PHYC40740 Space Sector Professional Skills

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module gives students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to the space sector. These include space project management, developing requirements, proposal writing in response to Invitations to Tender, CV preparation and other relevant transferable skills such as team-working.

One-to-one access to space sector professionals, via seminars and workshops, provides students with a unique opportunity to network and gain insights that will support them in planning their own preferred career trajectory.

The module provides a structured environment within which students develop their CV and cover letter, in consultation with the internship manager and other support services. Students are supported to seek out opportunities for their 3 month space sector internships in a timely and professional manner.



Weekly seminars provide students with a breadth of knowledge of the current state of the art across the space sector from experts in the field.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- reflect on career aspirations and critically assess their own strengths and weaknesses;
- assess key areas of opportunity within the space sector through seminars and networking;
- synthesise their expertise and career goals into a compelling and professional CV and cover letter;
- research suitable internship opportunities and craft a compelling internship application;
- identify key team-working skills and the attributes of successful teams;
- analyse the role of the project manager in the space sector and the need for technical project management skills;
- outline the space project life-cycle from Phases A to F and link to relevant European standards such as ECSS;
- analyse and respond to an 'Invitation to Tender' by the European Space Agency, through practice in planning, structuring and writing a proposal according to best practice of prime contractors;
- compose requirements using established industry and agency practice.

Indicative Module Content:

The content of this module is as follows:
- 12 lectures and space sector seminars (Trimester 1)
- 4 workshops (Trimester 2). The workshops address (i) Requirements; (ii) Teams; (iii) Space Project Management; (iv) Proposal Writing in Response to an ESA Invitation to Tender, with a feedback session.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Specified Learning Activities

36

Autonomous Student Learning

40

Online Learning

1

Total

101

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module content is delivered through a series of lectures, workshops and seminars. Workshops include group activities. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Co-requisite:
PHYC40870 - Space Detector Laboratory (10)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Assessment based on a number of assignments throughout the first and second trimesters. Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

100


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written and oral feedback provided to group or individual student, depending on component being delivered. For certain assignments, written feedback on a draft version is provided before submission of the final version.

Name Role
Professor Lorraine Hanlon Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ronan Wall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Robert Jeffrey Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
2 Trimester (Sep-May)
     
Seminar Offering 50 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 13:00 - 13:50
Lecture Offering 50 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 09:00 - 11:50
2 Trimester (Sep-May)