Educational objectives of the bachelor assignment

Contents 

The individual Bachelor's assignment completes the Bachelor's program. The student performs scientific research of a limited size and profundity under the supervision of a member of the scientific staff. In the course Preparation Bachelor Assignment, the student has to define a research plan in accordance with the daily supervisor and the Bachelor Assignment Committee.

The assignment is completed with a written report (the BSc thesis) and a public oral presentation followed by a discussion (the colloquium). After the colloquium, the assessment committee convenes to fill in the assessment form and determine the grade.

Duration

The BSc assignment has a study load of 15 EC (credits), which corresponds to a duration of 420 hours (or 10.5 weeks of 40 hours, etc.).

Educational objectives

The main objective of the BSc assignment is for the student to learn to apply a suitable research or design methodology under supervision. A list of the learning objectives of the BSc programme is defined in the programme-specific part of the Education and Examination Regulations (the "EER"). After the BSc assignment the student is able to perform technological research at the BSc level and communicate on the outcomes.  This implies that the student is able to:

1. Analyse a problem with some complexity in the field of Advanced Technology.
   1. prepare, execute and analyse experimental or theoretical research in Advanced Technology.
   2. design, build and test a device.
2. Communicate with specialists in the chosen field and other stakeholders, write a scientific report, give an oral presentation, and defend the research.    
3. Organize the work, be self-sufficient in organizing the work, collaborate with specialists in the chosen field and other stakeholders. 

In short: Students should learn to apply (experimental or theoretical) research and/or design methodology; all of limited size and profundity, supervised by scientific staff; and inform an audience about this. AT students have been educated as T-shaped professional. The BSc assignment should provide proof of being able to reach sufficient depth (not width).

BSc-Assignment Committee

A global overview of the role of the assessment committee is given below. More detailed information on the requirements for members of the assessment committee can be found in the pdf bachelor assignment committee requirements AT.

The BSc-Assignment Committee is responsible for the assessment of the assignment. The committee consists minimally of the three following members:

1. Chairperson of the committee
   1. is responsible for the content and overview of the bachelor assignment,
   2. is a member of the research group where the project is executed and active in research
   3. is a professor, UHD or UD and holds a UTQ or equivalent qualification.
2. Daily supervisor:
   1. Is responsible for (at least biweekly) meetings with the student
   2. Contributes to the assessment of the student on organizational skills
   3. Is a member of the research group where the project is executed and active in research.
      In case the chairperson is also daily supervisor, an additional member is required. This extra member should be a member of the scientific staff.
3. Reference member: 
   1. Is appointed by the Examination board  
   2. Is a member of the scientific staff and holds a UTQ or equivalent qualification
   3. Ensures that assessments are aligned with the Advanced Technology programme competence level.
4. Scientific experts external to the programme Advanced Technology or the university can be part of the bachelor assignment committee as a member or daily supervisor. 
5. The bachelor assignment can take place outside the university. In that case the student proposes a chairperson, prior to the start of the assignment.
6. The composition of the bachelor assignment committee needs approval of the examination board.

The BSc assignment takes place in one of the research groups (chairs, 'vakgroepen', 'leerstoelen') of the University of Twente. An external assignment is only possible by exception, to be judged by the Examination Board. 

Checklist

A brief schematic overview of the assessment aspects is given below.  More detailed information on the assessment guidelines can be found on the assessment form.