Undergraduate Teaching 2023-24

Transferable skills statement

Transferable skills statement

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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 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 statement 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.

Department-based activities

College-based and extra-curricular activities

Intellectual skills

 

  • Lectures – assimilation of new ideas and concepts
  • Labs – 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
  • Supervisions (problem solving, discussion, critical analysis)
  • College learned societies and seminars
  • CU Engineering Society meetings and visits

Communication skills

 

Written

  • Design and project reports
  • Lab 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
  • Part IIB project presentations
  • Discussion of lab 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

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)

Organisational skills

 

  • Management of the balance between work and extra-curricular activities
  • Generation of lab and project reports to deadlines
  • Teamwork as part of Part I SDP and IDP and Part II EAA
  • Project planning – Part IB ,ajor individual project
  • 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

Interpersonal skills

 

  • Labs – 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 project or supervision
  • Living, working and socializing in a diverse community
  • Positions of responsibility in clubs and societies
  • Working effectively with supervisors and DoS

Research skills

 

  • Exposition – finding, summarising, critiquing texts and papers
  • Labs – data handling in all years
  • Exercises – calculations, scheduling effort
  • Part IIB projects (specific skills, planning experiments, analysis, critique and review)
  • Use of College library
  • Use of internet and the www

Numeracy

 

  • Lectures
  • Data handling in experiments and projects
  • Project and example paper calculations (including risk analysis and economic evaluations)
  • Handling finance – personal affairs, treasurer of clubs or societies, organizing college events

Computer literacy

 

  • 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
  • Computer resources
  • E-mail and internet access

Foreign language skills

 

  • 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
  • University Language Centre

For further information on transferable skills for undergraduates please see the following University sites:

Last updated on 28/09/2022 17:06