Student Handbook
HNC Project & Quality
Management
2015-16
Course Leader: Mohammad Yusuf Advanced Technologies & Sustainable Construction (ATSC) Preston’s College
In Partnership with UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE School of Computing Engineering and Physical Sciences
All course materials, including lecture notes and other additional materials related to your course and provided to you, whether electronically or in hard copy, as part of your study, are the property of (or licensed to) UCLan/Preston College and MUST not be distributed, sold, published, made available to others or copied other than for your personal study use unless you have gained written permission to do so from the Head of School. This applies to the materials in their entirety and to any part of the materials.
WE PROMOTE ACCESS TO EXCELLENCE ENABLING YOU TO DEVELOP YOUR POTENTIAL
We value and practise equality of opportunity, transparency and tolerance.
We strive for excellence in all we do: locally regionally, nationally and internationally.
We work in partnership with business, the community and other educators. We encourage and promote research innovation and creativity.
Student Charter
The Student Charter has been developed by the University and the Students’ Union so that students gain the maximum from their UCLan experience. It is a two-way commitment or ‘contract’ between the University and each individual student. It acts as a means of establishing in black and white what students can expect from the University and the Union in terms of support, and in return what we expect from our students. Read the full Student Charter
Supporting Diversity at Preston College and UCLan
We recognise and value individual difference and have a public duty to promote equality and remove discrimination in relation to race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. During your time at Preston College we expect you to:
/ experience "an integrated community based on mutual respect and tolerance where all staff and students can feel safe, valued and supported,"contribute to creating a positive environment where discriminatory practices and discrimination no longer happen.
Please review the UCLan Equality and Diversity Policy for further information.
Contents page
1.Introduction to the course
2.Structure of the course
3.Approaches to teaching and learning
4.Student support, guidance and conduct
5.Assessment
6.Course regulations
7.Student voice
8.Appendices
8. 1 Appendix 1 - Approved programme specification
8. 2 Appendix 2 – HE Student Calendar
- Introduction to the course 1.1 Welcome to the course
Dear Student,
HNC Projectand Quality Management
Welcome to Preston’s College, our School of Advanced Manufacturing & Automotive Technologies Construction and the HNCProject and Quality Management
I very much hope that you not only enjoy your course and the many college activities that are on offer to you but also that your time with us will be beneficial to both yourself and the company you work for.
During the first few weeks of study, you will be given much information, from timetables, resources and dates to remember; to assessment specifications, events and extra-curricular activities. This student handbook is designed to help you remember these details so keep it safe and please use it.
At Preston’s College, we would like to encourage our students to be actively involved in the review and evaluation of their courses. To this end our college has an important ‘learner voice’ programme which is structured in a way to ensure timely feedback from yourselves. You will be asked at an early stage in the semester to nominate your group's representatives and perhaps it is something you feel you would like to do?
We expect commitment and motivation from our students and in return you can expect an experienced, professional and caring team of lecturers. Our aim is to encourage you to reach your true potential and achieve your goals. If, during your course, you experience difficulties of any kind, please go to your tutor who will help you or put you in touch with a member of our Learner Services team who I feel sure would be of great support.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you successand an enjoyable time at Preston’s College.
Kind regards,
Euan Cameron
Head of Division
September 2014
1.2 Rationale, aims and learning outcomes of the course Rationale
The HNC in Project & Quality Management has been designed to provide a high quality education for aspiring managers in industry. The emphasis throughout the course is on the development of a wide range of professional and technical skills. The modules on the course have been selected to ensure that students will have developed the essential knowledge and skills to work in industry.
Aims of the Programme
The course is designed to achieve the following aims:
/ To meet the changing needs of industry.To prepare students to achieve success in their working lives and in future studies.
To develop in students the skills and personal qualities which are of general importance and
applicability to all aspects of working life.
To encourage students to develop as independent learners
To provide students with intellectual challenge.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students achieving the HNC in Project and Quality Management will have developed a wide range of transferable skills and academic understanding but primarily the students will be able to:
discuss and evaluate technical and practical issues within an industrial/commercial environment
diagnose the nature of technical issues and problems in industry
recommend courses of action to remedy them
assess the strategies and techniques available to achieving the objectives
demonstrate specialist technical skills
pursue independent research, and develop a greater range of career opportunities.
