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ACADEMIC PROGRAMME

MPhil Transport Systems (Research Option)

Overview

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The future sustainability of the transport sector in Africa is hinged on being able to deliver a group of forward thinking, confident and competent earlycareer professionals for the transport sector in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

To do this, the young professionals need to first be equipped with the requisite technical skills in the planning, assessment, design, operations and maintenance of transport systems that will enable them to tackle the everincreasing complex transport problems on the continent and steer the sector in the right direction going into the future.

Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the programme is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to transport planning and engineering training that leverages advanced knowledge and skills in relevant disciplines to enable students apply a systems approach in the planning, analysis and development of transport infrastructure and operations for all modes of transport.

The programme also seeks to provide students with the needed foundation in transport infrastructure design, drainage, optimization, operations research, statistical modelling, transport simulation and modeling as well as transport asset management. Specifically, the MSc programme will provide students with:

  1. An understanding of the transport system as a whole as well as its various modes and evolution.
  2. An understanding of the principles that underpin transport demand, landuse and policy;
  3. The ability to critically analyse, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data related to the transport system for different modes.
  4. The ability to apply knowledge in transport for simulation and modeling and supply management;
  5. Knowledge in the selection and design of appropriate transport infrastructure systems, logistics networks, their integration and optimization;
  6. Knowledge of spatial analysis and modelling as a toll for system integration and assessment.
  7. Knowledge in safety and sustainability issues and their management; 
  8. Skills needed to work in groups (work with other professionals) in the field of transport systems planning, design and operation.
  9. Ability to research, analyse, and synthesize solutions of contemporary transport-related issues with a multi-disciplinary dimension.

The minimum requirements for entry into the programme shall be in accordance with the requirements specified and stated on the KNUST web site or printed handbook as well as in the Statute and Regulations for masters’ degrees of KNUST. Candidates must possess any of the following:

  • A minimum of Second Class (Upper Division) degree or its equivalent in a relevant Engineering, Management, or Planning discipline, or a recognised equivalent qualification from a reputable University and good mathematical skills.
  • A minimum of Second Class (Upper Division) degree or its equivalent in Sciences (Mathematics, Statistics, Physics), Geography, Planning, Architecture, Building Technology and Construction Management, Development Studies and any field of specialization relevant to the programme from a recognized University; 
  • Candidates with BTech with, at least, a two-year work experience in relevant disciplines may be admitted after passing an interview. Applicants whose qualification may not align with directly any the above will have their transcripts assessed by the selection committee and if found to be acceptable invited to attend an interview. In addition, applicants may be asked to meet additional requirements such as submission of a statement of purpose and/or a written essay to evaluate their language skills. Moreover, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to take an English Language course prior to embarking on the programme.

Core courses

Year 1, Session 1 - All Specializations

S/N

Course Code

Course Title

1

CETS 531

Applied Statistics and Modelling tools

2

CETS 533

GIS for Transport

3

CETS 535

Optimization and Simulation Techniques for Transport

4

CETS 537

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) 

5

CETS 539

Transport Economics and Finance

 

Year 1, Session 2- Infrastructure and Engineering  

 

Course Code

Course Title

1

CETS 547

Transport Infrastructure Design and Drainage

2

CETS 534

Transport Safety and Sustainability

3

CETS 536

Transport Statistics and Research Methods

4

CETS 545

Pavement Engineering and Materials

5

CETS 540

Transport Demand Modelling

 

 

 

 

 

Year 1, Session 2- Urban Transport and Operations

 

Course Code

Course Title

1

CETS 534

Transport Safety and Sustainability  

2

CETS 536

Transport Statistics and Research Methods

3

CETS 542

Urban Mobility, Urbanization and Planning

4

CETS 544

Transport Project Management

5

CETS 548

Urban Public Transport Design and Operations

 

 

Year 1, Session 3 – All Specializations

1

CETS 567

Industrial Internship

 

 

Year 2, Sessions 1&2 – All Specializations

2

CETS 569

Thesis/Project Work

 

Elective courses

Session 1 – All Specializations (Choose 1)

S/N

Course Code

Course Name

1

CETS 541

Traffic Flow Modelling

2

CETS 543

Transport and Society

3

CETS 549

Transport Logistics Engineering and Management 

4

CETS 556

Rural Transport Infrastructure and Services

 

Session 2 – All Specializations (Choose 1)

1

CETS 548

Urban Public Transport Design and Operations

2

CETS 550

Transport Asset Management

3

CETS 557

Advanced Spatial Data Analysis for Transport

4

CETS 554

Transport Project Procurement and Law

5

CETS 552

Data Science for Transport

 

Research component

S/N

Course Code

Course Title

1

CETS 569

Thesis/Project Work

2

 

Graduate Seminar 

 

Practical training, industrial attachment, internship, etc. 

S/N

Course Code

Course Title

1

CE 567

Industrial Internship

This will comprise of a minimum of four-week long supervised internship at a recognised transport institution to be undertaken before the commencement of the research phase of the programme and is a requirement for graduation. Students will be required to submit a report upon completion and receive a certificate of participation.

The MPhil Transport systems is a taught programme and is comprised of ten (10) mandatory courses and two (2) elective courses making a total of 12 courses.

The programme is designed to be completed in 24 calendar months in four sessions of six months each including four to six weeks of internship.

In the first session, participants will first be given foundation knowledge in methodological tools in transport such as applied statistics and modelling tools, operations research and optimisation techniques, and geographical information systems in transport.

Courses in the second session will be focused more on respective specializations. In the third session, students will be required to take the industrial internship for a minimum period of four weeks and submit report prior to commencing work on their research works.

Students will also be required to write thesis on a transport related subject matter. Many of the lecture-based courses include case study project sessions and presentations led by industry experts.

The successful graduates from the programme shall be awarded Master of Philosophy in Transport systems in a selected Specialization.

Specializations: 

There are two specializations 

MPhil Transport Systems - Infrastructure and Engineering: This will be for students who have undergraduate degree in any of the following: 

  • Civil Engineering
  • Geological Engineering 
  • Geomatic Engineering
  • Any other engineering discipline related to transport.

 

MPhil Transport Systems - Urban Transport and Operations: This will be for students who have undergraduate degree in any of the following: 

  • Any engineering discipline related to transport
  • Planning
  • Geography
  • Any discipline related to transport

The MPhil Transport systems programme is designed to equip students with the skills required to pursue a successful career in various sectors of the transport industry. Graduates from this programme can strengthen their career in an existing company or have a career change in the transport industry. Graduates from the programme may take up high paid employment in a variety of positions in a wide range of careers/organisations worldwide such as:

  1. Public sector organisations 
  2. Road transport sub sector
  3. Railway sector
  4. Private organisations in transport services 
  5. Private consultancies
  6. Non-governmental organisations
  7. Development partners
  8. Metropolitan and Municipal assemblies
  9. Urban public transport organization
  10. Financial institutions
  11. Academic and research institutions

Mode of Assessment

Students pursuing the Master of Philosophy Transport Systems will be assessed through:

  1. preparatory assignments
  2. post course week assignments
  3. group project works 
  4. seminar presentations
  5. written exercises
  6. written examinations
  7. thesis

An examination will be conducted for each taught course in a module. The mode of weighting for continuous assessment and final examination depends on the content of the courses as defined in the course description. In the case of the non-taught courses, assessment shall be by continuous assessment and course presentations.

The pass mark for both and non-taught courses, shall be 50%. Any student who fails a course shall re-sit it until a pass mark of 50% or more is attained. Individual course assignments will be assessed by Course Instructors. Group Projects will be assessed through written reports and oral presentations before a panel. The MPhil thesis shall be assessed by External and Internal Examiners together with an oral examination.

The following details the weight for different assessment components.

Continuous Assessment:

Continuous assessment will take 50% of the overall assessment and comprises preparatory assignments (15%), group work (10%), and a post course week individual assignment (25%). Some modules may also offer graded take home assignments and a mid-semester examination. 

Examination:

This will form 50% of the overall assessment and will be written under formal examination conditions immediately after the course week.

Graduation Requirements

A candidate shall be deemed to have qualified for the award of the MPhil Transport Systems degree when he/she has:

  1. Passed all required courses and obtained a minimum of 36 credit hours,
  2. Achieved a minimum cumulative weighted average of 60%,
  3. Proof submission a manuscript to a Scopus journal, 
  4. Completed a research work leading to an examinable thesis, 
  5. Satisfied all other requirements of the Department, College and University.
  6. Submitted and successfully defended a thesis.

Additionally, candidates shall qualify for the appropriate specialization of the programme by completing the elective options required.

Facilities, Laboratory & Equipment

The program has very excellent classroom and laboratory facilities. Each student has access to computer facilities connected to the internet. A new storey facility for soils and material testing and Asphalt concrete pavement testing and research is under construction. Some of the equipment available for the course include the following;

  • Asphalt Testing Equipment
  • Soil Testing Equipment
  • Traffic counts and measurement Equipment
  • Software for Transport Planning and traffic modelling