Overview of the Department of Specialist Ground Training

Programme Specification

Aerosystems Engineering

1. Aims of programme:

To supply specialist departments of the Royal Air Force with postgraduate engineers having an in-depth understanding of Aerosystems engineering and the application to the design of military weapons systems.

To provide pre-employment technical training in a wide range of advanced Aerosystems topics of particular relevance to engineering officers entering specialist appointments within the Royal Air Force.

To develop an integrated systems engineering perspective of the design, manufacture and application of Aerosystems engineering to the defence industry and military weapons systems.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

RAF Quality Management principles

BS EN ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (The Standard)

Department of Specialist Ground Training (DSGT) Quality Manual

RAF Air Publication 3379 – The RAF Quality Manual

DSGT Course Management Procedures

Headquarters Strike Command (HQ STC) Course Sponsor

Framework for HE Qualifications (FHEQ)

QAA Subject Benchmarks

UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC)

3. Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:

On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a systems viewpoint for military weapons systems design, manufacture and performance.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

The course is divided into to 3 Parts which are delivered at Royal Air Force Cranwell. Parts 1 and 2 concentrate on the delivery of the technology subjects and Part 3 is dedicated to Project work. A variety of teaching methods are used such as: taught lectures, practical experiments, computer laboratory work, group workshops and industrial visits. The modules are delivered exclusively by Senior Burnham Lectures and RAF MSc qualified specialists who are practising experts in their subject matter. Modules are assessed by a combination of written examinations, written coursework, Viva Voce examinations and a Group presentation.

Skills and other attributes:

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate an integrated systems viewpoint for military weapons systems design and manufacture and specific skills in terms of system function and performance.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Generally achieved through substantial written coursework, group and individual project work and written examinations for specific technical subjects.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate essential skills, such as calculating performance and effectiveness of military systems.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Students undertake a number of complex systems analysis exercises with limited information requiring intelligent application of the technical knowledge gained during the programme. The exercises are assessed by systems experts in the form of a written report and an individual Viva Voce.

c. Key/transferrrable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to generate and analyse data to solve complex engineering problems and work interactively with colleagues on complex design solutions for military requirements.

Their transferable skills will be enhanced in their capacity to learn: project management, effective technical presentation, numerical ability, critical appraisal, problem solving and report writing.

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Students will gain an insight into the practical aspects of the programme with special emphasis on their future area of employment. They will gain experience and knowledge of how to effectively manage scarce resources to solve complex and demanding military requirements.

4. Programme Structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:

COMPULSORY MODULES

CodeModule Title

TTP100Aerodynamics & Aircraft Design20

TTP101Telecommunications Technology15

TTP102Propulsion Technology15

TTP103Electro-Optics15

TTP104Control Engineering15

TTP105Radar15

TTP106Guidance Systems15

TTP107Weapons Systems & Avionics15

TTP109Individual Project30

TTP110Group Project25

5. Criteria for admission to the programme:

Candidates will possess a relevant engineering degree. Candidates must satisfy the stringent requirements of a selection panel comprising of 4 x RAF engineering officers of the rank of Wing Commander and chaired by a Group Captain.

6. Information about assessment regulations:

The pass mark to achieve credit for a module is 50%. There is also a minimum performance level, which is set at not less than 40% of the module assessment.

In order to pass the MSc students must:

• take modules with a total credit weighting of 180
• obtain 150 credits, with 55 credits from the project modules
• obtain at least 40% in the remaining modules

In order to obtain distinction in the MSc, students must obtain 180 credits and have a weighted average assessment score over all modules of at least 70%

7. Indicators of quality:

An independent assessment of all university departments by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) awarded 23 out of a possible 24 for teaching in the department.

The Department of Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering was awarded a grade 5 (out of 5) in the latest Research Assessment Exercise, covering the whole range of it’s activities.

It is the policy of the Department of Specialist Ground Training (DSGT) to provide support to internal and external customers by completing all tasks correctly, first time, every time, within planned costs and timescales. The DSGT Quality System (QS) complies with BS EN ISO 9001:1994. Full authority for the administration of the QS rests with the DSGT Quality Assurance Manager (QAM) who has full responsibility for ensuring that the requirements of the QS are maintained, problems are identified and corrective action is taken.

8. Particular support for learning:

Library:

The Department of Specialist Ground Training has its own Library which is available to all DSGT students. It is open 40 hours per week throughout the year and possesses the most advanced literature search library software available. There are multi-media facilities within the Library, including Internet access, scanners, micro-fiche readers and printers. The Librarians are specialists within the military field and can obtain material from a number of military sources throughout the world. Librarian staff offer literature search facilities for the MSc students and have a vast number of technical Journals and Military Periodicals.

Computing Services:

All students on the programme have individual specialist PCs provided within their own recourses room. The PCs are linked to the Royal Air Force Intranet and the students also have access to their own Internet system, Fax machine, photocopier and scanner. In the near future students will also be provided with their own Laptop computers for use on the course.

Learning and Teaching Development:

DSGT has an active training and development department which provides assistance and expertise in the modern approaches to learning. Dissemination of best practise is ensure d through regular lecturer monitoring, staff and student feedback and specialist development courses.

Staff Development:

Each member of staff has a Staff Training Need Profile (STNP) and Individual Training Profile (ITP) which is reviewed and agreed annually by the staff supervisor. Identified training needs are scheduled throughout the year to ensure updates in technology are incorporated and teaching techniques kept current. Probationary staff undertake a structured programme of development and continue with technical update courses and seminars.

9. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning:

The Department of Ground Training has specific formal quality procedures which are structured to comply in all respects with the ISO 9001:2000 requirements. DSGT also has its own Quality Manual to ensure the quality procedures are followed and are auditable. Within the Course Management Plan for the programme a system is in place to record, discuss and action all comments from students using a comprehensive feedback system of Internal Course Validation (ICV) reports. These reports are formally processed from the students, through the Lecturer, Course Manager, Quality assurance Manager and Department Manager to the Course Sponsor (if unresolved) and the outcome of the decisions are conveyed back to the students. A series of meetings are held with the students at the end of each Part of the course, at the mid-course and end of course. After a period of 6 months following their departure from the department, students and their superiors are provided with a questionnaire (Customer satisfaction Survey) to make comment on the relevance of the course content to their posts.

Annual quality assurance visits and discussions are held with staff to improve the course and a full Course Content review and Syllabus Review are carried out every 5 years. Periodic Validation reviews are also carried out with Loughborough University staff.

The University has a formal quality procedure and reporting structure laid out in its Academic Quality Procedures handbook, available online at:

and directed by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching). Each Faculty has an Associate Dean for Teaching responsible for all learning and teaching matters. For each Faculty there is a Directorate (responsible for the allocation of resources) and a Board (responsible for monitoring quality issues within each department). Support is provided by the Staff Development Unit and the Quality Assessment Unit. Student feedback on modules and programmes is sought at regular intervals, individual programmes are reviewed annually, and Departments review their full portfolio of programmes as part of a Periodic Programme Review (every five years).

Minor changes to module specifications are approved by the Associate Dean (Teaching) on behalf of the Faculty Board, and ratified by the University Curriculum Sub-Committee in accordance with the University's quality procedures. Major changes are formally considered by the University Curriculum Sub-Committee.

All staff participate in the University's staff appraisal scheme, which helps to identify any needs for staff skills development. Both probationary staff and those seeking promotion to Senior Lecturer are subject to a formal teaching evaluation scheme, administered by the Quality Assessment Unit and accredited by the Institute for Learning and Teaching.

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RAF Cranwell Prog Spec.doc Last printed 05/05/2004 10:12