Handbook

This course is designed for highly motivated undergraduates seeking the opportunity to integrate specific research, technical and project-based learning components into their undergraduate program. You will also experience leadership, project management and presentation skills thus giving you a head start when seeking employment.  

The courses run across two consecutive semesters within a single calendar year, 3 UOC per semester for a total of 6 UOC at the end, which enables students to extend their project-based learning experience beyond a single semester.

Students must complete both semesters of the course and satisfy all assessment requirements as set out by the course coordinator to receive full course credit.  Partial credits will not be given.

Students will pursue research or project execution in their selected projects, explore interdisciplinary research and development, gain a global perspective, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, or give back to the community through service learning. Benefits for participating can include unique opportunities and experiences, mentoring by academic supervisors, guest speakers, and opportunities to engage with industry partners.

Under the guidance of academics and mentors, this course provides a vehicle for guided but independent group project work on challenging and unique briefs. The learning and effort in the course are largely team-based, with team-members ideally being drawn from different discipline areas to promote diverse teams with unique mixes of skills that each member can contribute. Students will develop their skills in critical thinking, problem definition, creative and systematic design, precise written and oral technical communication skills, and professional skills including communication, project management, team organisation and coordination. The course allows students to design, build and research a variety of intriguing projects.

As student progress through the VIP courses or joins the team at a more senior level, they are expected to perform at a higher technical level and have a mature and positive influence on team.   As a student of this 3rd year course you will demonstrate greater awareness of project/team management and support more senior team members with some of the following tasks but not limited to mentoring/coaching new and younger students, providing strategic and technical advice to academics and team mates, recruiting new team members, running inductions, organising succession planning and handover to new team members and leading by example.