Appendix A
MSc (Hons)
Computer Science and Entrepreneurship
Course code: G402
,
1 General Information
Educational Aims
skills to explore various business models for commercial
exploitation of technical intellectual property
analysis of a business
interrelationships that exist between fundamental research and its
commercial exploitation
contribution to today's technology-driven economy.
2 Outline Description of Course
The Masters course is studied full-time over one academic year. A total of 120 credits of
taught modules are studied in the Autumn and Spring semesters. In addition, a research
project worth 60 credits is undertaken in the Summer Period giving a total course content of
180 credits. It should be noted that resources permitting, projects will be run in collaboration
between the schools of Computer Science and the Nottingham University Business School•.
3 Additional Components
Assessment criteria
All Supplementary or course Regulations should be read in the context of the relevant
University Study Regulations.
Progression Information:
This programme will comply with the University Postgraduate taught assessment regulations
which can be found at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual/study-regulations/taughtpostgraduate-regulations.htm.
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Degree Information:
For the taught stage, module marks for up to 15 credits can be below 40%, but not below
30%, and be compensated if the student has passed modules worth at least 80 credits and has
a weighted average of at least 50%.
Information on the marking criteria used by the School can be found in the Course Handbook.
These criteria will provide students with clear guidance on the performance required to obtain
marks at various levels (e.g. 70%+, 60-70, 50-60, 40-50).
APL In exceptional cases, candidates may be considered for up to 60 credits of APL when
transferring from another approved institution, subject to the approval by the Course Director.
Classification A Pass with MERIT will be awarded to Postgraduate Masters, Diploma and
Certificate students who achieve an overall credit weighted mark of at least 60%.
An overall credit weighted mark of 59% will be considered by the examination board for a
potential border line Pass with MERIT.
A Pass with DISTINCTION will be awarded to Postgraduate Masters, Diploma and Certificate
students who achieve an overall credit weighted mark of at least 70%. An overall credit
weighted mark of 68% will be considered by the examination board for a potential border line
Pass with DISTINCTION.
In such cases the Examiners will take into account other relevant performance metrics (e.g.
balance of paper classifications or the result of a viva voce examination if held) to determine if
the classification may be raised to the next highest classification.
For the completion of the taught stage of the Postgraduate Masters degree, a module mark
between 30 and 39% for up to 15 credits can be compensated if the student has passed
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modules worth at least 80 credits and has a weighted average of at least 50%.
For the award of Postgraduate Diploma students must have gained a pass mark of 40% or
more in 80 credits worth (which can include the Dissertation), and a weighted average of at
least 40% with no module marks of less than 30%.
4 Learning Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge
and understanding, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Knowledge and Understanding
Teaching and Learning and Assessment for above section
Teaching/learning methods and strategies: Acquisition of A1-4 takes place through a
combination of lectures, seminars (both teacher- and student-led), individual consultations,
literature study, practical work including laboratory work, group interaction and discussion and
learning through self-directed study. Assessment: Assessment of A1-4 is by a combination of
written examinations, coursework, oral presentations and other assignments dependent upon
the modules chosen.
Intellectual Skills
he skills needs for academic study and enquiry
computer science and information technology developments.
Teaching and Learning and Assessment for above section
Teaching/learning methods and strategies: Acquisition of intellectual skills takes place through
a combination of lectures, interaction with students and teachers at seminars, tutorials and
individual consultations, consultation of library and other resources. All modules, whatever the
format of the teaching, involve discussion of key issues and problems, and analysis of
material. The individual project will provide a major learning opportunity. Assessment: All
these intellectual skills are assessed throughout the programme in exams, coursework, oral
presentations and other assignments.
Professional/Practical Skills
professionals and business people
Teaching and Learning and Assessment for above section
Teaching/learning methods and strategies: Many of the above are acquired through a project
carried out under the guidance of a supervisor. This and the other skills are also developed in
the course of other modules throughout the programme. A significant proportion of all of the
skills is developed through guided student centred learning in the compulsory modules of the
course (see curriculum map). The individual project will provide a major learning opportunity.
Assessment: All of these outcomes are assessed throughout the programme by means of
examinations, oral presentations and assessed project and coursework.
