UNIVERSITY OF KENT AT CANTERBURY
UKC Programme Specification
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main
features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student
might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she passes the
programme.
More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and
teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found
[either by following the links provided or in the programme handbook]. The
accuracy of the information contained in this specification is reviewed by the
University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher
Education.
BEng(Hons) Electronic and Computer Systems
1. Awarding Institution/Body
2. Teaching Institution
3. Teaching Site
4. Programme accredited by:
5. Final Award
6. Programme
7. UCAS code (or other code)
8. Relevant QAA subject
benchmarking group/s
9. Date of production/revision
10. Applicable cohort/s
University of Kent
University of Kent
Canterbury
BEng(Hons)
Electronic and Computer Systems
H691
Engineering
May 2007/V4
2007 entry onwards
11. Educational Aims of the Programme
1
The programme aims to:
1. Enable students who have gained 240 credits on equivalent modules to
those on our stage 1 and 2 Electronic and Communications Engineering
(H619) programme, to obtain a top-up to a full BEng Honours degree.
2. Educate students to become engineers who are well equipped for
professional careers in development, research and production in industry and
universities, and who are well adapted to meet the challenges of a rapidly
changing subject.
3. Produce professional engineers with specialist skills in hardware and
software and a well-balanced knowledge of Electronic and Computer
Systems.
4. Provide proper academic guidance and welfare support for all students.
5. Create an atmosphere of co-operation and partnership between staff and
students, and offer the students an environment where they can develop
their potential.
2
12. Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and
demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes
in the following areas. The programme outcomes have references to the
subject benchmarking statement for (B) Engineering.
Teaching/learning and assessment
methods and strategies used to enable
outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
Knowledge and Understanding
A. Knowledge and understanding
of:
1. Mathematical principles relevant
Teaching/learning
to electronic and communications Lectures; tutorial lectures; demonstratorengineering (B2).
2. Scientific principles and
led examples classes; tutor led small
group supervisions; project work;
methodology relevant to
laboratory experiments and computer-
electronic and communications
based assignments. In particular project
engineering (B1).
gives hands-on experience of electronic
3. Advanced concepts of analogue
and computer design and project
and digital circuits and systems,
management.
instrumentation.
Assessment
telecommunications and
4. The value of intellectual property
and contractual issues (B23).
Written unseen examinations; Assessed
coursework in the form of examples
3
5. Business and management
techniques which may be used
class assignments, assessed project
work, assignments and class tests.
to achieve engineering objectives
(B15).
6. The need for a high level of
professional and ethical conduct
in electronic engineering (B18).
7. Current manufacturing practice
with particular emphasis on
product safety and EMC
standards and directives (B8).
8. Characteristics of materials,
equipment, processes and
products (B19).
9. Appropriate codes of practice,
industry standards and quality
issues (B24, B25).
10. Contexts in which engineering
knowledge can be applied (B21).
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual skills:
1. Analysis and solution of
problems in electronic
Teaching/learning
Lectures; demonstrator-led examples
engineering using appropriate
classes; tutor led small group
mathematical methods.
supervisions; self-directed learning
2. Ability to apply and integrate
through project work; laboratory
knowledge and understanding of
experiments and computer-based
other engineering disciplines to
assignments.
support study of electronic
engineering (B3).
3. Use of engineering principles
Assessment
Written unseen examinations; assessed
and the ability to apply them to
coursework in the form of examples
analyse key electronic
class assignments, assessed project
engineering processes (B4).
work, computer-based assignments, class
4
4. Ability to identify, classify and
