HNC Mechanical Engineering and HNC
Electronic and Electrical
Pathway Guide
2007/2008
In collaboration with the School of Engineering
and the Built Environment, University of
Wolverhampton
Contents
1. Introduction and Welcome to the HNC
page 2
2. Pathway Directory
page 3
3. Dates 2007/2008
page 5
4. Curriculum Map
page 6
5. Module descriptions
page 10
6. Assessment Guidelines
page 14
7. Assessment Policy
page 15
8. Progression
page 17
9. Student Code of Conduct
page 18
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 1
1. Introduction and Welcome to the Engineering HNCs
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the School and in particular to the
HNC in Mechanical Engineering and the HNC in Electronic and Electrical Engineering.
Both courses are semester based and modular in structure, and linked the programmes within
the University of Wolverhampton.
This pathway guide is intended to be your guide to the course and we hope that you will find it
helpful and informative.
The award is governed, unless otherwise stated, by the rules within the City of
Wolverhampton College, within the rules operated by EDEXCEL in respect to HNC
programmes and within Academic Regulations for students 2004/5 operated by the University
of Wolverhampton.
The course is designed to provide a scientific and managerial approach to engineering at
higher technician level for students who propose to embark on careers in the professional
fields of engineering and its allied industries.
The HNC award aims to provide those skills required for students to meet the needs of
technician level employees operating in a diverse range of disciplines. Certificate holders will
attain the necessary core skills to prepare them for a career in technical and managerial
positions in a construction-related field. The overriding focus of the awards will be on
providing the student with practical knowledge and skills relevant to the needs of the industry.
We hope that your stay with us will be successful and enjoyable.
Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information given in this publication is
accurate at the time of printing. The College, however, reserves the right to make changes
without advance notice.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 2
2. Pathway Directory
HNC Mechanical Engineering
Daytime Programmes
Year One Modules
Module
Code
Module name
Semester
Credits
XX1273
Materials
1
15
XX1340
Analytical Methods
1
15
XX0209
Engineering Design
½
15
XX0218
Business Management Techniques
2
15
XX1283
Quality
2
15
Year Two Modules
Module
Code
Module name
Semester
Credits
XX2007
Project Management
1
15
Science
1
15
XX0212
Project
½
15
XX1280
Mechanical Principles
2
15
CADCAM
2
15
Evening Programmes
Module
Code
Module name
XX0212
Project (Third Year Only Tutorial)
Tuesday
1
15
Maths
Tuesday
1
15
Quality
Thursday
1
Science
Tuesday
1
15
Business Management Techniques
Thursday
2
15
XX0208
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Evening
Page 3
Semester
Credits
HNC Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Daytime Programmes
Year One Modules
Module
Code
Module name
Semester
Credits
XX1340
Analytical Methods
1
15
XX1263
Electrical Principles
1
15
XX0209
Engineering Design*
½
15
XX0208
BMT
2
15
XX2007
Project Management
2
15
*Sessions
are held from 3.30-5.00 for each semester, a distance learning facility will operate
for some of these weeks.
Year Two Modules
Module
Code
Module name
XX1264
Electronics/Quality
Management
Semester
Assurance
and
Credits
1
15
Science
1
15
XX0212
Project*
½
15
XX0218
Business Management Techniques
2
15
XX1269
Utilisation of Electrical Energy
2
15
*Sessions
are held from 3.30-5.00 for each semester, a distance learning facility will operate
for some of these weeks.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 4
3. Dates 2007/2008
Week
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Date
September 17, 2007
September 24, 2007
October 1, 2007
October 8, 2007
October 15, 2007
October 22, 2007
October 29, 2007
November 5, 2007
November 12, 2007
November 19, 2007
November 26, 2007
December 3, 2007
December 10, 2007
December 17, 2007
December 24, 2007
December 31, 2007
January 7, 2008
January 14, 2008
January 21, 2008
January 28, 2008
February 4, 2008
February 11, 2008
February 18, 2008
February 25, 2008
March 3, 2008
March 10, 2008
March 17, 2008
March 25, 2008
March 31, 2008
April 7, 2008
April 14, 2008
April 21, 2008
April 28, 2008
May 5, 2008
May 12, 2008
May 19, 2008
May 26, 2008
June 2, 2008
June 9, 2008
June 16, 2008
June 23, 2008
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Event
Semester One, Teaching starts
Half Term
Christmas
Christmas
Last Teaching Week Semester One
Reading Week for students.
Semester Two, Teaching starts. Exam
Boards
Half Term
Easter
Easter
Last Teaching Week Semester Two
Resits
Page 5
4. Curriculum Map
Mechanical HNC
Semester One
Tuesday
6.00-9.00
4.00-5.30
1.00-4.00
9.00-12.00
Monday
Science
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Wednesday
Thursday
Analytical
Methods
Science
Materials
Project
Management
Engineering
Design
Project
Project
Management
Page 6
Friday
Semester Two
Tuesday
6.00-9.00
4.00-5.30
1.00-4.00
9.00-12.00
Monday
Engineering
Design
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Wednesday
Thursday
Business
Management
Techniques
Mechan-ical
Principles
Quality
CADCAM
Engineering
Design
Project
Business
Management Techniques
Page 7
Friday
Electronic and Electrical Engineering HNC
Semester One
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Analytical
Methods
Electronics
Electrical
Principles
Science
Engineering
Design
Project
6.00-9.00
4.00-5.30
1.00-4.00
9.00-12.00
Monday
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 8
Friday
Semester Two
Tuesday
4.00-5.30
1.00-4.00
9.00-12.00
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Business
Management
Business
Management
Techniques
Techniques
Analogue
and Digital
Utilisation of
Electrical
Energy
Engineering
Design
Project
6.00-9.00
5. Module descriptions
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 9
Friday
5. Module descriptions
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Business Management Techniques
Will Jellyman
Phone : 01902 317722
E-mail : jellymanw@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to develop the learner’s knowledge and understanding of the functions,
structures and inter-relationships of an engineering business. It then enables the learner to
develop and apply the skills of costing, financial planning and control associated with
engineered products or services. Finally, this is brought together with the development of the
fundamental concepts of project planning and scheduling that can be applied within an
engineering organisation.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Engineering Science
Andy Whitehouse
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : whitehousea@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to investigate a number of major scientific principles that underpin the design
and operation of engineering systems. It is broad based and covers both mechanical and
electrical principles. It is intended to give an overview that will provide the basis for further
study in specialist areas of engineering.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Analytical Methods for Engineers
Rachel Price
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : pricers@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to provide the fundamental analytical knowledge and techniques needed to
successfully complete the core units of the HNC. It is also intended as a base for further
study of analytical methods and mathematics needed for the more advanced option units.
This unit is designed to enable learners to use fundamental algebra, trigonometry, calculus,
statistics and probability, for the analysis, modelling and solution of realistic engineering
problems.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 10
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Engineering Design
Clive Wood
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : woodc@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to give learners the opportunity to experience the process of carrying out a
design project. It will enable them to appreciate that design involves synthesising parameters
which will affect the design solution.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Project
Clive Wood
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : woodc@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to develop the learner’s ability to use the knowledge and skills they develop at
work and/or on an engineering programme to complete a realistic work project. The unit aims
to integrate the skills and knowledge developed in other units of the course within a major
piece of work that reflects the type of performance expected.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Materials Engineering
Andy Whitehouse
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : whitehousea@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to provide learners with the necessary background knowledge and
understanding of properties, selection, processing and use of materials.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Project Management
Will Jellyman
Phone : 01902 317722
E-mail : jellymanw@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit aims to provide a knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, tools
and techniques that may be used in any industry. Organisational and human resource factors
are also included. Learners will develop an understanding of what constitutes a project and
the role of a project manager. They will able to analyse and plan the activities needed to carry
out the project, including how to set up a project, how to control and execute a project, and
how to carry out project reviews. They will also understand how the project fits into the
company or other organisational environment.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Quality Assurance Management
Neil Davies
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : daviesn@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
The aim of this unit is to raise awareness and familiarise learners with the principles and
applications of quality management. The learner will examine the basic principles of Total
Quality Management (TQM) and develop an understanding of the key factors that underpin
quality assurance techniques. The unit also introduces the learner to the application of Quality
Control (QC) techniques.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 11
Module Title:
Module Leader:
Mechanical Principles
Rachel Price
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : pricers@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit covers an extended range of mechanical principles which underpin the design and
operation of mechanical engineering systems. It includes strengths of materials and
mechanics of machines. The aim of the unit is to provide a firm foundation for work in
engineering design and a basis for more advanced study.
