In this course, students undertake an individual engineering research or design project under supervision.

Students are encouraged to put forward their own ideas for the individual project, or they may select a project from a range of projects offered by researchers across the ANU. The topic area would normally be expected to be in the same area as the major (or one of the majors) being completed by the student.

Project topics and supervisory arrangements should be finalised well before project commencement.

Students are expected to manage all aspects of their individual project from conceptualization through the planning phase to the monitoring and control of the project performance and the ultimate achievement of the assessment deliverables. Details of the project process, roles and responsibilities and possible projects are given on the course Wattle Site.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify a substantial research and/or complex design project including the problem the project seeks to address, its context and significance in contemporary engineering, scientific or research fields.
2. Scope the selected project appropriately and identify and determine knowledge, skills and methodologies required to complete the project.
3. Apply research skills and methodologies to identify, collate, summarise and critically evaluate relevant literature, data and sources.
4. Combine and demonstrate synthesis of new knowledge with the application of relevant underlying theory, skills, concepts and methodologies in relevant engineering and/or scientific fields.
5. Analyse, interpret, explain and evaluate results generated during the project and compare and contrast to existing work and literature where appropriate.
6. Communicate the project objectives, process, knowledge and results to practising engineers and scientists in written and verbal form.

Research-Led Teaching

Projects are drawn from a wide range of sources including industry, government and community groups, research groups across the ANU and student-generated projects.

Field Trips

Travel off-site may be required for certain projects. Costs should be covered through funding by the supervisor and/or the project partner organisation. Limited microgrants are available by application. Approval must be sought from the course convenor.  See the course guide for details.

Additional Course Costs

We do not expect students to bear any significant costs associated with the course. In general, all substantial project costs should be covered by the supervisor and/or partner organisation's funds. Students may apply for an individual micro-grant to cover minor costs for project items such as materials or consumables. Approval must be sought from the course convenor.  See the course guide for more details.

Required Resources

Depending on the project, students may require appropriate clothing and safety equipment, (e.g., enclosed shoes and safety glasses) if identified in their project risk assessment. Some projects may also require access to specialised technical equipment (e.g., laboratories, computing infrastructure, etc.).

Access to these required resources will be arranged at no cost to the student, and facilitated by the supervisor and/or project partner organisation.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Welcome lecture
2	Lecture: Principles of research Tutorial: supervisory relationships (commencing students) OR thesis framing (students in their final semester)	Project registration due (students in their first semester only).
3	Lecture: Project planning and logbooks Tutorial: Literature searches and review strategies
4	Lecture: Project challenges and where to get help Tutorial: Research questions and literature reviews	Logbook review (students in their final semester only)
5	Lecture: Ethics in engineering research Tutorial: Writing workshop
6	Tutorial: Peer review workshop	Peer review activity and logbook review
7	Lecture: How to structure a thesis
8	Lecture: Scientific writing Tutorial: Poster-drafting workshop (students in their final semester)
9	Tutorial: Framing mid-term reports
10	Tutorial: Writing workshop OR Peer review workshop (posters)	Peer review activity and logbook review (students in their final semester only)
11	Tutorial: Peer review workshop (mid-term reports)	Peer review activity and logbook review (students in their first semester only) Oral presentation due (students in their final semester only)
12
14		Mid-term report due (students in their first semester only), Thesis due (students in their final semester only)

Tutorial Registration

Through wattle, in week 1.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Project registration	0 %	N/A
Logbook reviews	5 %	3,4
Peer review activities	5 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Project Plan	5 %	1,2
Mid-term report	10 %	1,2,3
Oral presentation	10 %	1,3,4,5,6
Final report (thesis)	65 %	1,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation to course activities is encouraged as beneficial to the individual. The course has been redesigned to offer a peer-supported element to enhance student learning and well-being in the context of an individual project journey. However, there are no strict participation requirements. All graded activities may be completed asynchronously if required.

Assessment Task 1

Project registration

Project registration due in week 2 is a critical step in every project. By entering essential information through a Wattle form and/or the submission of a contract document, students will confirm that they are engaged in a viable project. This activity is not graded but is compulsory. Students who “fail” the registration step will be given a short time to correct any anomalies. If a student cannot rectify their project to meet the course requirements (e.g., supervisory arrangements, appropriate topic, etc.), they will be deemed non compliant with the course requirements and may be forcibly withdrawn from the course. This process will typically be completed by the end of Week 3.

