Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

This programme is for graduates with little or no practical experience of emergency infrastructure provision, as well as experienced practitioners who have a specific interest in addressing the problems of emergency infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. It aims to: 

• Equip them with appropriate expertise and skills for emergency relief and reconstruction work;
• Improve knowledge and skills in the assessment, planning, design and implementation of a range of infrastructure options for emergency relief and reconstruction; and
• Provide an opportunity for specialisation in one topic through in depth study during the Research Dissertation module.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

This specification has taken into account the descriptors for a qualification at Masters (MSc), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) levels that are set out in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

WEDC’s postgraduate programmes are multidisciplinary in content so no single- subject benchmarks are wholly applicable to them. There are currently no benchmark statements for Engineering MSc programmes. Although the Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering applies to first degrees in engineering, and not to postgraduate degrees, it has been used to inform the drafting of intended learning outcomes for this programme, with the expectation that postgraduate students attain a higher level than undergraduate students in relevant outcomes. Note has also been taken of relevant parts of the Annex to Academic Standards – Engineering MEng Degrees and the Engineering Council’s guidance on output standards for MSc’s in Engineering.

Following an accreditation visit from CIWEM (Charted Institution of Water and Environmental Management) in May 2011, the accreditation panel recommended that the Infrastructure in Emergencies MSc, PGDiploma and PGCertificate, when studied by Distance Learning, be accredited for students who graduate in, or before, academic year 2017-18.  Accreditation recognises that this programme contributes to the academic requirements for CIWEM membership.

Following an accreditation visit in February 2011, the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) accredited the Infrastructure in Emergencies MSc as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who join the programme in, or before, academic year 2015-16, and who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. (See http://www.jbm.org.uk for further information.)

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The stages and types of emergencies, their causes, consequences & key principles of emergency response.
• Principles and strategies for assessment, planning, financing and management of emergency response.
• Ethics and accountability in delivering humanitarian assistance.
• The principles of provision of a range of infrastructure options in an emergency.
• The  range  of  suitable  technologies,  their  design,  implementation  and management, for water supply and sanitation during emergencies and reconstruction.
• The design and management of the reconstruction of essential infrastructure post emergency.
• How to investigate complex real-life problems in detail and identify possible solutions.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, participants should be able to:

• Explain how emergency situations may occur and their likely consequences.
• Explain the key principles of working with disaster-affected populations and providing effective humanitarian assistance.
• Explain the options for a range of infrastructure facilities and services during and following emergencies, and how they should be planned, implemented and maintained.
• Describe  important  technical  and  non-technical  aspects  of  organising infrastructure provision in emergencies.
• Describe key features of a range of common emergency water supply and sanitation technologies, and select suitable technologies to meet specific criteria.
• Describe the standard procedures for assessing, managing and protecting the environment and water resources.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, participants should be able to:

• Prepare outline designs for simple low cost water supply and sanitation systems to meet emergency and reconstruction needs.
• Investigate  complex  real-life  problems  in  detail  and  identify  possible solutions.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, participants should be able to:

• Manage time and produce work to meet deadlines.
• Take an inter-disciplinary approach to planning and problem solving.
• Apply critical thinking and be able to work with limited or contradictory information.
• Communicate effectively in writing and preparing calculations.
• Use literature critically, assessing it against other evidence, including personal experience.
• Demonstrate originality in tackling and solving problems.
• Analyse data, check their validity and make appropriate use of data when writing reports.
• Show basic skills for word-processing on a computer.

4. Programme structure

4.1    The following distance learning modules are available for study under this programme:  

(A different programme CVPTxx, called Infrastructure in Emergencies (Blended Learning), allows a mixture of DL and campus-based modules.) 

Notes:

*  Fully DL module.

¹  Only for students already registered on this programme in academic year 2011-12.

²  Introductory modules, normally taken first for all awards.

4.2    Modules required for each level of the programme are as follows: 

For the award of Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) students must take the following modules: 

 ³  Introductory modules, normally taken first.

For the award of Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), students must take the following modules: 

 Notes:

 ³  Introductory modules, normally taken first.

 ⁴  CVP253 is compulsory for students intending to upgrade to an MSc at a later date.

For the award of Master of Science (MSc), students must take the following modules: 

 Notes:

³  Introductory modules, normally taken first.

⁵  Normally the last or penultimate module to be studied.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification