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School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

Research Methods and Professional Skills (890H1)

Research Methods and Professional Skills

Module 890H1

Module details for 2025/26.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)

Module Outline

In this module you will develop the personal and professional skills required to succeed at the
postgraduate level. We will develop your information and communication competencies alongside the
critical analysis skills enabling you to undertake effective product development and research at the
postgraduate level. Throughout the module you will keep a reflective log of your personal and
professional practise and discuss at peer-to-peer seminar discussions, enabling synergistic formulation
of best practises across the cohort. New knowledge and practise will come from lectures, round-table
discussion, and communication skills developments in a supported environment. You will be assessed
through your reflective logs and seminar participations, and the preparation and presentation of a
research proposal.

Indicative Content (CC indicates Core Curriculum activities)

• Introduction to Research and Emergent Technologies
• Information Skills for Degree Apprenticeships - information sources, referencing, academic
misconduct and contemporary topics.
• Critical Literature Review (Critical analysis, synthesis, and interpretation)
• Professional Writing Skills (tailored to apprentice)
o CC: English and Maths
• Understanding and using industry numerical data (tailored to apprentices)
o CC: English and Maths
• Personal and Professional Management
o CC: Personal Development, Career Development, Prevent/Safeguarding, Rule of Law,
Individual Liberty, Democracy, Equality and Diversity, Respect and Tolerance
• Professional and Personal Values
o CC: Personal Development, Career Development, Prevent/Safeguarding, Rule of Law,
Individual Liberty, Democracy, Equality and Diversity, Respect and Tolerance
• Introduction to Design of Experiments – Methods for testing and development
• Effective presentation and communication skills
o CC: Personal Development, Career Development, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty,
Democracy, Equality and Diversity, Respect and Tolerance
• Business Needs and Constraints (Manufacturing)

Module learning outcomes

Select and critically analyse appropriate sources of information and data

Advance their personal and professional knowledge and understanding of
research and professional skills in order to act autonomously in planning
and implementing tasks

Develop advanced analytical competence at PG level of study to propose
new hypotheses

Evidence their own personal knowledge through the development and
presentation of a coherent research and experimentation proposal that will
address open ended questions associated with new and advancing
theory/practice

TypeTimingWeighting
Coursework100.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
PortfolioT1 Week 11 40.00%
ReportA1 Week 1 50.00%
PresentationT1 Week 11 (10 hours)10.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Autumn SemesterLecture2 hours50000000000
Autumn SemesterLecture1 hour01111111110
Autumn SemesterSeminar1 hour51111111110

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Leila Yousefi

Assess convenor
/profiles/628982

Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.

The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.

School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

School Office:
School of Engineering and Informatics, ÈÕº«ÎÞÂë, Chichester 1 Room 002, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QJ
ei@sussex.ac.uk
T 01273 (67) 8195

School Office opening hours: School Office open Monday – Friday 09:00-15:00, phone lines open Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00
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