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Transferable/Key Skills
media.
-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, selfstarting, individual initiative and enterprise.
Teaching and Learning and Assessment for above section
Teaching/learning methods and strategies: As befits a programme at MSc level, a large
proportion of these outcomes is achieved through guided self-directed learning especially in
the compulsory modules of the programme (see curriculum map). Transferable skills are an
essential component of the programme and they are included in all of the modules to a
greater or lesser extent (see curriculum map). The individual project will provide a major
learning opportunity. Assessment: Assessment of these takes place throughout the
programme by a mixture of methods. In particular, they are assessed through the project and
presentations related to the compulsory modules and the project.
5: Course structure: 2010-11
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Modules
Autumn – Semester 1
G54IHC Introduction to Human Computer Interaction-Compulsory
This module is part of the Human-Computer Interaction theme in the School of Computer Science.
This module provides an introduction to the foundations of human-computer interaction (HCI).
The course will address the theoretical foundations of HCI, the relevance of users to the design
process, user interface design (input/output technologies, interaction styles/paradigms, user
support etc.), prototyping techniques, and user evaluation.
N14C15 Project Management-Compulsory
Definitions and classifications of projects. Objectives in project management - time, costs, quality.
Resources and resource management. Critical Path Methods and resource scheduling. Performance
measurement and costs. Project lifecycles. Project teams and leadership in project management.
Managing risk in projects. Analysis of project successes and failures. Project Management software.
N14G01 Creative Problem Solving-Compulsory
The course will introduce students to the latest thinking in the areas of creativity, the creative
process, knowledge management practices and the nature of entrepreneurship. Having established
the crucial link between creativity, entrepreneurship and economic development the course proceeds
with the latest thinking in the areas of creativity, entrepreneurship and economic development the
course proceeds with the latest thinking in the areas of creativity, the creative process and modern
knowledge management practices supported by case studies and examples of successful applications.
Students will be introduced to a variety of creative problem solving techniques and learn how to apply
these techniques in the context of the development, evaluation and application of ideas and concepts
with commercial potential.
N14G02 Finance and Accounting-Compulsory
Entrepreneurial activity can only succeed if supported by appropriate resources that are then
managed to promote economic activity. It is often the case that entrepreneurs have insufficient
personal funds to develop a business without resort to external providers of finance. This module
will explore the major themes within accounting and finance that are relevant to entrepreneurs.
The first part of the module examines internal accounting procedures and accountability to
external stakeholders. The second part examines how entrepreneurs finance their venture and
the different sources of funds involved at different stages of development.
G53VIS Computer Vision-Elective
Building on G52IIP this module examines current techniques for the extraction of useful information
about a physical situation from individual and sets of images. Particular emphasis is placed on the
identification of objects, recovery of three-dimensional shape &motion, and the recognition of events.
Topics covered include: advanced segmentation and feature extraction, motion computation and
tracking, stereo vision and the use of hidden markov models in higher level analysis.
G54ACC Advanced Computer Communication - Elective
This module is part of the Net-Centric Computing theme in the School of Computer Science.
The course provides advanced knowledge of computer communications networks. Consistent
examples from all-IP core telecommunications networks are used to illustrate: transmission coding,
error control, media access, internet protocol, routing, TCP/UDP, RPC, presentation coding, services,
security. Introduction to technologies including switch and router design, network processors, and
encryption.
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G54ORM Operations research and modeling - Elective
This module is part of the Modelling and Optimisation theme in the School of Computer Science.
The module provides an entry point to operations research for students in MSc courses and is also
a follow-up for students who took G53ORO already. The module covers a range of operations research
techniques (emphasis here is on learning modelling techniques) in order to tackle a range of
real-world problems. Operations research (OR) is a discipline that uses modelling techniques,
nalytics and computational methods to solve complex problems in industry and business with
the aim of helping to make better decisions. By using operation research techniques to analyse
complex situations, decision-makers are able to make more effective decisions and build more
productive systems. Topics covered in this module include: Introduction to OR, Linear Programming,
Modelling and Optimisation Software, Post-optimality Analysis, Integer Programming, Modelling
Techniques, Combinatorial Optimisation, Solving Large IP Models and Dynamic Programming.
