The course is structured around two complementary types of face-to-face learning activities:

a) Lectures

These sessions introduce the fundamental concepts of scientific programming and the main numerical methods that form the basis of the course. The theoretical concepts are complemented with examples focused on solving typical Chemical Engineering problems. Classes are delivered face-to-face in the assigned classroom.

b) Computer laboratory sessions

The practical sessions are aimed at applying the concepts introduced in the lectures through the development and solution of problems using the MATLAB programming environment. During these sessions, students will implement algorithms, apply numerical methods, and analyse the results obtained from practical Chemical Engineering case studies. Classes are conducted face-to-face in the assigned computer laboratories.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools is permitted in this course as support for learning MATLAB and for the development of the group assignment, provided that their use is responsible and complementary to the student's own work. When AI tools are used in the preparation of the group assignment, students must clearly acknowledge their use, specify the tools employed, and briefly describe how they contributed to the development of the activity. The use of AI tools does not exempt students from responsibility for the authorship, quality, accuracy, and originality of the submitted work. Finally, a lack of transparency regarding the use of AI, or its use as a substitute for the student's own intellectual work, will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total reduction of the grade for the activity, without prejudice to any additional disciplinary measures that may apply.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Continuous evaluation

Throughout the course, several graded exercises will be completed during the practical sessions. For students enrolled in the course for the first time, each unexcused absence from a practical session will result in a 0.25-point deduction from the final course grade. In addition, students who accumulate unexcused absences in more than 50% of the practical sessions will receive a Not Assessed grade. For students enrolled for the second time or more, attendance at the practical sessions is not mandatory, although it is strongly recommended for the proper follow-up of the course. Nevertheless, these students must complete and submit all activities and exercises corresponding to the practical sessions under the same conditions and deadlines as the rest of the students

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During the semester, all students are required to complete a group assignment in teams of three or four students. The characteristics, objectives, and schedule of this assignment will be provided through the Virtual Campus at the beginning of the course.

To pass the course, students must obtain an average grade of at least 4.0/10 across the partial examinations. Only if this requirement is met will the grade obtained in the partial examinations be combined with the grade of the group assignment.

Without prejudice to any additional disciplinary measures that may be adopted, any irregularity involving cheating, plagiarism, impersonation, facilitating cheating, or any other form of academic misconduct will result in a grade of 0 for the affected assessment activity or activities. If any of these irregularities are detected during the resit examination, the course will be automatically failed.

Resit examination

Students who do not pass the course through continuous assessment (final grade below 5.0/10) may take the resit examination. To be eligible for the resit examination, students must have been previously assessed in at least two of the three partial examinations held during the semester. Students who do not meet this requirement will receive a Not Assessed grade.

The resit examination will consist of a comprehensive proficiency examination covering all the contents taught throughout the course. The maximum grade that can be obtained through this examination is 5.0/10.

Honorous distinction

The Honours Distinction (Matrícula d'Honor, MH) may be awarded to students who obtain a final grade of 9.0/10 or higher. The total number of Honours Distinctions awarded may not exceed 5% of the total number of students enrolled in the course.