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Master of Science in BIT

Master of Science in BIT. How to improve quality, results and efficiency of supervision Workshop June 19 th , 2007. Jos van Hillegersberg Universiteit Twente. Former BIT-Students - LinkedIn. BITTERS are Diverse, and so are BIT theses. MSc Thesis Learning Objectives.

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Master of Science in BIT

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  1. Master of Science in BIT How to improve quality, results and efficiency of supervision Workshop June 19th, 2007 Jos van Hillegersberg Universiteit Twente

  2. Former BIT-Students - LinkedIn

  3. BITTERS are Diverse, and so are BIT theses

  4. MSc Thesis Learning Objectives Learning objectives of final project • After completing the final research project the student is capable of: • 1. mathematical, empirical or design research into aspects dealing with ICT systems; • 2. writing a report on a mathematical, empirical or design research project; • 3. working independently; • 4. giving a presentation on a research project. Ref: http://onderwijs.cs.utwente.nl/pdf_documenten/Final_project_guide.pdf

  5. Quality Criteria Assessment criteria In order to give a mark to the candidates work, thesis and presentation the following aspects can be taken into account. The importance of aspects may vary in different final project, because it is dependent on the research subjects. Assessment aspects MATHEMATICAL, EMPIRICAL AND DESIGN RESEARCH • relevance of the subject • aim and problem statement + research questions • operationalization of concepts • literature study • Final_project_guide.pdf

  6. Quality Criteria http://onderwijs.cs.utwente.nl/pdf_documenten/afstuhandBIT.pdf • De inhoud • Over de onderzoeksmethode • - De gebruikte methoden moeten expliciet aangegeven zijn . • - De methode van gegevensverwerving binnen het bedrijf moet expliciet aangegeven zijn (interview, • documentenstudie, etc.). • · Integratie • - Er moet sprake zijn van integratie van bestudeerde literatuur (geen losstaande opsomming). • - Er moet integratie zijn van literatuur/theorie én de praktijk. Het theoretisch gedeelte moet een • daadwerkelijke ondersteuning en aanvulling zijn van het praktijkwerk. De relevantie van juist deze • theorieën en/of literatuur in deze praktijksituatie moet duidelijk zijn. • · Kwaliteit van de oplossing • - Betreft de mate waarin de problematiek van de opdracht is opgelost. • De vormgeving • · Uitdrukkingsvaardigheid • - schriftelijk • - mondeling • De eigen aanpak • Eigen inbreng • - Originaliteit van de oplossingen. • - Reflectie/afstand nemen ten opzichte van het bedrijf en de literatuur. • - De student moet laten zien dat hij/zij zelfstandig kan werken. • Lerend vermogen • - De student moet laten zien dat de tijdens de tussentijdse besprekingen geleverde kritiek • begrepen is. • - De student moet laten zien dat hij van zijn eigen fouten leert.

  7. My Ideal MSc- Project • Results in a top quality thesis (in English) with both scientific rigor and practical relevance, proven by: • Top journal publication(s) from the thesis • Press attention • Significant use of the results by the company/Institute • An external Thesis Award recognizing the quality • €€€ for the student and university (and supervisor?) • Has an international Aspect • Gets the student his dream-job (Business, Government, Reseach, or own company) • Fits in a larger research context (more support from faculty than the minimally required supervision) • Let the student leave the university being proud on his achievement and as an ambassador for the BIT program, staying actively linked to BIT and UT ..and is completed in 6 to 8 Months!

  8. My Ideal MSc- Project • Usually The perfect thesis (= Grade 10) achieving all these targets is not written..but..many projects achieve these goals partially:

  9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH7Zn6PhZ64

  10. Criteria Appropriate Topic Scientific character Feasible in time (6 months) Challenges What’s is considered scientific and approriate? What determines the grade? Exploration/Formalisation/Prep Best Practices STUDENT • Reflect on what you found fascinating • Find a company where you are NOT the expert • Also look at research institutes, international, or opportunities within UT or other universities • Think ahead (life after the thesis) • Do not bet on one horse but be open! • Look/ask for other theses with high grades in the same area • Consult with other (more senior) students • Read SCIENTIFIC papers in your area of interest (scopus.com rather than scholar.google) • Manage your team of Supervisors!!

  11. Criteria Appropriate Topic Scientific character Feasible in time (6 months) Challenges What’s is considered scientific and approriate? What determines the grade? Exploration/Formalisation/Prep Best Practices FACULTY • Think about your research and company projects and contacts and Define MSc Projects yourself • Advertise your projects in ASAS • Advertise in the classroom • Also think in the Large: student teams can write a series of theses in the context of a larger research project • Invest Time in the Exploration stage..as this is the key phase • Make clear who is interested in what type of projects • Setup an effective system to assign supervisors to student requests • Trace progress of your students • Direct the students towards writing a proposal a.s.a.p.

  12. Criteria Clear Problem statement and Research Questions Quality Report/Pres in time Challenges Too broad, not innovative Which methodology? No structure, never ending… Develop/Report/Present Best Practices STUDENT • State the Problem from a scientific and practical perspective • Determine the “knowledge” or Application GAP • Ask yourself what your contribution will be? What will you deliver? • Perform a Systematic Literature review, present Prelim. TOC • Link the problem statement to research questions, link research questions to research methods. • Motivate your selection of research methods • Integrate and synthesize, not only enumerate • Be open about your ambitions • Don’t be shy in approaching experts/subjects (few people reply immediately)

  13. Criteria Appropriate Topic Scientific character Feasible in time (6 months) Challenges Too broad, not innovative Which methodology? No structure, never ending Develop/Report/Present Best Practices FACULTY • Intense Supervision on the first 2 chapters pays back later • Remind students that have been silent too long • Push students to great heights, but be there when they fall • Stress that volume is not equal to quality • Connect students to peers that work on the similar topics • Provide them with intermediate assessments of the quality and options to increase • Have shorter meetings over e.g. Skype, instead of long travel • Manage (usually down) expectations of what we can do as supervisors

  14. Best Practices for the Future? • Be proactive in defining projects and linking them our research and companies we work with • Increase the visibility of good projects in journals, media, and through awards • Use of collaborative systems instead of (only) face-2-face meetings • Reassess the info (guides, criteria) on BIT MSc. and check distribution among students and staff • Find better ways to match students-staff-projects (interest based matching + better workload distribution) • Use ASAS and Update it to a workflow support system, more insight into the current process • Find ways to increase efficiency without losing the quality • + Many Ideas will come out of this afternoon!

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