tests.
describe the performance of
systems and components
through the use of analytical
methods and modelling
techniques (B5).
5. Ability to apply and understand
a systems approach to
electronic engineering problems
(B7).
6. Ability to investigate and define
a problem and identify
constraints including cost
drivers, economic,
environmental, health and safety
and risk assessment issues (B8,
B10).
7. Ability to use creativity to
establish innovative, aesthetic
solutions whilst understanding
customer and user needs,
ensuring fitness for purpose of
all aspects of the problem
including production, operation,
maintenance and disposal (B9,
B11, B12).
8. Ability to demonstrate the
economic and environmental
context of the engineering
solution (B14, B16, B17).
C. Subject-specific skills:
5
1. Use of mathematical techniques
Teaching/learning
to analyse problems in electronic Lectures; tutorial lectures; project work;
engineering.
computer-based assignments, examples
2. Ability to work in an engineering
classes.
laboratory environment and to
use a wide range of electronic
equipment,
workshop equipment
Assessment
Written unseen examinations; assessed
and CAD tools for the practical
coursework, assessed project work,
realisation of electronic circuits
project reports, project presentations,
(B20).
assignments.
3. Ability to work with technical
uncertainty (B26).
4. Ability to apply quantitative
methods and computer software
relevant to electronic
engineering in order to solve
engineering problems (B6).
5. Ability to design electronic
circuits or systems to fulfil a
product specification and devise
tests to appraise performance.
6. Awareness of the nature of
intellectual property and
contractual issues and an
understanding of appropriate
codes of practice and industry
standards (B23, B24).
7. Ability to use technical literature
and other information sources
and apply it to a design (B22).
6
8. Ability to apply management
techniques to the planning,
resource allocation and
execution of a design project
and evaluate outcomes (B13).
9. Ability to prepare technical
reports and presentations.
D. Transferable skills:
1. Ability to generate, analyse,
present and interpret data.
2. Use of Information and
Communications Technology.
3. Personal and interpersonal skills,
work as a member of a team.
4. Communicate effectively (in
Teaching/learning
Transferable skills pervade all modules
and are developed and demonstrated
through lectures, supervisions,
laboratories and assignments; in
particular, transferable skills are nurtured
through project work.
writing, verbally and through
drawings).
5. Learn effectively for the purpose
of continuing professional
development.
6. Ability for critical thinking,
reasoning and reflection.
7. Ability to manage time and
Assessment
Skills 1-4 and 6 are assessed through
presentations, written laboratory reports
and project reports. The other skills are
not formally assessed.
resources within an individual
project and a group project.
For more information on which modules provide which skills, see the module
mapping.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and
7
awards
The programme is designed as a top-up to suitably qualified candidates who
have already obtained 240 credits on equivalent modules to those on our stage
1 and 2 Electronic and Communications Engineering (H619) programme.
Study on the programme is divided into a number of blocks called modules.
Each 15-credit module is designated at one of three ascending levels:
Certificate (C), Intermediate (I) or Honours (H), and represents approximately
150 hours of student learning, endeavour and assessment.
The programme
consists of six modules including a 45-credit project, so that the complete
programme represents 120 credits or approximately 1200 hours of learning
time.
To be eligible for the award of the top-up honours degree students have to
obtain all 120 credits for the modules specified below.
Failure in certain modules may be compensated or condoned within prescribed
limits.
Modules that may not be compensated or condoned are suffixed with
an asterisk in the list below. The programme detailed below is subject to
change.
Please check stage handbooks for details.
Code
Title
Level
Credits
Term/s
EL600*
Project
H
45
1 & 2
EL655
Digital Communications
H
15
1 & 2
EL665
Communication Systems
H
15
1 & 2
EL667
Embedded Computer Systems
H
15
1 & 2
EL671*
Product Development
H
15
1 & 2
EL676
Digital Control & Robotics
H
15
1 & 2
Required Modules
14. Support for Students and Their Learning
8

