431-400 Project Work

Completion of third year of standard electrical engineering or computer engineering course, including 431-330 Design Laboratory.

Enrolment in at least 50% of standard final year electrical engineering or computer engineering course.

On completion of this subject students should have acquired practical design and research skills related to professional practice in electrical and electronic engineering and computing, and have demonstrated the ability to work in a small team under broad project guidelines and to successfully achieve the agreed project goals.

Projects will be undertaken under the supervision of a member of academic staff of the department. Projects will require activities related to design, implementation and testing of electrical, electronic or computing systems with associated literature reviews, computing and workbench activities. A project list will be provided by the department. Students are encouraged to submit their own project proposals for consideration by the department. A number of project proposals are also solicited from local industry. Project management and reporting will comprise a significant part of all projects. Students will be expected to keep a laboratory notebook recording their contributions to the project. At the end of the year, students will present their projects on Project Day, which will be open to staff, students and their invitees.

• ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals

• ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large

• ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution

• ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member

• understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them

• expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, capacity to do so

• capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning

• intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity

• openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom

• international awareness and openness to the world, based on understanding and appreciation of social and cultural diversity and respect for individual human rights and dignity

Submission for examination of laboratory notebooks, and of group project reports not exceeding 100 pages including appendices, diagrams, tables, graphs and computer output (80%). Oral presentation and demonstration of project results (20%).