MEng Aerospace Engineering

This is the final of four course units on the MEng programme. The course units address legal issues, management techniques and the application of  strategic and organisational issues. Engineers must have an awareness of the legal issues which affect and regulate engineers and their practice.
The course unit runs over twelve weeks with no pre-requirements from the students. The students attend structured lectures on specific topics of law, conflict management and dispute resolution. In addition to this the students work through a web-based course on Blackboard (including quizzes; self-assessment; discussion and scenarios).The web-based course and exercises provide the students with the opportunity for practical expression of the theory and principles taught here. The students will be assessed by unseen exam and coursework ( consisting of: report; on-line questions, quizzes; self-assessment; discussion and scenarios).  Law and legal issues pedagogy is different than engineering determinism and empiricism.  The pedagogy used here is Socratic Method and the students experience Legal Logic via eTutorials.
 

This unit aims to:

• Introduce the legal issues affecting and regulating engineers
• Develop an understanding of the legal issues affecting and regulating engineers,
• Develop an awareness of the structure and framework of relevant law via Common law and Statute (legislation)

Describe how legal systems approach the key drivers for business success, including innovation, calculated commercial risks and customer satisfaction; using the legal approach with a wide range of appropriate codes.

Evaluate legal issues critically and apply them effectively in governing the regulation of practical engineering skills and their application

Apply holistic systems approach including legal analysis to engineering problems

Describe the role of the law and legal issues in governing the regulation of engineering skills and practice  and their application.

Discuss the role of law and regulations in current practice and the problems with new development

Discuss the  legal approach to risk issues and health & safety, environmental and commercial risk, and of risk assessment and risk management techniques;

Evaluate the legal issues and requirements for uncertainty.    

Describe legal restraints on commerce and industry

Explain how legal systems approach the key drivers for business success, including innovation, calculated commercial risks and customer satisfaction.

Explain the legal issues in developing and executing a dynamic plan for a personal progamme of work.

Explain the legal aspects of professional and ethical conduct; including  between the law, ethics and morality.

Explain the legal issues and requirements for quality issues.

Understand the legal issues and requirements for quality issues.

1 Introduction to the law and legal issues;
2 The law of Obligations:
Contract;
Tort
3 The Concepts of Standard Forms of Contract
The Key Areas of Standard Forms;
4 Conflict and Dispute Resolution via:
adjudication; arbitration; mediation and litigation (and other developing techniques);
5 Health and Safety legislation and practice,
The development of H&S law; the need for legislation.
6 The special case of criminal law;
7 The Legal implications of design responsibility;
via duty of care and duty of result.
The special case of Design and Build;
8 The problems of legislating and contracting for sustainability;
9 Professionalism as an ethical/moral issue; professionalism as a legal requirement.;
10 IP issues for Engineers
Patents; Copyright; Design Rights
11 Corruption and Bribery: Bribes; Finders fees etc
12 Internationalisation and Space Law: The effect of jurisdictions
 

Other - Assessed tutorial work

Exam - via script viewing

Assessed tutorial work - Immediate as required, weekly podcast unit summary

Written report - individual and generic written

Uff, John. Construction Law : Law and Practice Relating to the Construction Industry. 13th edition. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2021.