1.3 Course Team Key Staff
Head of DivisionEuan Cameron
Head of School Scott Cubitt
Programme Team LeaderMohammad Yusuf
Course LeaderMohammad Yusuf
The key roles of these posts are:
Head of DivisionResponsible for the overall management of three Schools, one of which is the School of Advanced Manufacturing & Automotive Technologies
Head of SchoolOverall responsibility for the resources in the School including staff,
buildings and machinery
Programme TeamThe quality and organisation of all HE provision in the School
Leader(contact also for extensions to assessment deadlines)
Course LeaderCourse management
Staff Associated with the Course
Module Title / Number / TutorBusiness Maths and Statistics / PT1003 / P Hargreaves
Marketing / PT1013 / TBC
Principles of Quality Management / PT1020 / TBC
Project Management / PT1022 / TBC
Business Management Techniques / PT2004 / P Hargreaves
Management in Industry / PT2009 / TBC
Quality Management / PT2019 / TBC
Project Management Applications / PT2023 / P Hargreaves
1.4 Personal Tutor
Contact details: Paul Hargreaves
Contact by e-mail:
1.5 Preston College office administration details
HE Administration Officer and AdmissionsSally Kinson
Tel: 01772-225525
Academy of Manufacturing Technology:
The Administration Office is located on the Ground Floor at the entrance to the building – Room EG3
Administration Officer:Tracey Manley
Tel: 01772-225696
Admin Assistant:Danielle Appleton
Tel: 01772-225694
1.6 Communication with students
The University expects you to use both your Preston College and UCLan e-mail address, and check regularly for messages. Messages sent from other e-mail addresses risk being filtered out as potential spam and discarded unread.
Please regularly check the HE Notice Board located on the Ground Floor of the ATSC Building opposite Room EG22 for UCLan and Preston’s College notices.
You are expected to adopt a professional attitude to your study and it is your responsibility to:
make sure you arrive early for classes
make sure you remember to bring your files for your course notes, pen and paper that you will
need for the session
concentrate throughout the duration of the class
make notes (as appropriate) of what you did in class and of what is required for the next session.
1.7 External Examiner
The University has appointed an External Examiner, Dr Al-Hussein Albarbar to your course who helps to ensure that the standards of your course are comparable to those provided at other higher education institutions in the UK. The name of this person, their position and home institution can be found below. If you wish to make contact with your External Examiner, please do this through your Course Leader Mohammad Yusuf, who will arrange for the contact.
Dr Al-Hussein Albarbar
Senior Lecturer – School of Engineering Manchester Metropolitan University
2. Structure of the course 2.1 Overall structure
HNC Project and Quality ManagementYEAR 1LevelCredit
rating / (part-time study)
YEAR 2Level / Credit
rating
ModuleModule
Code / ModuleModule
Code
PT1020 – Principles of
Quality
Management / 4 / 20 / PT1003 - Business Maths and Statistics / 4 / 20
PT1022 - Project
Management / 4 / 20 / PT1013 – Marketing / 4 / 20
PT2004 - Business
Management Techniques / 5 / 20 / PT2019 - Quality
Management / 5 / 20
PT2009–Management in ………… Industry / 5 / 20 / PT2023 - Project
Management Applications / 5 / 20
160 Credits are required to achieve the HNC Project and Quality Management qualification. 2.2 Modules
Module Descriptors and Module Learning Plans for each of the above modules will be given to you by the Module Tutor at your first lesson (these can also be accessed on the College WebCT – ‘MyCourse’).
The Module Descriptor outlines the following:
The Module Aims
Module Content
Learning Outcomes Assessment Methods
Module Pass Requirements
The Module Learning Plan outlines the following:
Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity
Bibliography and Learning Support Materials
Please note that all modules will be assessed. You are expected to attempt all required assessments for each module for which you are registered, and to do so at the times scheduled unless authorised extensions, special arrangements for disability, or extenuating circumstances allow you to defer your assessment.
2.2.1 Progression
Discussions about your progression through the course normally take place in February each year. It is an opportunity for you to make plans for your study over the next academic year. The course team will tell you about the modules to be taken for the following academic year. Progression talks will be arranged with UCLan and a notice displayed on the HE notice board and MyCourse.
2.3 Study Time
2.3.1 Weekly timetable – Year 1
Day / Time / ModuleNo / Module / Room / Tutor
Thursday Semester 1 / 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm / PT2004 / Business Management Techniques / EF27 / P Hargreaves
Friday
Semester 1 / 1:30 pm – 9.30 pm / PT2023 / Project
Management Applications / EF27 / P Hargreaves
Thursday Semester 2 / 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm / PT2019 / Quality
Management / EB7 / TBC
FridaySemester 2 / 1:30 pm – 9.30 pm / PT1013 / Marketing / EF27 / TBC
Tutorials are available on the evening classes 5.00 – 6.00 pm. Year 2 timetable to be sent out prior to the start of the second year of the course – this will also be available on ‘MyCourse’.
2.3.2 Expected hours of study
The normal amount of work involved in achieving a successful outcome to your studies is to study for 10 hours per each credit you need to achieve – this includes attendance at Preston College and time spent in private study.
As a guideline, you should expect to put in at least the same amount of time for personal study as attendance (ie 8 hours/week).
2.3.3 Attendance Requirements
You are required to attend timetabled learning activities for each module. Notification of illness or exceptional requests for leave of absence must be made by e-mail to:
/ the Programme Team Leader – Mohammad Yusuf ( )If you have not gained the required authorisation for leave of absence, do not respond to communications from Preston College and if you are absent for four weeks or more, you may be deemed to have withdrawn from the course. If this is the case, then the date of withdrawal will be recorded as the last day of attendance.
Each time you are asked to enter your details on SAM you must remember that the University has a responsibility to keep information up to date and that you must only enter your own details on the system. To enter any other names would result in inaccurate records and be dishonest. Any student who is found to make false entries can be disciplined under the student guide to regulations.
2.4 Data Protection
All of the personal information obtained from you and other sources in connection with your studies at Preston College will be held in secure conditions and will be used by Preston College and the University both during your course and after you leave for a variety of purposes. These are all explained within the enrolment form you signed at the commencement of your studies. If you would like a more detailed explanation of the University’s policy on the use and disclosure of personal information, please contact the Data Protection Liaison Officer, Strategic Development Service, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE.
3. Approaches to teaching and learning 3.1 Expertise of staff
The course team are all qualified to teach this course and generally have all come into teaching from industry. They have all been engaged in relevant research, are members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) and as such are required to declare their CPD annually.
3.2 Learning and teaching strategy
A variety of teaching methods is employed throughout the course. Year one aims to impart knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of Electrical and Electronic engineering. The balance between lectures, tutorials, workshops and student self study will give you the competence and confidence to apply these transferable skills in employment. There will be a balanced mix of individual and group work throughout the year. It is expected that as part of your personal/private study you carry out pre-reading and/or research as required.
Year two modules involve lectures, tutorials, workshops and student self study. There will be a balanced mix of individual and group activity during the year. Projects and assignments will seek to develop: your research skills, deeper analytical thought, critical appraisal techniques and problem solving. Learning support tutors will be available to assist any student with identified learning difficulties and learning support workshops are available for students seeking assistance in a variety of academic fields ie numeracy, report writing, study techniques.
Teaching and Learning takes the following forms:
/ Formal delivery encompassing lectures, video films, assignments, and industrial visits. Learning support involves tutorials, seminars, limited guidance for assignments and projects, and assessment feedback.Student centred activity will provide support in your assignments; report work, design, preparation of reports and directed reading.
3.3 Study skills
Workshops will be organised to support you on your course including: Library Induction; VALNOW; Harvard Referencing; My Course; Research Skills; Academic Writing; study skills and exam techniques.
3.4 Learning resources
3.4.1 InZone
The opening times for the ‘Advice Zone’, located in the In-Zone are as follows:
September Opening times:
Monday 8:00-6:00pm
Tues-Thurs 8:00-7.30pm for enrolments with reception duties until 9:00pm
Friday 8:00-5:00pm Closed during Bank Holidays
Contact:01772-225298
Services outside opening hours:
Online services available 24/7 – library catalogue, e-books and online databases
Evening students who cannot get to a library learning centre and wish to reserve a book can email the library with details.
There is a book collection and returns facility via Reception.
Reception opening hoursAs the INZone above
Support pages for the College’s on-line resources
The Library staffs are committed to providing a customer focused service that is responsive and helpful. An enquiry/advisory service is available at all times and there is always a qualified librarian on duty. There are individual and group study spaces, computer workstations and friendly, knowledgeable staff who are happy to help and advise you. You can book a desktop pc or laptop at the Library Learning Centre reception desk or by e-mail/telephone. You will need to submit your student ID card.
Services
HE students are entitled to borrow up to 10 items at any one time. The normal loan period is 4 weeks, with items in heavy demand restricted to a short-term loan period of 1 week. Where demand is exceptionally heavy, a copy is designated for use in the library only. Fines are charged on overdue items.
Fines charged on overdue books: 5p per day for normal loans, 50p per day for short-term loans.
Once fines have accrued to more than £1 they must be paid before further books can be borrowed or renewed.
The library’s catalogue is computerised (Heritage), and contains details of the resources of all the library learning centres in Preston College. Access to the catalogue can be made via the College network, dedicated OPAC (on-line public access catalogue) computers and as a web OPAC via the Internet. The reading lists for all HE courses are also available on Heritage.
Any book in the stock of the library, but not immediately available, may be reserved free of charge. Requests for books or journal articles not in stock are met by using the VALNOW (Virtual Academic Library of the North West). /All students are introduced to the Library’s services as part of the College’s induction programme. Information skills sessions are tailor-made to meet the requirements of individual groups, at the request of tutors and include an introduction to the VALNOW services and demonstrations of the online databases.
Stock
The book stock comprises c.33,000 volumes all of which are available on open access, plus an integrated reference collection of c.1,000 volumes. The College subscribes to over 250 journals and all the quality newspapers. Current copies are displayed and back copies are available on request. Back files are maintained for an average of 5 years.