Assessment Task 2

Logbook reviews

Students will keep a logbook of their project progress. A logbook is a periodic record (at least weekly) of project-related work. Logbook entries may include, for example, a record of hours spent on project activities, lists of tasks priorities, summaries of collected results, achievements, reflections, etc. Education literature on final-year engineering projects has shown that keeping a logbook can greatly assist students in conducting their research in a more aware and purposeful way. Students will be encouraged to establish their logbook on a cloud platform to facilitate tutors’ access for review.

The tutors will review logbooks periodically and will provide formative feedback to each student about their progress. The quality of the entries will form the basis for the course grade component associated with logbooks.

Assessment Task 3

Peer review activities

During selected “peer review” tutorials, students will be allocated a short time slot to present a systematic update on their work to their tutorial group. This will be followed by small-group activities in groups of  ~4 students in which drafts of a key project document (e.g., project plans, midterm reports, presentation poster/slides) will be shared and discussed between group members. Peer review sessions take place ahead of major deliverable deadlines and are an opportunity for students to provide and receive constructive peer feedback.

A dedicated activity will be created in Wattle, which will host records of the document drafts and peer feedback. Each student will evaluate the submissions of 2-3 peers. The quality of the materials submitted for review and the insightfulness of feedback provided to others will form the basis for the course grade component associated with peer review activities.

It is possible for students to engage in the peer review activity without attending the tutorial sessions. However, participation in the tutorial process is strongly encouraged as the opportunity for in-person dialogue over the materials will likely greatly improve the relevance of the peer feedback.

Assessment Task 4

Project Plan

Project plans are the first research-informed graded checkpoint in the project journey. A project plan is a 3-4 page document describing the project objective (question), scope and proposed methods. It will also include a project timeline, and budget if applicable.  Project plans will be submitted via Wattle/Turnitin and will be graded by the ENGN4350 teaching team.

Assessment Task 5

Mid-term report

Midterm reports are a written submission due at the half-way point of the project. A mid-term report is a document of ~6-8 pages containing a short-form but comprehensive literature review supporting a clear case for the project objectives, scope and methods—noting that these may have been further developed since the previous project plan. The document will also describe progress in relation to the planned timeline and give an indication of work completed and challenges encountered, providing updated timelines and budgets if applicable. Mid-term reports will be submitted via Wattle/Turnitin and assessed by Supervisors and Examiners.

Assessment Task 6

Oral presentation

Oral presentations will take place in week 11 of the completion semester for a project. Students will deliver a live presentation on their research to a general audience (including examiners and observers). The presentation will have a time limit of 15 minutes, with an additional 5 minutes for audience questions. Visual aids, in the form of a poster or a slideshow, will be prepared by students to support their presentation. The presentation will be marked by at least two assessors, typically the supervisor and a second examiner.

The exact format of the project presentation will depend on campus attendance constraints. Further advice will be provided in Wattle closer to the date.

Assessment Task 7

Final report (thesis)

The final report (thesis) is a structured document describing the research project. Further guidance for thesis development will be provided during the course. The due date for theses will be set two weeks after the end of the teaching period in the completion semester. Submission will be via Wattle/Turnitin. Grading will be done by two assessors, typically the supervisor and a second examiner. If the assessment difference between the two assessors’ grade exceeds 10%, the convenor will nominate a third assessor to grade the work.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

The course does not require any hardcopy submissions. The expectaction is that all submissions for this course will be made in electronic form. Students intending to submit work in hardcopy should contact the Course Convener to discuss their circumstances prior to the assessment deadline.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Please note that the following ENGN4350 activities may not receive extensions other than as a result of unavoidable, documented individual circumstances:

·       Peer-review activities. If not completed by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

·       Logbook review activities. Unless associated with a lengthy overall extension to the project.

·      The initial project registration activity may not be extended. If not completed by the due date (or the subsequent rectification period, as directed by the Course Convenor), the student may be withdrawn from the course.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

All assessments that require asynchronous grading by the ENGN4350 teaching team and/or by the project examiners will be returned in Wattle within two weeks of the submission date in accordance with the ANU Coursework Assessment policy.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Assignments may not be resubmitted.

Project registration submissions that do not meet essential criteria for a valid honours project (e.g., supervisor signatures, appropriately scoped topics etc.) will be returned to students, who will be given a short time window (~1 week) to rectify any anomalies and resubmit their proposal.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students