The unit is a level-4 core unit in the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree. It is a 2-semester unit. The student completes a solo research project under a supervisor's guidance. This is aimed at preparing them for critical analysis of advanced topics in IT/software engineering and for postgraduate research work.

Mar 2021 - propose change to specifying it requires a "team project" - the unit is too large to have individual research projects. In 2019 and 2020 all students worked in teams. There are good team learning outcomes from this arrangement besides. Also need to change the 1 hour workshop to 3 hour one as used in 2020.

May 2019 - removed the word "solo" from research projects to allow for group research projects.

This unit has been updated as part of a 2009 review and comparison of data with current Handbook, Syllabus + and Callista data.

4/9/2015 - Updated for course architecture programs. Effective semester 1, 2016

October 2018: Edits to reflect the change of offering from full year to one semester. Amendment to prerequisites for mid-year intake and double degree students. Effective 2019.

07/10/2020 Admin: Update to include new assessment and teaching approach fields as per Handbook requirements.

17/03/2021 Admin: Adding 'Reasons for Change' for CE - adding 3 hour weekly workshop and making explicit the team projects.

The unit is a level-4 core unit in the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree. It is a 12 point unit taught in one semester. Students complete a research project in a team under a supervisor's guidance. This is aimed at preparing them for critical analysis of advanced topics in IT/software engineering and for postgraduate research work.

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. explore in greater depth the field of software engineering with a practical emphasis and develop project proposal;
2. critically review research literature, research design and reported findings;
3. logically assess different alternatives and compare and contrast these works to develop a solution to a problem of interest;
4. conduct ethical research;
5. communicate research findings in written and oral form in research and industry settings.
6. work effectively in a team on a software engineering research project

020103

This unit introduces students to independent research. It is a core requirement for the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree. Due to the nature of IT and Software Engineering, a wide range of project types can be offered to students. Some project components are of a practical nature and may involve some software development and/or experimentation, while other components are of a more theoretical nature.

On-campus

Research activities

In-semester assessment: 100%

1. Research Proposal: 40%
2. Final Project Report: 60%

12

Weekly 3 hour class workshop.

Weekly team and supervisor meetings.

FIT

Must have completed 120 credit points of Information Technology, Engineering or Maths units in the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree.