Programme Specification
Sports Technology- BSc
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that students are expected to achieve if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, and learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar
The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Awarding body/institution;Department; / Loughborough University
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Teaching institution (if different); / As above
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body; / Being sought ð
Provisional ð
Established ð
Award;
(e.g .BA, MSc etc) / BSc
Programme title / Sports Technology
Length of programme / 3 years / 4 years with DIS, DPS or DInts
UCAS code; / CH67
Date at which the programme specification was written or revised. / March 2012
1. Programme Aims:
· To provide a detailed understanding of human performance, sport related business studies and product design principles.
· To develop the ability to conduct research and design in sports technology and solve associated problems using both established and contemporary ideas and techniques.
· To develop analytical and transferable skills that will enable graduates to gain employment in a wide variety of professions and to make a valuable contribution to society.
· To encourage students to manage their own learning, communicate effectively and make use of primary source materials.
· To foster an appreciation of the essential practical and commercial aspects of engineering.
2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
Periodic Programme Review
QAA Benchmark statements for Engineering
Loughborough University Learning and Teaching Strategy
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
3. Programme Learning Outcomes
This programme seeks to combine creative and technical design skills with the core engineering and sports focussed knowledge of manufacturing processes, technologies and human factors. On completion of the course, students should have acquired a broad base of sports technology knowledge and experience. They should be self reliant and able to contribute well in team situations. By using a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, enhanced by exceptionally strong research links within the sporting goods and manufacturing industry, graduates will have gained the ability to apply engineering and scientific principles effectively in a commercial environment. They will have acquired a sound basis for a career in sports / manufacturing engineering, engineering or sports product design. More specifically, on successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate:
3.1 Knowledge and Understanding:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
K1. the underpinning science, mathematics and other disciplines associated with careers related to the design of sports / engineering equipment
K2. the variability in human performance capability and methods of evaluation including fitness and training principles relating to sport and exercise
K3. principles governing the mechanics and biomechanics of sports movements
K4. principles of industrial design, engineering design and manufacturing design
K5. ergonomic and aesthetic considerations and how they impact on sports design
K6. management techniques and business practices and the commercial and economic context of an sports / engineering business.
K7. the role of instrumentation and measurement techniques within equipment evaluation and experimental protocol design
K8. the role of information technology in providing support for product design and manufacturing
K9. intellectual property issues and environmental, legal and ethical issues within the modern industrial world.
K10. the characteristics of engineering materials, equipment and processes and an awareness of basic mechanical workshop practices.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:
The acquisition of knowledge is primarily achieved through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars. Understanding is developed through projects, practical laboratory work, and coursework.
Theoretical knowledge and critical ability are tested in a range of modules that span the broad nature of this degree programme and cover topics from biomechanics to product aesthetics.
Assessment is through a combination of written examinations and assessed coursework.
The individual final year project enables each student to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in a comprehensive investigation generally based on either a product design prototype and test, or a piece of experimental research of the student’s choosing.
3.2 Skills and other attributes:
(a) Subject-specific cognitive skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
C1. identify and define a design or sports engineering problem and generate innovative solutions;
C2. apply appropriate methods to model such solutions.
C3. Utilise the principles of engineering science in the development of solutions to problems;
C4. Evaluate commercial risk and market trends within the sports sector;
C5. Analyse, objectively evaluate and apply the principles of industrial design, and engineering design;
C6. evaluate the fitness and training requirements of participants for a range of sports;
C7. Apply biomechanics to the analysis of movement in sport;
C8. demonstrate an awareness of form, function, fit, aesthetics, environment and safety;
C9. Apply general marketing principles to the sports sector;
C10. Select and apply appropriate IT tools to product design and manufacture problems.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:
The acquisition of subject specific intellectual skills is achieved through tutorials, seminars, group and individual projects, practical laboratory work, and coursework specific to each subject.
Skills assessment is mainly by coursework. Coursework includes laboratory reports, technical reports, CAD assignments, problem solving exercises, oral and poster presentations appropriate to each specific subject area.
(b) Subject-specific practical skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
P1. manage the design process taking account of customer constraints such as cost, health and safety, risk and environmental issues;
P2. Research information, generate and evaluate product design ideas;
P3. Communicate design ideas through the presentation of concept drawings, computer graphics and conventional sketching;
P4. prepare engineering drawings and technical reports;
P5. use measurement and test equipment to complete experimental laboratory work and collect biomechanics data;
P6. test design concepts via practical investigation;
P7. present technical and business information in a variety of ways;
P8. use a variety of observation and test methods to appraise human function and movement;
P9. use appropriate computer software and laboratory equipment.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:
The acquisition of subject specific practical skills is achieved through laboratory, machine shop and a computing induction programmes, followed by practical laboratory work.
Assessment of practical skills is typically achieved through the evaluation of CAD assignments, prototype production and report evaluation.
The individual final year project tests each student’s ability to bring their various practical skills, intellectual skills, and knowledge together in a comprehensive investigation of the student’s choosing.
(c) Generic skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
T1. demonstrate organisational and management skills;
T2. apply creative, structured and evidence based approaches to problem solving;
T3. Communicate effectively through written, graphical, interpersonal and presentation skills;
T4. work effectively both in a team and independently;
T5. organise and manage time and resources to meet deadlines.
T6. generate and manipulate data.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:
The acquisition of transferable skills is achieved through providing a broad base of cognitive and practical experiences for the students as described in the previous sections. Importantly, these include exposure to state of the art technology together with relevant contemporary problems.
Creative problem solving using state of the art technology throughout a wide range of practical and theoretical exercises delivers students with transferable skills. Assessment of transferable skills is a component of all the coursework assessment techniques described above.
4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:
The programme is offered as a full-time 3-year course leading to the award of B.Sc. (Hons) or a 4 year sandwich course (the third year being spent in industry), and leading to a BEng (Hons) with a Diploma in Industrial Studies or Diploma in Professional Studies. Students study modules with a combined weight of 120 credits in each part (academic year) of the programme and each part is taught in two 15 week semesters. A number of the larger modules are structured to run throughout the year (semesters 1 and 2).
Full details can be found in the Programme Regulations at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/lps/progreg/year/
5. Criteria for admission to the programme:
Full details can be found at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/courses/dept/mm/st/index.htm.
6. Information about the programme assessment strategy:
The method of assessment for each module is described within the relevant module specification (see section 4 above).
Examinations are held in each subject for which an examination is required in the assessment period at the end of the semester in which it is taught. At the end of each year the results from examinations and coursework assessment are combined into a single module mark. Percentage scores are calculated to one decimal place and then rounded to the nearest integer.
At the end of the year, the results for each module are compiled and considered by an examination board, which awards credit for each satisfactorily completed module. Students who achieve sufficient credit to meet the assessment requirements of their programme regulations will be allowed to proceed to the next year/part of their course.
Briefly, 100 credits are needed for progression in each year of the B.Sc. degree however, in addition, this programme demands that students achieve at least 30% in all compulsory modules in order to progress from Parts A or B. This rule is applied to ensure that students are not permitted to skip modules on which later material may be based. Readers are directed to the programme regulations for full details of this and the criteria for the award of a degree. The method of assessment for each module is described within the relevant module specification (see section 4 above).
Candidates who do not meet the criteria for progression will have the right to be re-assessed on one further occasion and, for Parts A and B of the course, this re-assessment may take place in the University’s Special Assessment Period in early September or in the next academic year. Re-assessment in the Special Assessment Period is not permitted for final year candidates or if less than 60 credits has been achieved.
Further information is contained in the School’s Assessment Strategy at https://internal.lboro.ac.uk/eng/mm/dept/Staff%20Guidebook/index.html.
7. What makes the programme distinctive?
The programme is unique in the UK being developed out of a strong industrially focused research group. The Sports Technology Research Group (STRG) has an international reputation and has many research collaborations with global sports equipment brands and sports governing bodies. These relationships enabled an industrial relevant course to be designed. The structure of the course is based on modules delivered by three principle groups. One third of the programme uses design and manufacture modules from the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Approximately one third of the programme consists of material emanating from the STRG research activity and based in our specialist laboratories with the remaining modules being taught by the School of Sport and Exercise Science (SESS), with additional contributions from The Business School, Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Materials. In Teaching Quality Assessment, the School was awarded 23 points out of a maximum of 24, confirming it as a leader in quality of teaching.
The programme is extremely industry focused to ensure that the content is both applied and relevant and stresses practical and project work focused on content that has grown from a strong research base ( STRG started in 1986, £25M grant income, 30 Ph.D. students). Transferable skills are developed on the programme with strong emphasis on industrial case studies, presentation, teamwork and project management.
There are a large range of options on the programme with modules covering:
· Engineering / Technology / Manufacturing
o e.g. mechanics, impacts, instruments, machining, manufacture, innovation, evaluation, analysis and management
· Sports Science / Human Performance
o e.g. biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, training, adaptation, nutrition, fatigue, recovery and injury
· Design / Prototype / Make
o e.g. functionality, aesthetics, safety, sustainability, tooling, materials, packaging, assembly and disposal
The programme has recently been supported by a £15M bespoke Sports Technology Research Institute commissioned in collaboration with UK Sport and the East Midlands Development Agency. The laboratory is equipped with state of the art sports technology equipment to support the research and teaching efforts. The teaching and learning collaboration with SESS (with excellent sports science and biomechanics laboratories) together with University world class sports facilities enables delivery of an excellent sports technology programme. The work of the students and researchers associated with the programme has attracted significant awards and media coverage.
In the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) both the Wolfson School of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Manufacturing Engineering achieved a grade 5. The School is continually building on this achievement and is confident of improving its rating in the future.
8. Particular support for learning:
Information on all the university support services can be found at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/notes/lps/index.htm.
Additional Wolfson School Services:
Industrial Placements and Careers:
The Wolfson School employs a full time officer to give advice regarding careers and industrial placements. Also the University’s Careers Office run timetabled tutorial sessions within the programme’s curriculum.
Computing Facilities:
The School has installed many computers to enhance the extensive central facilities provided by the Computing Services. There are four networked computer suites within the Wolfson School building that are used for both teaching and Private study with access 24hours 7-days per week.