Teaching and Learning

The delivery of this course draws on the interdisciplinary background of academics from the Departments of Engineering, Land Economy, the broader University of Cambridge and practical expertise from professionals in the world-class Cambridge innovation centred around the Smart Cambridge initiative and the University.

Residential weeks

The residential sessions in Cambridge will provide opportunities for interdisciplinary learning among the cohort (through group discussions during project workshops and case study analyses), as well as from the course delivery team and invited expert external speakers for seminars. During residential weeks in Cambridge, the course will be delivered through a combination of:

  • Lectures
  • Case study analyses
  • Seminars
  • Project-based workshops
  • Coursework activities and
  • Small-group supervisions

Non-residential weeks

During the non-residential weeks students will be expected to:

  • Undertake independent learning
  • Collaborate with colleagues to discuss group submissions,
  • Complete their coursework projects, assignments, and
  • Have one 1-hour long supervision sessions with assigned subject specialists per term.

Students are expected to devote sufficient time for self-study both during and between residential weeks. This expectation would vary; during residential sessions, students will be required to devote themselves full-time to the course.

Teaching in the MSt year of the course will be predominantly online. Each student will be assigned a project supervisor who will provide regular monthly online supervision during the research project. This will be supplemented by group sessions/seminars to provide research skills training. MSt students will be required to attend in Cambridge for two two-day activities: presentation of their research project plans at the start of the year and presentation of their research findings towards the end of the year. Other year groups will be invited to attend the final presentation conference to provide the opportunity to network across year-groups.

Assessment

A balance of formative and summative methods will be used in assessing students’ individual and group coursework, oral presentations, group project reports, and dissertation (MSt only). Throughout the PGCert, students will receive formative feedback on and summative assessments of oral group presentations, and written reports between 3,000 and 4,000 words for Modules 1-3. The PGDip will involve formative and summative assessments of oral presentation of a group project, and written (individual and group) reports between 5,000 and 6,000 words.

For the MSt, students will receive summative assessment of a written submission of a research plan (up to 3,000 words), formative assessment of oral presentation of the written plan, and a summative assessment of a project dissertation between 10,000 and 12,000 words. The research dissertation will require students to have a synoptic overview of the course units in executing their project plan, using a more comprehensive knowledge and application of the methods taught in Modules 1 to 6.

Overall, the PGCert, PGDip and MSt awards will be awarded either as 'Pass' or 'Distinction'.