Information Booklet

Providing opportunities for masters students to undertake energy-related work based projects

Energy Projects

What is Making the Most of Masters? ........................................................................................................ 2

What can Making the Most of Masters offer? ........................................................................................ 3

How does Making the Most of Masters work? ...................................................................................... 4

Frequently Asked Questions .......................................................................................................................... 5

What next? ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

Contents

The benefits of working with us:Access to expertise and resources across twelve of Scotland’s leading Universities.Efficient resourcing utilising skilled, driven and proactive masters students from your likely recruitment pool.Cost effective as students do not require a salary payment (though discretionary payments and expenses are not uncommon).Knowledge transfer through new and continued links with academic establishments.The questions raised during the project, the exposure to resources and a fresh, independent approach can all add value to your business. It also offers an opportunity to improve the employability of our graduates.

A Masters student could:

• Undertake a critical analysis of your company; • Conduct in-depth market research on your behalf;• Review new products or processes;• Write a comparative study of your industry/business;• Aid in research and development;• Develop technical solutions;• Participate in the delivery of time-constrained projects.

The format is flexible and we tailor all proposed projects towards business needs, ensuring a dedicated and individual approach.

Projects can be desk, field or lab based and whilst all should meet the academic standard required at masters level, they should primarily offer clear benefits to your company and result in quality outputs.

What can Making the Most of Masters Offer?

3

Eke Eke MSc Oil and Gas Engineering StudentUniversity of Aberdeen

“Industry based projects go a long way in preparing students for work procedures and challenges they would eventually face when they graduate, and this fact served as the basic reason why I decided to do this type of project.”

“Our masters graduates have to compete successfully in the harshest job market for 40 years. This initiative will enable them to do that to their highest level. The University of Edinburgh is strongly supportive of this project, which makes bridges with industry and employers, and allows us to help companies and students through useful interaction.”

Dr Sue RigbyVice Principal Learning and Teaching University of Edinburgh

Making the Most of Masters is a method of helping your business by working with postgraduate students and universities. ETP and MMM have combined to produce this call for companies to define projects for postgraduate students accross Scotland.

The Energy Technology Partnership is a research pool across Scottish Universities conducting Energy Research. This covers all forms of energy and associated technologies: Wind, Wave, Tidal, Solar, Carbon Capture and Storage, Batteries, Fuel Cells, Building Materials, Bioenergy/Biofuels, Electricity Grids & Transmission, Oil & Gas, District Heating Systems, Combined Heat & Power and many other associated areas such as EIA, Environmental Surveying and Economics. ETP is also a major provider of skilled graduates and post-graduates into the energy sector, with over 1500 Masters students, across more than 100 energy-related courses.

Benefit from the expertise of postgraduate masters

students undertaking specific research projects targeted to needs

you have identified. Our dedicated team will link you with masters

degree programmes, students and facilities across the universities,

in areas relevant to your requirements. We aim to contribute to the

overall development of the Scottish economy by offering

opportunities for your business to benefit from working with skilled

and highly motivated masters students.

You probably have a number of projects you would like to do but

simply do not have the time or resources to undertake. Making the

Most of Masters can help you. We link you with masters students

with the skills and drive to undertake this work.

As it forms an integral part of their degree programme, a formal

salary payment is not required. The only condition is that the scope

is sufficient to form the basis for the student’s formal academic

assessment.

What is Making the Most of Masters?

“Masters students and companies increasingly expect an element of workplace experience during postgraduate studies, to complement subject specific knowledge. Making the Most of Masters is exactly the type of initiative we need to ensure Scottish postgraduate students gain that experience and the essential workplace skills needed to enhance their employability.”

Dr Bernadette Connolly Director of Graduate SchoolCollege of Life Sciences & Medicine University of Aberdeen

“During this 3 month project, I learned a lot and gained valuable experience working in a commercial setting. I felt working with Great Scott

-creators of Trossachs.co.uk - was very rewarding, but even better, was seeing my project work getting used for real! It was such a memorable experience.”

Haipeng WangMSc Advanced Computing StudentUniversity of Stirling

2 Making the Most of Masters Employer Booklet

Frequently Asked Questions

5

What sort of projects can Masters Students do?

Our students can contribute a vast range of skills and knowledge

to suit many different projects and working environments.

Projects could involve data analysis, modelling, reviews, method

optimisation and comparison, equipment development, laboratory

or field work - it depends on the business needs. The only

condition is that the proposed project is sufficiently in-depth to

meet the standard required at masters level.

Is this a type of work experience?

This is very different from ‘work experience’. Students are expected

to undertake a dedicated project, which is usually written up as a

dissertation but increasingly takes other forms such as a technical

document, a website or workplace relevant publication.

Will students require a lot of supervision?

The student will have a university and an industry supervisor.

The supervisors will oversee the project supervision, workplace

induction and be available for the student’s queries. The industry

supervisor should also be available to discuss the student’s

progress and performance with the university supervisor. For

Quality Assurance purposes and Codes of Practice, minimum

levels of supervisory input must be agreed beforehand.

How long does a project last?

Projects are generally 8 -16 weeks and usually start from May.

However, this is not exclusive and some flexibility may be possible.

The development of project proposals can begin as early as

October of the previous year, with most projects agreed by the

company and university by March.

What will the student gain from a collaborative project?

The project offers many benefits to our students.

• A range of new experiences and challenges which will assist

in the development of skills;

• Enhanced appreciation of working relationships and

workplace practice

• Apply academic knowledge in a work context;

• Enhanced awareness that skills and knowledge gained in a

workplace environment are as relevant and valuable as those

gained in an academic setting.

What will it cost the company?

Masters students do not require a salary payment as the project

is an inherent element of their degree programme. However,

companies are strongly encouraged to cover the cost of any

travel and consumables associated with the project. Additional

discretionary payments are not uncommon, however, this is not

expected and any agreement would be between yourselves and

the student.

Where will the student work?

Depending on the nature of the project, the student may be based

on or offsite. If the student is spending a lot of their time within a

company, then they would require a working area and provision of

equipment and resources to undertake the agreed project.

“The business benefits from research input and provides the student with an opportunity to contribute to an area of business interest.”

Allan BrowneHalliburton Pipeline &Process Services

How does Making the Most of Masters Work?

4 Making the Most of Masters Employer Booklet

Companies can propose:

• A specific project title or topic for the student to deliver;• A general idea of a business need which requires further development;• A core research theme to be developed by the student into a bespoke project;• An intended outcome for the business, thus leaving the design of the research entirely to the academic, supervisor or student.

Projects should typically be achievable within an 8-16 week time frame.

Topic Selection

We facilitate communication with the relevant Course Director to refine the proposed topic, ensuring that it meets the academic requirements.

Confirmation of Project Suitability

Company and University Supervisors

Selection of students will be done between the organisa-tion and the course director, but could follow a number of routes.

• Selection process via CV/application form from candidates.• Interview suitable candidates from relevant masters courses.• Request a single student to be nominated by the course director.

Student Selection Process

All terms are defined by the company, university and student at the outset to ensure all parties have agreed the key parameters.

These include (but are not limited to):• Project title, start date and delivery deadline;• Location - will the student be based in the work place, at university or both?• Operating procedures and workplace regulations (working hours, health and safety procedures etc);• Expected outputs of the project;• Intellectual Property rights, Non-Disclosure Agreements and project ownership on completion.

Project Agreement

The student is responsible for project completion and delivery to meet the agreed objectives.

Assessment of the final academic output remains the responsibility of the University and no input is required from the company in this respect, unless previously agreed. However, companies may request additional outputs, for example, an executive summary or technical report.

Project Delivery

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The organisation is required to provide a supervisor to:

• Oversee delivery of the project to ensure objectives are being met;• Provide the student with a project briefing and expected outputs;• Ensure the student is aware of, and complies with legal requirements related to being based in the workplace (if applicable).

The academic supervisor is required to:

• Be available throughout the project for input;• Ensure the project is on track via regular contact with the student;• Oversee the write-up stages.

For further information, or to take part in the programme, please contact:

Energy Technology PartnershipRichard Herd0141 548 2013richard.herd@strath.ac.uk

You can also find further information for companies, universities and students at: www.mastersprojects.ac.ukInformation on the ETP at: www.etp-scotland.ac.uk

What Next?

Information Booklet

Providing opportunities for masters students to undertake energy-related work based projects

Published Sept 2013

Energy Projects

This material has been adapted from resources produced by the Making the Most of Masters Project in November 2012.

Funded by the Scottish Funding Council as part of their Learning to Work 2 initiative, Making the Most of Masters is a Scotland-wide project led by the Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Stirling.

See www.mastersprojects.ac.uk for further information and updated resources, reports and contacts.