Guide to Final Year Project

School of Sustainable Agriculture

Universiti Malaysia Sabah
 Published by:

Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Locked Bag 2073
88999 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah, Malaysia
Tel.: 088-320000
http://www.ums.edu.my

© Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 2009

Committee Members of Guide to Dissertation Writing

School of Sustainable Agriculture

Prof. Dr. Ridzwan Abdul Rahman (Dean)

Assoc. Prof. Datin Dr. Mariam Abd. Latip
(Dean of Centre for Postgraduate Studies)
Dr. Suzan Benedick
(Deputy Dean of Academic and Student Affairs cum SSA Editor)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Markus Atong
(Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation)
Dr. Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh
(Head of Crop Production Programme cum SSA Editor)
Mr. Lum Mok Sam
(Head of Horticulture and Landscaping Programme cum SSA Editor)
Dr. Abdul Rahim bin Awang
(Final Year Project Coordinator 1)
Ms. Chee Fong Tyng
(Final Year Project Coordinator 2 cum Committee Secretariat)

ii
PREFACE

Final Year Project is a course in which a student is required to undertake a mini

research project. In the process of conducting this mini project, the student is
required to write a report on the project. It is partial fulfilment of the
requirements for award of the Degree of Bachelor of Agriculture Science with
honours.

This Guide is to provide students, supervisors and project coordinators a

clear picture of the implementation and evaluation of the final year project.

Prof. Dr. Ridzwan Abdul Rahman (K.M.N. & A.S.D.K)

Dean
School of Sustainable Agriculture

iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and good day

The Final Year Project committee would like to take this opportunity to thank
Prof. Dr. Ridzwan Abdul Rahman, the Dean of the School of Sustainable
Agriculture (SSA) and Assoc. Prof. Datin Dr. Mariam Abd. Latip, the Dean of the
Centre for Postgraduate Studies for their guidance in the preparation of this
guide.

The Committee would also like to thank Ms. Mandy Maid, Head of
Programme for Forest Plantation and Agroforestry Programme, School of
International Tropical Forestry; Ms. Lam Nyee Fan, Head of Programme for
Conservation Biology Programme, School of Science and Technology (SST) and
Lecturer at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation; Dr. Pushpalatha
Palaniappan and Dr. Annita Young Seok Kian, Lecturers at the Borneo Marine
Research Institute, Mrs Noraini Abdullah, Lecturer and Library representative of
SST; and Ms. Ho Ai Ling, Lecturer at the School of Food Science and Nutrition,
for their willingness to share their experience and information relating to the
procedures in handling final year projects at their respective schools/institutes.

Our thanks also to Prof. Dr. Marcus Japony, Lecturer at the SST for his
kind advice; UMS Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) committee for the MQA
documents; and Mr. Jamiun Michael, Librarian in Gift, Exchange and Archive
Section of the UMS library for providing information on the use of the words
“latihan ilmiah”, as well as, the colour of the dissertation cover.

Last but not least, we would also like to convey our deepest appreciation
and thanks to all staff of the SSA and SST who directly or indirectly helped in the
preparation of this guide.

iv
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE

PREFACE iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

INTRODUCTION 1

COURSE OBJECTIVES 1

DURATION OF THE FINAL YEAR PROJECT 2

PREREQUISITES 2

MODUS OPERANDI 2
Selection of Project Title and Supervisor 2
Preparation of the Proposal 3
Presentation of the Proposal 4
Conducting the Research Project 4
Preparation and Submission of Research Project 1 Report 4
Research Project 2 - Preparation and Submission of the Dissertation 5
The Oral Examination (Viva voce) 6
Compilation and Binding of the Final Dissertation 6
Contents of Dissertation 6

MARKING SYSTEM 8

BUDGET FOR FINAL YEAR PROJECT 9

INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR STUDENTS 9

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS, SUPERVISORS, COORDINATORS,

AND THE SCHOOL 10
Students 10
Supervisors 10
Coordinators 11
School 11

Appendices 12

v
INTRODUCTION

Final Year Project (Projek Tahun Akhir) is a course in which each student of the
School of Sustainable Agriculture (SSA) is required to conduct a mini (short-term)
research project under the guidance of a supervisor. It starts with the selection
of a project title and a Lecturer(s) as supervisor(s). This is followed by the
presentation of a research proposal. Each student is then required to present
the project report after completion of the research project.

