The Module is for All Final Years ( MEE Year 4 )
1. Brief Description:
In this module, final year students, under the guidance of academic supervisors, will fully execute the research work plan, undertake detailed data collection and data analysis, perform extensive literature searches and critical reviews, write up the research and submit a final year project report (in a School approved format) towards the end of Semester II. The students will also make, towards the end of Semester II, an oral presentation of their research report with findings/results to a panel of examiners comprising their academic supervisors and selected academic and research staff.
2. Aims:
The module is aimed at the students learning the art of problem solving through the scientific method of project formulation, data collection, analysis and drawing of conclusions, and presenting of the findings through a technical report and oral presentation. Specific objectives of the module include:
- Undertaking independent practical and original research in engineering ; fully executing the research work plan (formulated in the detailed research project proposal in the prerequisite module) with complete data collection,
- Critically reviewing and appraising existing relevant literature,
- Developing research, analysis, writing and editing and organisation skills through an extended exploration focused topic; evidenced in the final year project report,
- Presentation of the final year project research report with results/findings to a panel comprising the academic supervisors and selected academic and research staff, and
- Publication of the research results/findings of the research topic related inquiries and literature through the final year project report (and a technical article and/or poster presentation under the guidance of the academic supervisors wherever possible)
3. Content Summary:
Detailed exploration of an area hitherto not been investigated (new method, community welfare, poverty eradication, environmental preservation, new structure demonstrating a unique understanding of the subject matter, material technology, etc); complete execution of the research project work plan undertaking detailed data collection/experimentation; Maintenance of a research notebook and other research related material; Analysis of research project data; Results presentation; Presentation of research work-in-progress; Final year project report writing and submission; Presentation of the final year project report with findings/results
4. Learning Strategy:
The module shall be mainly delivered through regular meetings (utmost weekly; between the students and their academic supervisors) during which discussions are held on student progress, highlight unaddressed gaps, and ensure the students do not lose track of the project requirements and work plan activities. The students will also be required to provide evidence of attendance at seminars/workshops approved by their academic supervisors and/or the department of study, and keep records of their research activities (through research notebooks, recorded notes on materials read, draft chapters, questionnaire responses, experimental data/results sheets, e.t.c).
5. Assessment Strategy:
- Assessment will be done through the submitted final year project report and their oral presentation towards the end of Semester II
- For the project report marking, the University of Rwanda (UR) generic marking criteria shall apply; the School of Engineering (SoE) Research Project Coordinator formulating a related marks distribution and grading template approved within the SOE in line with the UR assessment regulations.
- For the oral presentation, criteria will be drawn appropriate to the topic, on the basis of the UR generic marking criteria; SoE Research Project Coordinator formulating a related marks distribution and oral presentation grading template approved within SoE in line with UR assessment regulations.
6. Indicative Resources:
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, 3rd Edition. New Age international (P) Limited Publishers, New Delhi, ISBN (13): 978-81-224-2488-1
Mugenda, O.M., & Mugenda, A.G. (2003). Research Methods: Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches, 2nd Edition. Acts Press, Nairobi, ISBN 9966-41-107-0
Singh, Y.K. (2006). Fundamental of Research Methodology and Statistics. New Age International (P) Ltd., New Delhi, ISBN: 978-81-224-2418-8
McCormac, C. D., Papakonstantinou, J.P. & Ward, N. (2012). Research Project Success: The Essential Guide for Science and Engineering Students. Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing, Cambridge, UK.
Journals
Articles from journals in the areas relevant to the research project; credible ones indexed in the SCOPUS (from Elsevier) and ISI (from Thomson Reuters) databases checked against www.scholarlyoa.com and/or other verification tools.
7. Teaching Team:
All academic staff (for research supervision, experimentation/data collection support, e.t.c).
To provide knowledge and understanding of the role of CAD/CAM within the modern design, development and manufacturing processes. To recognize and explain the application of, requirements of and benefits of CAD/CAM as well as develop student's skill and knowledge of embedded CAD capabilities. It covers interfacing CAD and CNC, CNC machining process and programming. It also introduces manual and computer part programming and generation of tool path.
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Indicative Content
- Inertia Forces in Reciprocating Parts.
- Balancing of rotating masses.
- Primary and secondary unbalanced forces of reciprocating masses, partial balancing.
- Governor: Introduction, Characteristics of governors, controlling force, stability, sensitivity, isochronism.
- Gyroscopic motion.
-Turning Moment Diagrams and Flywheel.
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