Students learn to interpret and create formal models of optimisation problems and then to develop
computer-based solutions by means of spreadsheets and/or programming style systems.
Techniques are explained using numerical examples and their application is illustrated using
a number of case studies and software tools (e.g. optimisation solvers such as Excel, Lingo,
Games and others).
Spring – Semester 2
G64SWE Software Engineering-Compulsory
This module is part of the Software Engineering theme in the School of Computer Science.
Instruction in object-oriented methods for requirements engineering and software design. Application
of these methods during the development of a medium-scale software system. Experience of team
working to break down a problem into a set of manageable tasks. Instruction in industrial notations
to model and reason about software behaviour and application of these methods to software
development and documentation.
N14G03 Marketing for Entrepreneurs-Compulsory
This module provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of marketing and how they are
currently applied in the marketplace. The main emphasis of the module centres around the perceived
need by managers for a strategic approach to marketing decision-making and for coherent planning
to ensure the formulation of successful marketing programmes within an organisation. This module
will explore: the role and nature of marketing; the core elements of marketing as an approach to
business; the processes which influence the development of a marketing strategy; the role of
segmentation; targeting and positioning; the factors which determine the composition of the
marketing mix; the role of elements of the marketing mix in creating an effective marketing
campaign.
N14G06 Science Technology Arts and Business-Compulsory
This module introduces to the importance of, and the processes involved in, the commercial
exploitation of science and technology and involves a creative approach to the generation of a
business concept. The development of a business idea forms an integral part of the students
managed learning.
N14G05 Innovation Management-Compulsory
Introduction - What is Innovation Management?; Building an Innovation Organisation; Innovation
and Family Firms; External Guest Speaker; Sources of Innovation and Networks; Innovation
Strategy and Blue Ocean Strategy; Selecting the Right Idea; Implementing Ideas; Capturing
Learning; Group Presentations - Appraisal of Innovation Management of an Innovative Firm.
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G54PDC Parallel and Distributed computing -Elective
This module is part of the Operating Systems and Architecture theme in the School of Computer
Science. A simple sequential computer program effectively executes one instruction at a time on
individual data items. Various strategies are used in CPU design to increase the speed of this basic
model (see the module on Advanced Computer Architecture), but at the cost of CPU complexity and
power-consumption. To further increase performance the task must be re-organsied to explicitly
execute on multiple processors and/or on multiple data items simultaneously This module charts the
broad spectrum of approaches that are used to increase the performance of computing tasks by
exploiting parallelism and/or distributed computation. It then considers in more detail a number of
contrasting examples. The course deals mainly with the principles involved, but there is the chance
to experiment with some of these approaches in the supporting labs. Topics covered include:
commons applications of parallel and distributed computing; parallel and distributed machine
architectures including Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) or short-vector processing,
multi-core and multi-processor shared memory, custom co-processors including DSPs and GPUs,
and cluster and grid computing; programming approaches including parallelising compilers,
explicit message-passing (such as MPI), specialised parallel computing abstractions (such as
MapReduce), and specialised co-processor programming (such as for GPUs).
G53NMD New Media Design- Elective
This module is part of the Human-Computer Interaction theme in the School of Computer Science.
The course is a practical course covering the critical elements of the principles of design. Such
principles are applied to new media applications, with a particular focus on its use in the context
of the web. This course also aims to give students a hands on experience with emerging new media
technologies. Technical issues such as colour, images, audio, video and animation will be introduced
and discussed in addition to usability and interaction. Practical use of multimedia authoring systems,
content management systems, flash and HTML 5 will form part of this module. Such tools will be put
into context with emerging paradigms and new media for mobile platforms.
7. Summer Project
G64PRE Computer Science Technology Transfer Project
Assessed by end of Summer Vacation
Education Aims: To enable students to understand the issues relating to the commercialization
of research and to apply suitable methodology to assess and develop novel ideas into
commercially viable concepts.
Ideas
Industry oriented, new, business values, computer Applications ……
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding Knowledge of business administration and
entrepreneurial practices Elementary knowledge of business and patent law Intellectual Skills
Ability to apply assessment and processes to real-life situations Transferable Skills Oral and
written communication Problem Solving.
Summary of Content:
The purpose of the Project is to provide the opportunity to undertake independent research into a
topic appropriate to Computer Science Technology Transfer. In undertaking the project, you
should draw on and extend material presented in the course. The project has several aims,
beyond reinforcing information and methodology presented in the taught modules. You will gain
experience by:
22


addressing the challenges involved in developing the commercial potential of a
technological advance;
develop communication skills relevant to the process of transferring technology to a
commercial environment both by
o making presentations to non technical audiences
o developing a report appropriate for a set of potential investors
o otherwise communicating ideas to customers through meetings in groups or as
individuals
Supervisors:
Select one supervisor from each school (CSc and Business), you will have two
supervisors.
Projects will further enhance experience in group work.
In this module Business School UNMC, and Computer Science school will contribute 50% each. i.e
the Project allocation will be 30 credits for Computer Science and 30 credits for Business school.
Group Project Layout (these dates are tentative)
No
Tasks
Date
1
Project Preliminaries
15th Nov (MON)
2010
2
Group members (2-4), Allocation by the convener
30th Nov (Tue)
2010
3
Project proposals (Project start)
15th June (Wed)
2011
4
Meeting with Supervisors (CSc and Business Schools)
Once in every two weeks
5
Project completion
5th
Sept (Mon)
2011
6
Thesis and software submission
12th Sept (Mon)
2011
7
Demo and Presentation
13th Sept (Tue)
2011
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8 Links
PG Regulations
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual/study-regulations/taught-postgraduateregulations.htm
Entry Requirements at:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual/recruitment-admissions/Policy-for-Waiving-EnglishLanguage-Requirements%20.doc
Supplementary regulations for courses running in the UK:
http://winster.nottingham.ac.uk/studentcoursestructures/asp/course_search.asp
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/current/regulations/#PG
For information about courses running at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus:
http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Students/Admissions/Pages/intakes.aspx
Assessment regulations:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual/assessment/regulations.htm .
Guidance for dealing with extenuating circumstances :
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual/assessment/pro-guid-ext-cir.htm
Msc (Csc and E)
http://pgstudy.nottingham.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/computer-science-and-entrepreneurshipmasters-msc_680.aspx
http://pgstudy.nottingham.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/computer-science-and-entrepreneurshipmasters-msc/course-content_680.aspx
Computer Science Faculty:
http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Faculties/Science/CSIT/Pages/InformationforStudents.aspx
Business Faculty:
http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Faculties/Arts/NUBS/Pages/default.aspx
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9 PLAGIARISM
PLAGIARISM AND PARAPHRASING
It is an academic offence to attempt to gain for oneself or another person an unpermitted
advantage in an assessment.
Plagiarism
The following definition of plagiarism appears in the University Calendar:
"It is an academic offence to present someone else’s work as being one’s own"
Work in any year of study which is not undertaken in an Examination Room under the
supervision of an invigilator (such as dissertations, essays, project work, experiments,
observations, specimen collecting and other similar work), but which is nevertheless required
work forming part of the degree, diploma or certificate assessment, must be the student's own
and must not contain plagiarised material.
Possible punishments for plagiarism are that the University may apply one of the following
penalties:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
No marks to be awarded in relation to the specific material which is the subject of the
academic offence (thus leading to a reduced overall mark for the piece of course work,
dissertation, examination question or examination script in which the specific material
appears).
Award a mark of zero for the entire piece of course work, dissertation, examination
question or examination script in which the academic offence has occurred.
Award a mark of zero for the entire module in which the academic offence has occurred.
Award a mark of zero for all the assessments in the semester (even where this will lead to
a reduction in degree class). In the case of year-long modules, this penalty may affect
both semesters.
Award a mark of zero for the whole year (even where this will lead to a reduction in degree
class).
Require the student to take reassessments (as a result of being awarded zero marks) in
the following session before being allowed to progress or complete their course.
Require the student to register with the University and enrol on modules in which they
need to take reassessments (as a result of being awarded zero marks) in the following
session before being allowed to progress or complete their course.
Require a research student to resubmit a thesis.
Require a research student to register for a period of supervision before being allowed to
resubmit a thesis.
Terminate the student’s course.
Withdraw the award of a degree or other qualification from, and issue an amended
transcript to, a former student of the University.
Note:
Plagiarism is regarded as a serious academic offence by the University and will be
punished accordingly. Plagiarism can be easily identified by entering suspect passages
into search engines. Specialist search engines are available to check all submitted work
against previously published sources, including coursework submitted by students in
previous years. The Faculty of Science is participating in a University-wide scheme to
detect plagiarism; students may be required to submit all coursework, including BSc
projects, in electronic form to facilitate automatic on-line detection of plagiarism.
GUIDANCE TO HELP YOU AVOID COMMITTING PLAGIARISM
25
1. You are allowed to use information from other people's work provided you acknowledge the
source. This can apply to a statement, Table or Figure. The best way of doing this for Tables and
Figures is to add: "After Smith (1988)" or "Modified from Smith (1988)", and include the reference
in your reference list.
2. If you are discussing something somebody else has said, you can say, for example: Smith
(1987) claimed that coral reefs in the Pacific were damaged by high temperatures in 1975. Or: It
has been claimed that high temperatures in 1975 damaged coral reefs in the Pacific (Smith,
1975).
3. If you wish to quote from previous work you should put it in quotation marks, e.g. Smith
(1980) described the outcome of unprecedented high temperatures on coral reefs as: "A disaster
for the marine communities in the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific", and then stated that: "The
phenomenon appears to be due to unprecedented high temperatures"
For information on paraphrasing see 8 and 9 below.
4. Authors should be cited in text either as: Smith (1975), Smith and Allen (1978), Allen (1987,
1989), or as (Smith, 1975; Smith and Allen, 1978; Allen 1987, 1989). Note that these are in
chronological, not alphabetic order. When more than two authors are quoted, this should be in the
form Allen et al. (1993) in the text, but the full reference should be given in your reference list.
5. In your "References" or "Literature cited" section, the following style (authors, date, title,
journal, volume number, page numbers) should be used and references should be listed
alphabetically. Provided you are consistent, you may also use any other accepted style - see
journals in the library.
Smith, A. J. and Allen, N. B. (1986). Temperatures and coral reefs. Journal of the Marine
Biological Association 86: 101-123.
Smith, A. J., Jones, K. L. and Allen, N. B. (1988). Death of corals due to high
temperatures.
Thermal Biology 27: 19-34.
6. For books, the following style (author, title underlined or in italics, publisher, place of
publication) applies:
Allen, N. B. (1992). Coral Reef Biology. Blackwells, London.
7. For chapters in edited volumes, the following style (author, date, title of chapter, title of book
underlined or in italics, editors, page numbers, publisher, place of publication) applies:
Smith, A. J. (1987). Temperature and bleaching in corals. In: Coral Reef Biology (N. B. Allen and
C. K. Hodges, eds.), pp. 65-90. Clumber Press, New York.
8. Paraphrasing, i.e. verbatim or almost verbatim restatement of a passage is a form of
plagiarism frequently used in essays and dissertations. The following is paraphrased from C. H.
Gordon, P. Simmons and G. Wynn (date unknown). Plagiarism - What It Is And How To Avoid It.
University of British Columbia.
Students often ask "How much do I have to change a sentence to be sure I'm not plagiarising?" If
you have to ask, you are probably about to commit plagiarism! There is no set number of words
that you need to change or add to make a passage your own – the originality must come from the
development and expression of your own ideas.
Original work demands original thought. You should try and separate your ideas from those of
others. If you use another author‘s conclusions then acknowledge them. If you come to the same
conclusions as another author you should still acknowledge them. Once a piece of work is
complete, look at each part and ask yourself if the ideas expressed are entirely your own, and
26
whether the general language or choice of words is your own. If the answer to either is "no" the
work should be credited to the original author
9. Examples.
9.1 Original
From Smith (1992):
The author has found that corals respond to high temperatures by expelling their zooxanthellae.
This causes them to go white, a phenomenon known as "bleaching." Such corals soon become
covered in algae, which makes it difficult for new coral planulae to settle and start a new colony
(Davies, 1980). The phenomenon of bleaching is similar to the effect of a crown-of-thorns starfish
(Acanthaster planci) attack where the polyps are digested by enzymes secreted onto the colony
surface (Brown, 1990). As Jones (1972) found, A. planci poses a severe threat to corals in the
Indo-Pacific. The recent occurrence of high numbers of these starfish on reefs has been correlated
to run-off from land which contains high levels of plant nutrients (Jones, 1986). The subsequent
increase in the number of algae apparently enhances the survival of the filter-feeding larvae of the
starfish.
To include this text verbatim in your own work, without placing the entire paragraph in
quotation marks and acknowledging Smith (1992) (see 3 above) would constitute
plagiarism.
9.2 Paraphrased version
Paraphrased from Smith (1992):
Smith (1992) has found that corals respond to high temperatures by expelling their zooxanthellae.
This phenomenon, known as "bleaching", causes them to go white. Such corals quickly become
covered in algae and this makes it difficult for new coral planulae to settle and begin developing a
new colony (Davies, 1980). Bleaching is similar to the effect of a crown-of-thorns starfish
(Acanthaster planci) attack. Brown (1990) notes that this is where the polyps are digested by
enzymes secreted onto the colony surface. Jones (1972) found that A. planci may be a severe
threat to corals in the Indo-Pacific. Recently high numbers of these starfish on reefs has been
correlated to run-off from land with high levels of plant nutrients (Jones, 1986). The increase in
the number of algae apparently enhances the survival of the filter-feeding larvae of the starfish.
To include this text in your own work, even with the initial acknowledgment Smith
(1992) would constitute plagiarism since it reads as if only the first sentence is taken
from Smith, and the rest of the references (Davies, Brown and Jones) have been
sourced and read by you and that the development and expression of the text is your
own original work.
9.3 Unacknowledged version (i.e. submitting this as if it were your own thoughts or
work)
The presence of high numbers of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) on reefs has been
connected to run-off from land containing high levels of plant nutrients. This causes an increase in
the number of algae which results in better survival of the filter-feeding larvae of the starfish. The
starfish kills corals by secreting digestive enzymes onto their surfaces. A. planci poses a severe
threat to corals in the Indo-Pacific and their effect is similar to that caused by "bleaching", a
phenomenon caused by high temperatures which results in zooxanthellae being expelled.
Subsequently the dead corals become covered in algae which makes it difficult for a new colony to
start.
To include this text verbatim in your own work, would constitute plagiarism since there
is no acknowledgment of Smith (1992).
27
9.4 Acceptable version (based on information from Smith, reading the cited references
yourself and drawing upon other work)
Smith (1992) quoted Jones (1972, 1986) in suggesting that the crown-of-thorns starfish poses a
threat to corals in the Indo-Pacific, and that their recent upsurge may be due to an increase in
plant food levels caused by an input of nutrients from land. Brown (1990) found that these multiarmed starfish killed corals by everting their stomachs onto the coral colony surface and secreting
an enzyme to digest the tissues externally. The resulting "bleaching" effect is similar to that which
occurs when corals are exposed to high temperatures and the zooxanthellae are expelled (Smith,
1992). Davies (1980) found that the settlement of algae on the colony surface made it difficult for
new coral larvae to settle and, although fish often grazed the algae continually, he found they
could not keep these under control. Recent studies have shown that plagues of crown-of-thorns
starfish may be a natural phenomenon, as the fossilised remains of previous outbreaks have been
found in rocks millions of years old (Cromer, 1994).
To present your work like this would not constitute plagiarism.
Note that all the references and authors used in this document with the exception of Gordon et al.
are fictitious.
Tutors and groups:
You will be allocated tutors, who will advise you related to academic issues.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR TUTOR IF YOU ARE STILL IN DOUBT ABOUT PLAGIARISM
For details please contact:
Dr V.P.Kallimani
Email:
VP.Kallimani@nottingham.edu.my
Assistant
Professor
28
03-8924 8141
Room: BB59