Learning outcome

A candidate who has passed the course will have a learning outcome in the form of acquired knowledge, skills, and general competence, as described below.

Knowledge

The candidate:

• can explain how group projects are organized and executed
• understands the function of projects in solving technical problems or other challenges in industry, business or public organizations

Skills

The candidate:

• is able to analyze different types of technical challenges, and solve these in a group project context, based on fundamental, advanced and specialized knowledge
• is able to plan and call for project meetings, to chair project meetings, and to write minutes of meetings – in accordance with established project routines
• is able to plan the execution of a technical project by establishing a time schedule of the project, using Gantt diagrams or similar aids
• is able to search, analyze and critically review different sources of information, and is able to use such information in structuring and formulating technical problem descriptions and project goals
• is able to apply universally accepted methods of citation and referencing of scientific sources
• is able to work safely in laboratories, in accordance with HES (Health-Environment-Safety) procedures, in projects involving laboratory work
• is able to structure and write a technical project report in agreement with established standards and templates

General competence

The candidate:

• is able to analyze topics in a project in an ethical context
• is able to solve advanced tasks also in new areas by applying acquired knowledge and skills in a teamwork situation and by taking part in creative thinking processes
• is competent in communicating results from the project work, orally and in using modern visualization tools

Course Description

This is a course in practical project work, preferably in co-operation with industry, and insofar as possible of an inter-disciplinary nature. The assignments will normally be of a nature that requires the use of knowledge from different subject areas, and the project groups may consist of students drawn from different departments. Assignments can also be research-related and be carried out within the different research groups in the departments. The assignments may necessitate that the students attain theoretical understanding within a specific subject field not covered in the ordinary courses. The work may be of theoretical, experimental, and/or practical nature. In some cases one single student may be allowed to carry out a project alone. Routines of planning, chairing and writing minutes of project meetings will be applied. Planning and execution of the project will be facilitated by the use of Gantt diagrams. The work will be documented in a project report and will involve oral presentation and examination of the results.

Assessment Methods

The results of the work shall be documented in a written report. Grades will be awarded based on the report and an oral presentation and examination of the work. If the group has a reading list, the examination can also include this material. Students must participate actively in the accomplishment of the project in order to be graded. The written report counts more towards the final grade than the presentation/examination of the work. Grades will be given on an individual basis. If different individual grades are awarded within a project group, a justification is required. If the group also has a special reading list, an examination on this syllabus will count towards the total grade on the basis of the relative weight of the reading list compared to the project work.

The project report, the oral presentation and the exam will jointly measure knowledge, skills and general competence.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean