professional Development - 2019 entry

Professional development is the acquisition of knowledge, experience and skills, as well as the systematic development of the personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties. It includes both the acquisition of new skills, to broaden and maintain engineering and scientific competence, and the enhancement of existing skills, to keep abreast of evolving knowledge.

This module integrates various elements of continuing professional development activities, both formally timetabled and external to the main teaching syllabus. It includes a selection of mine/industrial visits; lectures and seminars by external speakers and self directed learning, as well as training on research and presentation skills.

The module aims to initiate and engrain the use of continuing professional development (CPD) activities within your professional (and personal) life.

Membership of various professional institutes, including the routes through to Chartered Engineer or Chartered Geologist, requires an active, planned and documented programme of CPD in order that members demonstrate commitment to developing their professional competence.

This module provides an opportunity for you to broaden your technical expertise beyond initial degree specialisation, to develop an awareness of issues such as environmental protection and health and safety, and to acquire other professional skills, e.g. communications skills, interpersonal skills and management techniques.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1  demonstrate knowledge and working practice of undertaking a full range of CPD activities effectively and independently.
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
2  show critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in the forefront of your field of study or area of professional practice.  
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:
3  exemplify technical report writing skills;
4  prepare and deliver a verbal presentation on a technical subject to a small audience;
5  exhibit time management and team-working skills, and the ability to coordinate group activities.
 

The module runs throughout the academic year; with activities scheduled or anticipated in all three terms.

The specific syllabus will be diverse, flexible and varied. In part, its scope will be adaptable, giving opportunities for you to attend various activities as they arise. Core activities will include a series of special topics/lectures; visits/tours of mines, industrial or exploration sites; individual and group project work and reporting.

Activities can be as simple as developing practical skills through a series of tutorials or highly focused short courses, or they may be designed to increase theoretical knowledge and in depth understanding based on critical examination of specific working practices over a longer period of time.

For the first two terms, there will be at least one formal timetable hour per week for activities, and/or for documenting CPD activity/personal reflection etc.

Special topics

We will select contemporary topics to study from recent developments in the mining/minerals field and you will conduct individual or small group research under the guidance of staff. Topics will depend on the special interest of staff, students or visiting experts, and we will pick them with the intention of broadening your exposure to areas of mining engineering not covered in detail through existing modules. Moreover, topics will focus on mining, minerals processing or mineral economic areas, and you will learn about them through lectures, seminar presentations, open classroom tutorials and independent study.

You will make a series of individual or small group reports on your study of some of these mining/minerals engineering topics; we will only provide minimal supervision in order to foster initiative and originality. Furthermore, you will be required to produce a mixture of written report(s), posters and verbal presentation, which provides an opportunity for you to develop project and time management, report writing skills etc. ahead of your main dissertation.

Invited/guest lectures

CSM has a diverse programme of visiting lectures throughout the year; and also hosts lectures in collaboration with local institutes such as the Cornish Institute of Engineers and the South-West branch of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

Visits/tours of mines, industrial or exploration sites

Field-based training makes use of the outstanding geology, extractive industry and environmental locations and case studies that are available and readily accessible in Cornwall.

You are actively encouraged to seek out and attend events outside of those provided or hosted by the University, in keeping with the aim of fostering a CPD ethos.
 

In addition, it is expected that 3-5 days will be devoted to visits/tours of mines, industrial or exploration sites.  
 

Assessments will be targeting different audiences and include some surprise elements of assessment.

As above, re-submission of various elements of assessment. 100% coursework.

Basic reading:

Megginson, D and Whitaker,V. 2003. Continuing professional development. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, London.  

ELE: College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Reading list for this module: