Engineering at work

Engineers develop practical and professional skills at work in ways that aren’t always formally recognised. If you are currently in engineering-related employment then this module allows you to gain academic credit for learning at work by completing work-based activities, designed to help improve your work performance and plan your professional development. You will need someone in your workplace, typically your line manager, to authenticate, though not assess, some of your coursework. 

What you will study

This module gives you the opportunity to integrate learning experiences from your engineering workplace into a university module. It forms an essential part of your engineering foundation degree studies, which must include accredited learning at work.

Studying this module will enable you to:

• develop your ability to learn from your work
• apply your understanding and knowledge of engineering theory and practice within your workplace
• develop your skills in understanding how your organisation functions
• evaluate and develop your personal and professional skills
• develop your personal and career development plans
• enhance your employability.

Over the duration of the module you will become a reflective practitioner, allowing you to deepen your understanding of your engineering workplace practice. You’ll learn how to evaluate your own work and prepare and present evidence of your professional competence.

You will achieve this by working through a series of activities and assignments with support from your module tutor and work colleagues. Guidance comes from module books and worksheets, which we will send you along with other study materials. Additional support is provided by a website and online forums.

Entry requirements

You are responsible for obtaining permission to use your workplace as a basis for your studies prior to registering for this module.

To successfully complete this module you must:

• be in an engineering-related occupation¹
• have permission to carry out work-based learning tasks in your workplace
• have a suitable person within your workplace who will confirm that the coursework you submit is based on your practice within that workplace.

We will send you further detailed information when you have registered.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

¹Volunteering in an enginering-related role may be acceptable – contact us to discuss suitability before registering.

What's included

You'll have access to a module website, which includes:

• a week-by-week study planner
• module-specific online materials
• assignment details and submission section
• online tutorial access
• online forums.

You'll also be provided with four printed module books. Electronic versions of the study materials are available.

Computing requirements

A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

A desktop or laptop computer with either an up-to-date version of Windows or macOS.

The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

To join in the spoken conversation in our online rooms we recommend a headset (headphones or earphones with an integrated microphone).

Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

• Marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve.
• Guiding you to additional learning resources.
• Providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content.
• Facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part. If you want to participate, you’ll likely need a headset with a microphone.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Three of the TMAs are for assessment purposes and one, which must be submitted electronically, is used to return a short form relating to your workplace confirmer.