Bite-sized provision: how small is small ? Prof. Peter Crossley Director of the Joule Centre University of Manchester

HLSP Sector:- Energy & Environmental Technologies  Project: establish CPD course in Power System Protection  Project: delivers material for series of six CPD modules each module = 5 credits successful completion of 6 module course = 30 credits each module assessed by examination, course work or laboratory report  Credits used as a part of a flexible postgraduate programme in Electrical Power Engineering MSc degree = 180 credits Postgraduate Diploma = 120 credits Postgraduate Certificate = 60 credits

CPD course in Power System Protection  Course consists of six 3-day CPD modules each module = 5 credits  Modules available in 2011: introduction to power systems fundamentals of power system protection introduction to communications for power systems protection of distribution networks protection and control of transmission networks experimental assessment of relay operating performance  Successful completion of course = 30 credits  Credits can be used as a part of a University of Manchester postgraduate degree in Electrical Power Engineering

Bite-sized provision of postgraduate courses  At present each of the 5 credit modules are studied intensively over 3 days using a mixture of lectures, tutorials and laboratories  All the material is taught at the University of Manchester using academic and industrial experts  Successful completion of a module is assessed using either a formal examination, course work or laboratory report  Each “taught” module requires 18 hours of lectures, tutorials, example classes and short laboratory sessions plus 6 hours private study.  “Laboratory” module requires 18 hours of directed laboratory sessions plus 6 hours report writing.

Bite-sized provision of postgraduate courses  Could we deliver a 5 credit CPD module in a more flexible way  Does it have to be 3 days at the University, 6 hours of private study and an exam?  Is “1 day at university, 3 days of private directed study plus a report” sufficient for each module?  Would we award a 60 credit pg certificate for: twelve 5-credit modules plus satisfactory performance with exam and/or coursework?  Can a student obtain an MSc using bite-sized modules?  Does an MSc always require a 60 credit project?