Induction programme for new students consisting of: tour of the
Department; talks about the course; introduction to the Library and
computing facilities; meeting with personal tutors to discuss the
arrangements, timetable and answer any questions; reception for staff and
students to meet socially.

Course Handbook with details of all the courses, modules, lecture syllabi,
and comprehensive study information.

Health and Safety booklet given at the beginning of each academic year.

Library skills package given at the beginning of each academic year. Also,
various free courses are given on usage of Library resources, including
Internet based catalogue system of the large collection of books and
journals, usage of networked CD-ROMs, and access to the Internet. The
annual Electronics Library fund is about £60,000, i.e. about £180 per
student.

Learning resources include computing and multimedia facilities, lecture and
seminar rooms and experimental laboratories all within the Electronics
building and on the campus. Many of these rooms contain audio-visual
equipment and computer projectors.

Academic support includes personal tutor system and departmental
administration. Each student has a personal tutor who has responsibility for
his/her pastoral care. Students have compulsory meetings with their tutors
at least once a term. Tutors make time throughout the term for students
who need advise, either personal or academic.

Central support services includes: confidential Counselling Service, Medical
Centre, college Sick Bays, Faculty Concessions Committee, Hardship Fund,
Careers Advisory Service, Disability Officer, and Educational Support
Services. The latter offer various evening courses on study, revision and
examination techniques, time management, remedial Mathematics, etc.

University and Electronics web pages with comprehensive information
regarding all aspects of studies at Kent. Also various newsgroups.

Electronics Intranet with full module information, timetables, lecture notes
etc.
15. Entry Profile
9
Entry Route
For fuller information, please refer to the University prospectus.
Entry to this programme is normally by successful completion of Level C and
Level I modules equivalent to those on our Electronic and Communications
Engineering (H619) programme, for example, by completing a suitable
Foundation degree.
What does this programme have to offer?

An excellent grounding in the underlying principles of electronic systems
design.

The opportunity to study subjects related to electronic and computer
systems, such as electronic circuit and system design, embedded systems
design and control engineering.

The development of a broad range of skills that are highly sought after by
employers and which open up a wide range of careers to graduates within
the electronics, computing and aerospace industries.
Personal Profile

An interest in electronics, computers and communications.

A desire to become an engineer working in the electronics, computing or
aerospace industry.

A willingness to work with computers and use computer aided design
(CAD) tools.

A commitment to develop the skills that are required to build electronic and
control systems.
16. Methods for evaluating and enhancing the quality and standards of
teaching and learning
Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment,
the curriculum and outcome standards

Continuous monitoring of student progress and attendance

Student evaluations: lecture, project and laboratory feedback forms; staffstudent meetings; student representations at Board of Studies, discussions
with tutors

Module team meetings and annual module reports

Board of Studies reviews of teaching
10

Three-stage vetting process of examination questions: module team, Quality
Assurance Committee, external examiners

Departmental annual monitoring reports

External examiners' reports

Periodic programme review

External accreditation

Annual staff appraisal

Peer observation

QAA subject review
Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and
standards

Departmental Quality Assurance Committee

Module teams

Board of Studies

Board of Examiners

Department Learning and Teaching Committee

Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee

Board of Learning and Teaching
Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and
their learning experience

Student evaluations: lecture, project and laboratory feedback forms

General Meeting of Electronics Staff and Students

Student representation on Board of Studies

Discussions with tutors

Monitoring of Year Newsgroups (each year and each course has an
Internet discussion newsgroup)
Staff development priorities include:

Minimum expected qualification for appointment

PGCHE requirements for new members of staff

Membership of the Higher Education Academy.

Staff appraisal scheme
11

Staff development courses

Professional body requirements

Committee and module team responsibilities

Research seminars

Conferences
17. Indicators of quality and standards

National Student Surveys, 2005 and 2006: rated top out of all Electronics
departments in the UK.

Teaching Quality Assessment by HEFCE, March 1997: grading of 21 out of
a maximum 24 points:


Curriculum Design Content and Organisation = 4

Teaching Learning and Assessment = 3

Student Support and Guidance = 4

Student Progression and Achievement = 4

Learning Resources = 3

Quality Management and Enhancement = 3
Quality
Assurance Agency Review of the Foundation Degree in February
2003 expressed confidence in
(i) the emerging academic standards and the emerging achievements of
students;
(ii) the quality of students’ learning opportunities, including their monitoring
and enhancement
it provides.

Department was awarded Grade 4 in the 2001 Research Assessment
Exercise.
The following reference points were used in creating these specifications:

QAA benchmarking statements for Engineering

Departmental Learning and Teaching Strategy

The University Plan and Learning and Teaching Strategy

Staff research
ecs-h691.doc
12
Curriculum Map for B.Eng. (Hons) Electronic and Computer Systems
Explanation. This map provides a design aid to help academic staff identify where the programme outcomes are being developed and assessed
within the course. The map shows only the main measurable learning outcomes. There are many more outcomes in the module specifications.
Shading represents skills D5-D7 that pervade all modules.
Modules
Programme Outcomes
Codes
Project
EL600
Digital
EL655
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 10
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
x
x
x
x
B7 B8 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5-D7
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Communications
STAGE 3
Communications
EL665
x
Systems
Product
EL671
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Development
Embedded Computer
EL667
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Systems
Digital Control &
EL676
x
x
x
x
x
Robotics
13
x
x
x x
x