Reference no: EM133741666 , Length: word count:20000

Engineering Major Thesis

Aim - This unit of study aims to provide students with the opportunity to conduct major research into theory and techniques learnt in the course and apply it in solving relevant industry based or applied research problems in the area of specialisation. The types of research projects may include research intensive, design and build, development of a product or software or system, and solution to an engineering problem.

Learning Outcome 1: Plan and scope a complete major research / design project.

Learning Outcome 2: Formulate a design solution based on thorough literature research by applying, executing and synthesising knowledge.

Learning Outcome 3: Research and develop alternative solutions to the design and research problems and appraise and justify the chosen solution in terms of its creativity and level of difficulty.

Learning Outcome 4: Reflect on engineering design and research issues.

Learning Outcome 5: Apply and formulate problem-solving techniques to evaluate, appraise and justify alternative design solutions.

Learning Outcome 6: Generate high quality master degree major thesis that incorporates literature review, requirements analysis, project/research plan, design, and implementation

Assessment Overview

Research Plan

The basic research questions, with enough background literature to show that the problem is an outstanding one and has some validity. As a guide: comprehensive literature review, clearly identifying research gaps and hence the need for this research.
A statement of the aims of the project.

An outline of the methodology or program design (any theory, data required, etc.) and an outline of the methods that will be used in answering the research questions, e.g. experiments, simulations, theoretical modelling, and surveys, etc.
A plan for carrying out the research over the remainder of the project, including timelines.

The purpose of the research plan is to ensure that students have a clear understanding of what are expected to achieve at the end of the project. Students need to focus on the novelty, motivations and aims of the project, the methodologies that will be used in the project, and the expected outcomes that could benefit the community. Research timeline should be proposed in terms of planned activities to demonstrate the project is achievable with available time and resources.

Final Presentation/ Project Demonstration

Final presentations will be given as conference-style presentations that need to be focused on the important findings of the project. These presentations should:

Be aimed at an audience of student peers, academics and invited industry representatives - an educated, but non-expert audience.
Present the background to the work, describing the general area and showing how the particular research and design questions posed fit into this wider context, and present the aims of the project.

Workbook
This is the work that will be used by supervisors to assess the students' progress throughout the semester.
The first page of the workbook should contain a copy of Assignment Cover Page
signed by the student. It should include a logbook or equivalent electronic record. The intention of this workbook is similar to a laboratory notes book. It should document the progress in sufficient detail that someone else could read it and understand the main "intellectual property" of the project i.e. the progress and development of the research. The workbook should:
Show the progress and development of ideas throughout the project.
Contains regular reflection pieces throughout the semester. Students should think about both the professional practice and personal interactions they have conducted and assess what they did, how they did it, and what they could potentially do better in the future.
Show the work planned, whether this work was done, and if changes were made to the plan, then outline the reasons.
Include any other documentation that is an evidence of the students' ability to conduct a research project, and their professionalism.
Not be "pretty" or edited. It is designed to be a record over time, and therefore should contain notes, sketches, etc. that are added as the project progresses. Nothing should be deleted.
Not be done "after the fact". It needs to be written regularly throughout the semester.
Clear documentation of the progress of the project.
Brief minutes or summary from the weekly meetings (including current status, to-do list and accomplishments).
Summary of journal papers read weekly as part of notes compilation.
Reflection of learnings and professional practice throughout the semester.

Thesis
This is a comprehensive research report and should include the following aspects:

Abstract
An introduction outlines the problems the students are attempting to solve. It should start with a description of the general area and progress to the specific questions that the project should answer, and therefore the aims of the project.

A thorough literature review that shows the state of the art in the field of the project, and therefore shows the need for the research and possibly design that is being proposed.

A detailed description of the methodology and the methods that are used.

Report on evaluation and analysis of results and also any changes from the initial research plan.
Conclusions of the research and recommendations

References

The quality of research should be to the standard of a journal paper.

The final report should be in the order of 20000 words (not erences) and  is to be of a standard suitable for a Consultant's report to a client, i.e. typed, indexed, referenced, and with an executive summary/abstract. Please note the word limit does not imply that long-winded sentences and repeated sentences without real substance, your report needs to be professionally presented in clear and concise language.

The presentation/ demonstration must be rehearsed and presented using PowerPoint.

Presentation

Final presentations will be given as conference-style presentations that need to be focused on the important findings of the project. These presentations should:

Be aimed at an audience of student peers, academics and invited industry representatives - an educated, but non-expert audience.
Present the background to the work, describing the general area and showing how the particular research and design questions posed fit into this wider context, and present the aims of the project.

Present the results of the project, conclusions that can be drawn from the work and recommendations for future work.

This is a comprehensive research report and should include the following aspects:

- Abstract
- An introduction outlines the problems the students are attempting to solve. It should start with a description of the general area and progress to the specific questions that the project should answer, and therefore the aims of the project.
- A thorough literature review that shows the state of the art in the field of the project, and therefore shows the need for the research and possibly design that is being proposed.
- A detailed description of the methodology and the methods that are used.
- Report on evaluation and analysis of results and also any changes from the initial research plan.
- Conclusions of the research and recommendations
- References
- Any other appendices related to this project.

Harvard Reference Style