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Foundation Degree in Engineering - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

We aim to give you the knowledge and skills you need to work effectively in the engineering sector. Your Foundation Degree in Engineering will help you develop:

  • knowledge and critical understanding of engineering fundamentals in such areas as energy, design, manufacturing, materials, mechanics and structural analysis
  • personal and transferable skills in information handling and numeracy, IT and communication, problem solving, leadership and personal management
  • practical and professional skills that will enhance your employability and career prospects.

Learning outcomes

The qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • the well-established scientific and engineering principles that apply to your discipline and field of work
  • the most important ways in which theoretical and practical studies are carried out in engineering
  • how your knowledge is limited and the way this affects your ability to analyse and interpret information about your engineering discipline and field of work.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this foundation degree, you will be able to:

  • apply engineering ideas and methods outside the context in which you first studied them
  • apply a range of established analytical and problem-solving techniques to issues in your study and your work.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this foundation degree, you will be able to:

  • apply, in your workplace, the range of knowledge, skills and understanding developed throughout the programme.

Key skills

On completion of this foundation degree, you will be able to:

  • evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving engineering problems
  • effectively communicate information
  • present arguments, and analysis, in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences
  • exercise personal responsibility and decision-making skills necessary for your educational and career progression
  • identify and pursue your continuing personal development needs through education and training.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

Your knowledge, skills and understanding in all categories are developed and assessed using a range of methods as set out below.

Learning

Learning texts and other media set out the scientific, mathematical, technological and social theories and techniques you need to know and be able to use as a professional engineer.

Learning activities are provided that help you explore the world of engineering from a theoretical and a practical standpoint, drawing on information you will gather from published sources and from your workplace.

You will be given the opportunity to apply what you are learning to activities in your workplace, and thereby gain a deeper understanding of professional engineering.

Self-reflection exercises will give you the chance to make sense of what you have learnt and to plan future activities to continue your learning within and beyond your formal studies.

Assessment

You will have the chance to demonstrate your achievement of the learning outcomes through an appropriate combination of:

  • written assignments
  • computer-marked assignments
  • reports
  • work-based mini-projects
  • a personal development plan
  • end-of-module assessments
  • examinations.

Cognitive skills: Learning and assessment is primarily through work-based projects.

Key skills: Learning and assessment is through written assignments and reports.

Practical and/or professional skills: Learning and assessment is primarily through work-based projects, portfolios and a personal development plan.