Module Title:
Module Leader:
CADCAM
Neil Davies
Phone : 01902 317685
E-mail : daviesn@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
The aim of this unit is to provide a practical understanding of computer-aided machining
(CAM) systems. Outcome 1 focuses on the hardware and software of CAM systems.
Outcomes 2 and 3 deal with manual and computer-assisted part programming, giving
learners the opportunity to derive and prove part programs for engineered components.
Outcome 4 is concerned with quality control in CAM systems, particularly the various levels of
inspection and the capture, transmission and analysis of quality control data.
Module Title
Module Leader
Electrical and Electronic Principles
Jim Findlay
Phone : 01902 317524
Email : findlayj@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit covers the electrical principles that learners in many branches of electrical and
electronic engineering need to understand. It builds on the elements of ac theory in
Engineering Science. It also provides the basis for further study in more specialist areas of
electrical principles.
Module Title
Module Leader
Electronics
Jim Findlay
Phone : 01902 317524
Email : findlayj@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit further develops the understanding of analogue electronics gained through previous
study. It places particular emphasis on the use of current manufacturers' data and modern
circuit analysis techniques.
Module Title
Module Leader
Digital and Analogue Devices and Circuits
John Pearson
Phone : 01902 317524
Email : pearsonj@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
This unit overlaps with and extends the theory of operational amplifiers contained in the unit
Electronics. It provides learners with a practical understanding of a range of integrated circuit
operational amplifiers and digital logic such as gates, memory devices and counters. They will
also learn how to design the power supplies necessary to power such systems.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 12
Module Title
Module Leader
Utilisation of Electrical Energy
Tarsem Singh
Phone : 01902 317704
Email : singht@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
The aim of this unit is to develop learners' understanding of the underlying technology
involved in the utilisation of electrical energy in some of the more important areas of electrical
engineering. It also contributes to a firm foundation of knowledge for work in engineering
design, and forms a basis for more advanced studies in this area.
Module Title
Module Leader
Programmable Logic Controllers
Barry Fisher
Phone : 01902 317704
Email : fisherb@wolvcoll.ac.uk
Rationale
The aim of this unit is to investigate programmable logic controller (PLC) concepts and their
applications in engineering. It focuses on the design characteristics and internal architecture
of programmable logic control systems, the signals which are used and the programming
techniques. The learners will be given the opportunity to produce and demonstrate a
programme for a programmable logic device.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 13
6. Assessment Guidelines
Submission of Coursework
All assignments should be handed in at Reception, Paget Road, by the hand in date. The
assignment will be logged.
Return of Coursework
You must retain a copy of all work submitted, as originals will not normally be returned to you.
Assessment Feedback
Feedback on coursework during the semester will be available from the module tutor within
three working weeks of the submission date.
Referrals
You may be unfortunate enough to be referred on an assignment. If this happens, the
member of staff awarding a referral will explain what is required in order for the work to pass.
You will be given time to make the changes and resubmit.
The onus is on the student to return the completed work to the required standard and within
the required time frame.
Saving Your Work on the Computers
No allowance will be made for work lost on a computer. You are strongly advised to backup
you files at least TWICE using separate media. DO NOT solely rely on floppy disc to save
your work.
Plagiarism and collusion
Plagiarism and collusion are very serious offences that can result in expulsion from the
University. This is because those found guilty of plagiarism or collusion will not only have
attempted to represent someone else’s work as their own but have also sought to gain an
unfair advantage over their fellow students.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 14
7. Assessment Policy
Aims
This policy has been designed to outline the Schools approach to the submission of
assignments by students.
