The University and Colleges have
identified a set of skills and attributes (“transferable skills”) which all
undergraduates can expect to acquire during their university career. These
skills, as well as enhancing academic performance, can be used beyond the
university, and are sought after by employers. Students are encouraged to make
use of the opportunities afforded to them to develop these skills which will
stand them in good stead in later life.
This document sets out the way in which these
transferable skills can be acquired through the teaching programme offered by
the Department of Engineering; it also identifies ways in which College-based
and extra-curricular activities may contribute to the acquisition of these skills.
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Department-based activities
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College-based and extra-curricular
activities
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Intellectual Skills
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- Lectures
– assimilation of new ideas and concepts
- Laboratories
– planning and carrying out experimental
work, assembly of equipment,
appreciation of accuracy in
measurement and sources of
experimental errors.
- Examples
papers – problem solving, choice
of appropriate methods of solution
- Design –
conceptual, embodiment and evaluation
- Optimisation
– model and finance based decision
making
- Examinations
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- Supervisions
(problem solving, discussion, critical
analysis)
- College
learned societies and seminars
- CU
Engineering Society meetings and visits
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Communication Skills
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Written
- Design
and Project reports
- Laboratory
reports (of various types)
- Part I
Management reviews and essays
- Writing minutes from project and planning
meetings within MET
Oral
- Part IA
Exposition presentation
- Part IB
Integrated Design Project Presentations
- Discussion
of laboratory and exercise work
- Debate/discussions
within Exposition
Non
verbal
- Drawing
- Development
of arguments using mathematical
or symbolic language
- Lectures
- Part I
Structural Design and Integrated Design
Projects
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Written
- Supervisions
(written explanation and essays)
- As an
officer of a club or society
- College
or University Student Politics (e.g. students’
unions)
- Student
Journalism
Oral
- Supervisions
(oral explanations and discussions)
- Participating
in public meetings and discussions
- Representation
on committees
Non verbal
- Supervisions (problem solving)
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Organisational Skills
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- Management
of the balance between work
and extra-curricular activities
- Generation
of laboratory and project reports
to deadlines
- Teamwork
as part of Part I SDP and IDP and
Part II EAA
- Project
planning – Part IB Major individual
project
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- Leadership
roles in College or University extra-curricular bodies or societies
- Engineering
society events and committee posts
- Management
of balance between work load and extra-curricular activities
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Interpersonal Skills
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- Laboratories
– working with others in both small
and large groups
- Teamwork
as part of Part I SDP and IDP and
Part II EAA – group dynamics
- Part IIB major individual project – working
with divisional and workshop
technical staff
- Working
effectively with Part IIB Projector
supervision
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- Living,
working and socializing in a diverse community
- Positions
of responsibility in clubs and societies
- Working
effectively with Supervisors and DoS
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Research Skills
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- Exposition
– finding, summarising, critiquing texts and papers
- Laboratories
– data handling in all years
- Exercises
– calculations, scheduling effort
- Part IIB
Projects (specific skills, planning experiments,
analysis, critique and review)
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- Use of
college library
- Use of
internet and the www
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Numeracy
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- Lectures
- Data
handling in experiments and projects
- Project
and Example Paper calculations (including
risk analysis and economic
evaluations)
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- Handling
finance – personal affairs, treasurer of clubs or societies, organizing college events
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Computer Literacy
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- Part I lectures and courses in C++ and Matlab,
simulation, mathematical programming
- Software
applications – databases, word processing,
spreadsheets etc,
- Mechatronics – computer controlled or linked
equipment, Part IB IDP
- Departmental internet communication
- Department
website resources
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- Computer
resources
- E-mail
and internet access
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Foreign Language Skills
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- Voluntary
Departmental language courses
(French/German/Japanese)
and overseas visits
- Part IB
Language option
- Part IIA
Language projects
- Part IIB
Language modules
- Vacation
Placements abroad
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- University
Language Centre
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If you would like further information on transferable skills for undergraduates please see also:
