PEC624 Overview

PEC624 Renewable Energy Dissertation - Overview

This unit is an independent research project unit and therefore has no lectures or set schedule.

Assessment of this unit is based on the research plan, seminar or Powerpoint presentation and Masters Dissertation.

The unit has the following essential components and due dates:

(Please note assignments should reach the university by 12 noon (WA Local Time) on the due date.)

Unit Component	Due Date (Y option)	Assessment
(1) Project selection	Selection prior to enrolment or by end of Week 1 of first semester enrolled in PEC624	Not assessed, but essential for progress through the Dissertation.
(2) Research Plan	Submitted to Unit Coordinator by end of Week 5 of semester enrolled in PEC624	10%
(3) Seminar	Student seminar dates: end of Week 13 of last semester (Subject to confirmation) Powerpoint or Word seminar slides submitted for non Perth metro students the day before the seminar.	10%
(4) Project	Submitted to Unit Coordinator by the end of Week 14 of final semester	80%

Good time management is essential for good quality research to be completed on time. Students must aim to have a completed draft of their Project to their supervisor at least one month before the due date. For those finishing in Semester 1, this is a completed draft to their supervisor by early May and for those finishing in Semester 2, a completed draft to their supervisor by early to mid October respectively. Prior to these dates supervisors will need to have received and commented on individual chapters. Given this time frame, data collection and analysis can occupy at maximum 3-4 months. Also, writing cannot be left to the end, it should be done concurrently with reviewing literature, data collection and analysis.

Details on each of the Unit's components follow.

(1) Project selection

As soon as possible after deciding to enrol in the Masters Dissertation, students must talk to the Unit Coordinator about a suitable project and supervisor. Depending on their backgrounds and interests, students may do projects on the technical or policy aspects of renewable energy. Students are expected to choose a project that matches the interests of an academic staff member within the University or find an appropriate external associate supervisor. Choice of projects may be limited by logistical and financial constraints. A list of project titles for previous MSc (Renewable Energy) dissertations is available.

Normally projects are selected before the commencement of the first semester of enrolment in the Project, however, for a number of students this may not be possible if for example they live overseas or have recently arrived in WA or have had other commitments. Given the short duration of the Masters Dissertation (2 semesters) it is essential that students select a topic and supervisor and prepare a research plan by the end of Week 5 of the first semester they enrol in PEC624.

(2) Research plan preparation

A research plan must be prepared by each student for their proposed project research. Most Project research plans are 3 - 4 pages. See examples, and note also the examples of students' learning objectives that need to be thought through carefully. The research plan is prepared by the student in close consultation with their supervisor and with advice from the Unit Coordinator. The plan should include, but is not limited to, the following:

Student's name

Draft title

Student's learning objectives
- Statement of competencies student expects to gain from project process
Background
- Statement of the research problem or question
- Project aims
- Placing the research in context
Methods
- Data collection and analysis methods - emphasis on new data to be collected or new way of assembling existing data, contingency plans
Potential Contributions
- Potential policy or management recommendations from the proposed research
Timetable
- Allocation of time, especially proposed dates for completing data collection, submission of first draft to supervisor, and submission date for the final Project
- Use a bar chart if possible
Budget
- Likely expenditure and sources of funding
- Indicate whether project is primarily a desk-top study or whether it includes substantial field work
References
- References used in research plan

Signatures (student's name and supervisor's name typed, signed and dated)

The research plan is intended to guide the research. Parts of it will change and students should not feel bound by small details which they realise are unworkable as their research proceeds. Major changes in direction, such as new research questions, changes in research design and budget changes, should be discussed by the student and supervisor and if necessary the Unit Coordinator.

The research plan, signed by the student and supervisor, must be submitted to the Unit Coordinator by the end of Week 5 of the first semester in which the student first enrols in the Masters Dissertation. The research plan must be accompanied by:

(a) PEC624 Renewable Energy Masters Project Research Plan form;
(b) Research Plan Marking Guide; and
(c) Assignment cover sheet directed to Trevor Pryor for assessment.

The Program of Study form asks a student's supervisor to nominate two examiners (see Unit Assessment Process for more details on examiners and the examination process) and ensure that the necessary safety and ethical approvals have been obtained.

(3) Seminar presentation

Each student in the Perth metropolitan area is required to present a seminar on their research; toward the end of the unit, including an overview of their findings and recommendations. The seminar dates are given in the meeting schedule above. Each student has 20 minutes to present their seminar, followed by 10 minutes for questions. Seminars are widely advertised throughout the University. The Energy Studies Staff assess each student, using the marking guide, on their seminar presentation.

Students who are unable to come to the campus to present their research findings will be required to prepare a 20-minute Powerpoint presentation with speaker's notes on their Dissertation. This must be submitted to the Unit Coordinator before the due date for the seminars. It will be assessed by your examiners and comments returned to you.

(4) Project submission for examination

Students must hand in three bound copies of their Dissertation to the Unit Coordinator for forwarding to the Divisional Administrative Officer, by the end of Week 14 of their final semester. The copies of the Masters Dissertation must be accompanied by the Certification of Completion of Masters Project signed by the student's supervisor together with an Assignment cover sheet, directed to the Divisional Office, for assessment. The examination process is explained in the Unit Assessment Process.

HTML last modified: October 22, 2008