This course deals with the theoretical and practical aspects of the
scientific approach in carrying out a research project. It covers literature review,
project proposal preparation and presentation, and writing of a scientific report.
The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, guided learning,
seminars and self- study.

The Final Year Project is compulsory partial fulfilment of the requirements

for the Bachelor of Agricultural Science Degree with honours [B.Agri.Sc. (Hons.)
or SmSn Pertanian (Kep.)]. The student’s performance in completing the project
will be evaluated and graded for inclusion in the student’s Cumulative Grade
Point Average (CGPA) or Purata Nilai Gred Kumulatif (PNGK).

The purpose of this “Guide to Final Year Project” is to provide information

to students, supervisors and coordinators about the procedures related to
implementation and administration of the Final Year Project. It is also to
facilitate achievement of the objectives of the course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Final Year Project are:

Students would be able to:

1) demonstrate proficiency in searching for and reviewing scientific literature;

2) plan and carry out a research project effectively;
3) prepare a scientifically sound research/project proposal/dissertation; and
4) communicate scientific information effectively and clearly

1
 Besides achieving these objectives, it is also hoped that the students will
be able to better understand theories, to think and analyze critically, and develop
an attitude and aptitude of independence.

DURATION OF THE FINAL YEAR PROJECT

The duration of a Final Year Project is one year starting with the selection of a
topic and supervisor till the submission of a draft of the dissertation. It is split
into two courses, namely Research Project 1 (Course Code RC/RH/RL 40102) and
Research Project 2 (Course Code RC/RH/RL 40204), totalling six (6) credit hours.

The tentative schedule of activities is shown in Appendix A1, and the

details of each activity are shown in Appendix A2.

PREREQUISITES

This Final Year Project is open only to students who have completed the third
year level of School and Programme courses (equivalent to a minimum of 97
credit hours).

A student who wants to register for this course must also have
successfully completed two/three of the following courses:

1) RT30202 (Scientific Writing and Communication); and RT20003

(Biometry) for Sessions 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.
2) RT30202 (Scientific Writing and Communication); RT20402 (Biometry);
and RT30302 (Experimental Design and Analysis) beginning Session
2012/2013 and onwards.

MODUS OPERANDI

Selection of Project Title and Supervisor

Ideally, the selection of a title and supervisor(s) should be done one semester
before the student intends to register for Research Project 1. This is to allow the

2
students ample time to choose a title and prepare the proposal, especially during
the semester break.

Students are encouraged to propose their own titles based on their

interest and they may also select a title from lists (if any) provided by Lecturers.
When proposing titles, time and available facilities are factors that must be taken
into consideration to ensure that adequate data can be obtained and the project
completed on time. The title proposed must also be within the limits of
supervisor’s competence and expertise. A student or supervisor is allowed to
change the title after registering for Research Project 1. A good project title is
usually short but adequately and clearly reflects what the research is all about.

A student can be supervised by one or two supervisors (one main

supervisor and another as a co-supervisor). If a student selects a supervisor who
is not in the Academia, an Academic will have to be appointed as the main
supervisor.

Students are expected to submit their project titles and names of their
supervisor(s) to the Final Year Project Coordinators before they register for
Research Project 1.

The number of students to be supervised by a lecturer will be based on

equal distribution.

Preparation of the Proposal

Once a project title has been agreed upon, the student and the supervisor(s) will
discuss the methodology suitable for conducting the Project. The project can
take any of these forms:
1) Laboratory based
2) Field based
3) Theoretical
4) Analytical based on secondary data
5) Questionnaire based; and
6) Extension activities based

3
 The proposal has to be written in the prescribed format outlined in
Appendix B. It should comprise the project title, introduction, objective(s) and
hypotheses of the study, literature review, materials and methods, references,
appendices (if applicable), and schedule of implementation (Gantt chart). The
student should get guidance for the supervisor(s) during preparation of the
proposal.

Presentation of the Proposal

The Coordinators will set a date and venue for each student to present his/her
proposal before the end of the fourth week of Semester 1. The students are
encouraged to use the latest audio-visual technologies to present their proposals.
The proposal has to be presented in English and all lecturers are invited to act as
examiners. Each student’s presentation will last for 10 minutes. There will be an
additional 5 minutes for a question and answer session, comments and
clarifications.

Conducting the Research Project

Once the proposal is approved, the student can commence work on the project.
Those who encounter problems in their project proposals would have to first
make amendments before starting the field, laboratory or other study. The
students will be monitored by their respective supervisor(s) during the conduct of
the project. Students are advised to concurrently engage in writing the
dissertation while the project is ongoing.

Preparation and Submission of Research Project 1 Report

The written Research Project 1 report should consist of three chapters, namely,
Chapter 1 (Introduction); Chapter 2 (Literature Review); and Chapter 3
(Materials and Methods). If a student is able to obtain the research project
results early, the student can also include the results in the Research Project 1
report.

Each student is required to submit two (2) ring-bound draft copies to the
coordinators. The draft is to be written in Malay. It can be written in English

4
only upon approval by the Dean of SSA (Appendix C). Any request for the report
to be written in English will only be considered if the student has a good
command of English and/or the supervisor is not fluent in Malay. The format for
writing the report should adhere strictly to the guidelines provided in the “Guide
to Dissertation Writing” published by SSA.

Research Project 1 reports will be equally distributed among the lecturers

for evaluation.

After successful completion of Research Project 1, each student is

expected to have learnt aspects of problem identification, problem solving, time
management, communication skills, seeking and using information and resource
management skills, besides having made strides towards achieving the objectives
of the Final year Project.

Research Project 2 - Preparation and Submission of the Dissertation

Research Project 2 is a continuation of Research Project 1. Each student is

required to complete the proposed research including the writing of the research
report, otherwise called the dissertation.

As a first step, a draft dissertation has to be completed and submitted for

examination. This draft must also be written in Malay unless the student obtains
approval from the Dean of SSA for it to be written in English (Appendix C). Any
request for the report to be written in English can only be considered if the
student has a good command of English and/or the supervisor is not fluent in
Malay. The writing format should adhere strictly to the “Guide to Dissertation
Writing” published by SSA.

Each student must submit two (2) ring-bound copies of the draft
dissertation on or before the deadline announced by the coordinators. The
submission date will allow ample time for the examiners to give comments and
suggestions for improvement of the draft. The examiners will be the
supervisor(s) and a member of the Academia. The coordinators will ensure that
Research Projects 1 and 2 of any particular student are examined by the same
examiners, unless when a change is unavoidable.

5
 Subsequently, the student would have to attend an oral examination (viva
voce) on a date set by the coordinators.

The Oral Examination (Viva voce)

Viva voce is an oral examination of a student on their Final Year Project. Each
student is allocated 10 minutes to present (oral) an overview and findings of
their Final Year Project. Five to ten minutes is allocated for question and answer
session. A student will automatically get a fail grade (E) if it is found that the
research results and findings presented are not those of the student or is the
result of manipulated data, involves plagiarism, or any similar academic
dishonesty.

Compilation and Binding of the Final Dissertation

After a student has corrected/amended the draft taking into account all
comments and suggestions by examiners, each student must submit at least
three complete final copies of the dissertation to SSA for hardcover binding, one
each for the School, the University Library and Supervisor(s). If a student has a
co-supervisor, an extra copy is required. The colour of the dissertation cover is
dark green. The copy for SSA will be kept in the SSA Resource Room.

Students are also required to submit the soft copies of dissertation in

Compact disk to Final Year Project Coordinators.

Contents of Dissertation

A complete dissertation should have the following contents:

1) Title Page
A good project title should contain a minimum number of words but would still
reflect the content and emphasis of the project.

2) Acknowledgements
The students are encouraged to acknowledge individuals who have contributed
to making their Final Year Project a success.

6
3) Abstracts
An abstract is a page/paragraph that summarises the entire dissertation. It
contains the problem statement; objectives of the study; materials and methods
used; major findings; and conclusion. Students are required to prepare both
English and Malay versions of the abstract. The abstract which is written in the
same language as that of the dissertation will appear first.

