Integrated Foundation Year

1. Integrated Foundation Year Co-ordinator: Mr Ian McCrum Email: IJ.McCrum@ulster.ac.uk Room 5B18, Telephone extension 66364 (028)90 366364

2. Initial year feeding one of 9 degrees • BEng Hons Engineering • BEng Hons Engineering (Electrical/Electronics) • BEng Hons Engineering (Mechanical) • BEng Hons Electronics, Communications and Software • BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering • BEng Hons Engineering Management • BSc Hons Biomedical Engineering • BSc Hons Technology with Design If you want to change degree, see your CD for its details, and pick your case studies carefully

3. What the year is about • An overriding appreciation for engineering as a leading profession. • The characteristics, responsibilities and educational skills required of a practicing engineer. • Effective communication skills and basic numeracy

4. IFY Modules cover… • relevant engineering identity and associated activities relating to the specific disciplines of each of the honours degree programmes; • personal skills, appropriate analytical methods and fundamental principles of science and technology necessary for those wishing to embark on a programme leading to a professional engineering qualification; • laboratory and workshop skills to enhance and demonstrate the importance of the experimental and practical applications within engineering.

6. The Professional Engineer a 4-week block and as such will be the only module undertaken over that period. Most of the time you’ll be in the one room “base room” The main objective of the module is to provide a background of the activities and skills required of the engineer. The opportunity to enhance communication skills, including report writing, oral presentation and poster presentation, as linked to engineering activities, has also been included. Extended induction with a strong emphasis on pastoral care will be active throughout the four weeks of the module. It will also facilitate an introduction to PDP, study skills, time management and careers orientation.

7. The Professional Engineer • 4 sessions (Tuesday and Thursdays am/pm) • Tuesday morning 9:15 am – visits (be PROMPT) • Tuesday afternoon 14:15 - Dr Sam Burgess • Thursday morning 9:15 – Mr Ian McCrum • Thursday afternoon 14:15 – PDP Professor John Anderson. Some visits will be all day Tuesday… Week 3 and 4 differ slightly

8. The two “Physical Principles” modules These straddle both semesters and, although assessed as two separate modules, the content of both follow similar strands and are progressively linked. These modules provide an appropriate knowledge of mathematical calculations and the fundamentals of electrical and mechanical science. Throughout, an integrated approach to teaching will be employed with mathematical knowledge being delivered where and when it is required within the science subjects. A strong hands-on approach will be utilised to enhance the learning experience through laboratory and build activities.

9. “Case Studies” module, • Spans both semesters • It follows on from “The Professional Engineer” module and gives a practical insight into the nature and operation of the engineering profession. • Rather than be supplied with completed case studies, you the student will work in teams to investigate and develop your own specific case studies, based on detailed briefs. • In addition to the more conventional engineering activities, associated with design, analysis, manufacturing, quality and plant operations, each team of students will be expected to expand their investigations to cover other aspects such as historical developments, impact of engineering on society, environmental issues, sustainability and new emerging technologies.

10. Engineering Skills The “Engineering Skills” module will run over an 8-week period and will enable you to learn • the fundamentals of engineering production and materials. A carefully designed practical • hands-on programme will engage you in a range of production methods, material testing and • product inspection within a safety-conscious environment.

11. Course managementHow “courses” operate • Each course has a course director – he covers years 1,2,3 and 4 as well as course specific parts of the IFY • The IFY has a year co-ordinator – Mr Ian McCrum (me!), but passing over to Mr Ken Gilmore at week 4 (due to departmental changes) • For the next 4 weeks, talk to me room 5B18 and email address IJ.McCrum@ulster.ac.uk, or extension 66364

12. Structure of course management • Year co-ordinator • Course Director • External Examiners • Course committee (teaching staff +) • Student representatives (2 per year) • Student-staff consultatative committee • Studies advisor, and the studies advice system • Information Notice board (in the baseroom) • Email communications • Your PDP, using the PDSystem

13. Course Calendar • Your year is unusual since • it does not follow 12 week semesters • It has no formal examinations • It has a lot more assessment that most modules • The assessments are very varied