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Study information

Business Impact Research Project - 2019 entry

MODULE TITLEBusiness Impact Research Project CREDIT VALUE45
MODULE CODECSMM184 MODULE CONVENERUnknown
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 12 12 24
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 10
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

The Business Impact Research Project is the culmination of the Professional MSc in Mining Engineering. You will draw on all previous modules undertaken, and on a set of business skills units in Module CSMM183 covering business re-engineering and project management (LEAN, Six sigma, and PRINCE 2), to execute an industry-based project over approximately 10 months (some may start sooner). Projects will be carefully designed and managed and may be based on technical engineering options, computer or laboratory-based investigations, and contribute to, for example; business improvement, design-related options, feasibility assessments, and be of benefit to your company and in your work role. It will also help you develop your project management skills. At the end of the module you are expected to produce a project report, a poster, and present your findings as part of the formal assessment.

 

AIMS - intentions of the module

The module aims to develop well-rounded mining professionals. By integrating business and project management skills with the technical mining knowledge, training, and your industry experience the module encourages you to take responsibility for a focused research project. The module develops your ability to conduct critical examination and execute and deliver a project within time and organizational constraints. The module also aims to deliver real-world value impact; and you are expected to demonstrate the value of the research to your company.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

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

 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Evaluate and monitor progress against a project plan in conjunction with academic and business supervisors.
 
2. Critically review literature and contextualize the business problem.
 
3. Manage and execute a research project on time, to budget, and of high quality.
 
4. Communicate the business impact and value of the project in a report, poster and oral presentation.

 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

5. Evaluate and apply mining specific knowledge to technical tasks.
 
6. Make informed mining project judgments from critical evaluation of available data.
 
7. Understand synthesis of information and create responses based on advanced knowledge.

 

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

8. Apply personal data-handling skills through critical evaluation of a business problem and produce, to a strict deadline, detailed recommendations/reasoned arguments for an appropriate solution.
 
9.  Utilize a full range of computer-based learning resources as an autonomous learner.
 
10. Demonstrate key workplace and people skills including communication, innovation, judgement, creativity, flexibility, persuasion, negotiation, leadership and problem solving.

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

The module will be delivered over a period of 48 weeks using documents and reference material in pdf format, project management tools, self-reflection on progress, innovation, self-motivation and creativity, as well as a range of communication and independent study skills to deliver the project within your work context. It will be supervised through face to face sessions with supervisors at the CSMM183 residential in February and at the residential for this module in November, skype conference calls, and use of wiki’s and email to review progress and receive feedback. There will also be a full range of skills development exercises and presentations as part of a residential course.

The Business Impact Research Project should be completed during a 12-month period from January to December. You may begin earlier depending on the company schedule and their project plan. At the beginning of the project, terms of reference, aims and objectives must be agreed between the academic and company mentor. Project plans must be submitted as part of CSMM183 prior to major research activities, and you are required to keep a project log book and arrange regular meetings/communication with company mentors and academic supervisors.

The project must be based on contemporary technical and/or business issues which will improve company, mine, or development value. Some projects may consider investment proposals or risk assessments as well. You are expected to develop industry networks by engaging in new areas of expertise, or to further develop a specialist skill or knowledge.

An interim report on progress will be submitted and assessed to allow substantive feedback on progress to be given. The key outputs of the Project include a written report normally 10,000 – 20,000 words, an A3 summary poster, and a conference-style presentation at a CSM research event at the November residential attended by experienced mining staff. This residential will also help develop data interpretation and presentation skills ahead of the final project write-up. Throughout the project, you are also expected to deliver multiple management-style briefs to your academic supervisor and company mentor which will demonstrate progress throughout the project.

 

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 50 Guided Independent Study 400 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 10 Online and residential formal lectures delivering syllabus
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 20 Residential seminars with staff member(s)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 10 Telephone, skype, and in-person meetings with academic supervisor and company mentor to discuss project
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 10 Conference presentation of industry research project findings via oral and poster presentations; networking event
Guided independent study 400 Independent study; including directed learning on specific topics and completion of assessments

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Reflective project log book On-going throughout 1-10 Online and supervisor meeting
Progress reports 4-8 Regular project updates on status, progress, and changes to plan; equivalent to 500 words 1-10 Online and skype
Residential presentations At CSMM183 and CSMM157 residential in February and November respectively 1-10 Personal and Group Verbal Feedback

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 50 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 50
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Report 50 10,000 - 20,000 words 1-10 Report mark reported back through supervisor and tutor
Project  Oral Presentation 30 25 min oral and PowerPoint presentation summarizing project findings and business impact 1-10 Written feedback sheet with comments
Project Poster 20 A2 poster presentation 1-10 Written and oral feedback

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Report Report 1-10 End February of following year
Project Oral Presentation Project Oral Presentation 1-10 End February of following year
Poster Presentation Poster Presentation 1-10 End February of following year
Project Plan Progress Report Project Plan Progress Report 1-10 Within 4 weeks of return of work

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

All referral marks are capped at 50%.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Online lectures, PowerPoint presentations, documents and reference material in pdf format, mp3 podcasts, videos, e-tivities, discussion boards; and links to the University of Exeter electronic library and its comprehensive resources.

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Module is largely delivered by a dedicated ELE website that also involves links to external corporate, professional, educational websites and YouTube.   

http://admin.exeter.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/Part%207/7Fmasterssuper.pdf Code of Good Practice – Dissertation or Project Supervision/Tuition for the Degree of Masters (excluding MPhil programmes).

 

Other Resources:

The site will have additional literature resources from external professional bodies, technical guides and manuals and use of company annual reports.

 

Reading list for this module:

There are currently no reading list entries found for this module.

CREDIT VALUE 45 ECTS VALUE 22.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES CSMM177, CSMM178, CSMM179, CSMM180, CSMM181, CSMM182, CSMM183
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 7 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Thursday 6th July 2017 LAST REVISION DATE Friday 5th October 2018
KEY WORDS SEARCH Mining Professional, Business Impact Project, Masters project.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.