Course info

The responsibilities of the engineer go far beyond completing the task in hand.
Reflecting on their role in a wider ethical, environmental and sustainability context
starts the process of becoming a professional engineer – a vial requirement for career
progression.
Engineers seldom work in isolation and most tasks they undertake require a range of
expertise, designing, developing, manufacturing, constructing, operating and
maintaining the physical infrastructure and content of our world. The bringing
together of these skills, expertise and experience is often managed through the
creation of a project.
This unit introduces students to the techniques and best practices required to
successfully create and manage an engineering project designed to identify a solution
to an engineering need. While carrying out this project students will consider the role
and function of engineering in our society, the professional duties and responsibilities
expected of engineers together with the behaviours that accompany their actions.
Among the topics covered in this unit are: roles, responsibilities and behaviours of a
professional engineer, planning a project, project management stages, devising
solutions, theories and calculations, management using a Gantt chart, evaluation
techniques, communication skills, and the creation and presentation of a project
report.

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to conceive, plan, develop
and execute a successful engineering project, and produce and present a project
report outlining and reflecting on the outcomes of each of the project processes and
stages. As a result, they will develop skills such as critical thinking, analysis, reasoning,
interpretation, decision-making, information literacy, and information and
communication technology, and skills in professional and confident self-presentation.
This unit is assessed by a Pearson-set assignment. The project brief will be set by the
centre, based on a theme provided by Pearson (this will change annually). The theme
and chosen project within the theme will enable students to explore and examine a
relevant and current topical aspect of professional engineering.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. Formulate and plan a project that will provide a solution to an identified
engineering problem.
2. Conduct planned project activities to generate outcomes which provide a solution
to the identified engineering problem.
3. Produce a project report analysing the outcomes of each of the project processes
and stages.
4. Present the project report drawing conclusions on the outcomes of the project.