Procedure
1) Subject tutors will issue students with an assignment listing indicating when
assignments will be issued and collected, these will be strict hand in dates. It should
be noted however, that this will be a dynamic document since the issuing of
assignments is dependant upon the general progress of the class. An assignment
matrix will be drawn up by the course tutor which will indicate issue and submission
dates across all units.
All assignments will carry a front cover sheet which will indicate:a) The assignment title
b) The unit(s) covered
c) The unit outcome(s) covered
d) The grading criteria
e) The issue date
f) The submission date
g) The task(s) to be undertaken
h) A feedback sheet
2) It is the responsibility of the student to hand in work by the submission date.
Consideration will be given to extenuating circumstances.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Extenuating circumstances are defined as:Personal illness
Illness of a close family member
Family bereavement
Work commitments such as external courses, having to work away from
usual place of employment or exceptional work loadings and patterns.
f.
All of the above must be supported by documentary evidence.
These should be discussed with the individual subject lecturer, if agreement cannot
be reached then the course tutor may intervene to determine a final decision.
3) Should a student miss a deadline without extenuating circumstances then the
following action will taken:a. The student will receive a further piece of assessed work to be completed
under formal examination conditions.
b. A viva-voce examination may be used in cases where the course team
suspect direct copying or plagiarism.
c. Where applicable the student’s employer, managing agent or sponsor will be
informed.
The subject lecturer will endeavour to return scripts to students in the same time
frame as that given for the submission of the assignment. i.e. If a deadline of three
weeks duration is given then the assignment will be returned within three weeks, all
feedback will be included on the feedback sheet. Comments will be added to the
script.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 15
2) When assignments are handed back to students, the student will have the opportunity
to view the feedback and to discuss the outcome with the lecturer concerned.
Assignments will then be collected and retained for quality control purposes. Should
a student be referred on an assignment the student will be advised as to why and a
non-negotiable re-submission date will be issued.
3)
The student may appeal against a grading decision. The following procedure will
apply
a) The student will discuss the grounds for appeal informally with the subject
lecturer
b) If agreement cannot be reached then a formal meeting will be held with the
student, the course tutor and the subject lecturer.
c) If agreement still cannot be reached then the internal verifier for the course
will discuss the grade with the student and tutor and will reach a final binding
decision. The student will have the right to representation throughout.
Justification of Policy
The policy has been generated for the following reasons
a. To inform students about work loading through the year.
b. To inform the course team when planning schemes of work
c. To develop with the student an ethos of discipline in managing time and
meeting deadlines
d. To prevent plagiarism and collusion
e. To promote a transparent and mature approach to the planning and running
of an higher education course.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 16
8. Progression
This programme leads directly onto degrees in engineering offered by the University of
Wolverhampton. Successful completion of the HNC will enable entry directly onto level two of
the universities degree programmes in engineering.
The HNC provides 120 CATS of the 360 CATS required for an honours degree. The
remaining 240 CATS can be achieved by either full-time study (120 CATS per annum) or parttime (60 CATS per annum). Progression from the honours degree is normally to a masters
degree.
Future developments will offer routes to a number of foundation degrees in engineering,
manufacturing and business improvement. These are likely to be offered for the 2007-2008
academic year, by the college in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton.
The HNC provides evidence of a high level of study and can be used to provide a gateway to
other awards such as foundation degrees or other honours degrees. It should be noted that
the HNC may not give credit against the chosen programme.
Degree
in Eng.
360
Foundation
Degree in
Eng.
Level Three
240
Level Two
HNC
120
Level One
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 17
Masters
Degree
9. Student Code of Conduct
The City of Wolverhampton College’s Student Code of Conduct explains that students are expected to
attend classes on every occasion. By accepting the offer of a course students are accepting this
condition. If any student fails to adhere to the code of conduct then the college will have recourse to the
discipline procedure. Failure to attend may jeopardise achieving a pass in any of the modules in which
it occurs.
Will Jellyman
The City of Wolverhampton College
School of Engineering and Electronics
Page 18