4) Table of Contents

5) List of Tables, Figures, Symbols & Abbreviations

6) Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter includes a brief background, problem statement,
purpose/justification/need/rationale/importance of the study and objective(s) of
the study. The number of pages should not exceed five (5).

7) Chapter 2: Literature Review

This is a brief review of literature and previous studies similar or related to the
study. References must include the most recent ones. Total number of pages
can range between 15 and 25.

8) Chapter 3: Materials and Methods

This chapter shows details of the materials and techniques used to achieve the
objective(s) of the project. The experimental design, calculation methods and
analysis need to be clearly stated, especially if there is modification to an existing
known procedure.

9) Chapter 4: Results
Results obtained are presented and illustrated in this chapter using tables,
graphs, etc.

10) Chapter 5: Discussion

This chapter discusses the results in relation to the topic, objective(s) or problem
statement and what is already known about the study.

7
11) Chapter 6: Conclusion
This chapter contains a summary of the study, conclusion and recommendations
for further study based on the findings of the study.

12) References
All references cited are listed in this section using the specified format.

13) Appendices (if applicable)

In this section, students can include for example; raw data, calculations, figures,
questionnaires, statistical software and other relevant information that are not
appropriate to be placed in the main text of the dissertation.

A book published by SSA titled “Guide to Dissertation writing” which is

adapted from Gaya UMS, Gaya penulisan SST and Guide to Thesis Preparation,
School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia will be made available to
each student at a nominal fee. The first edition of the book, printed in English,
provides detailed information about all aspects related to the preparation of the
dissertation.

MARKING SYSTEM

Marks for Research Project 1 and Research Project 2 are divided into various
parts, namely oral presentation or viva voce (comprising 25 percent); evaluation
by supervisor(s) (15 percent); and dissertation draft (60 percent) (Table 1). The
details of each segment are listed in Appendix D. Each lecturer will receive an
equal number of draft copies for examination. Any student who totally avoids
meeting his/her supervisor will be get an “X”. The Grading System is based on
that stated in the UMS Prospectus. Any student who gets an “X” or “E” for
Research Projects 1 or 2, will have to repeat the course.

8
 Table 1: Marks distribution for the Final Year Project
No. Item Percentage (%) Evaluation by
Research Project 1
1 Evaluation by supervisor(s) 15 Supervisor(s)
2 Presentation 25 Supervisor(s) and
examiner
3 Research Project 1 60 Supervisor(s) and
(Chapters 1, 2, 3) examiner
TOTAL 100
Research Project 2
3 Research Project 2 60 Supervisor(s) and
(final dissertation draft) examiner
4 Viva voce (oral examination) 25 Supervisor(s) and
examiner
5 Evaluation by supervisor(s) 15 Supervisor(s)
TOTAL 100

BUDGET FOR FINAL YEAR PROJECT

The Final Year Project will be partially supported by the School. This financial
assistance is for purchase of chemicals and other minor expenses to enable
students to carry out and complete their projects successfully. Students are
required to fill in a form listing the chemicals and other inexpensive consumable
items (e.g seeds) needed for the project. The preparation of this list will be in
consultation with and approval of the supervisor. The supervisor will then submit
the form to the Final Year Project Coordinators.

INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR STUDENTS

All students are covered under the Takaful Insurance Coverage Scheme of
Takaful Malaysia Sdn Bhd. In case of an emergency or accident during their
period of study, students are advised to go to the nearest hospital or any UMS
Panel Clinic. Students are also advised to report any emergency or accident to
supervisor(s), coordinators and/or the UMS Counsellor, who can be contacted at
the Department of Student Affairs and Alumni of UMS (telephone number: 088-
320000 ext. 4212).

9
RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS, SUPERVISORS, COORDINATORS,
AND THE SCHOOL

Students
1) Propose/select title and supervisor(s), meet and discuss with
supervisor(s) and start writing the proposal.
2) Each student should have a log book to keep records of
discussions/results/data/etc.
3) Get relevant materials for literature review from library or any other
source.
4) Present proposal on the date set by coordinators.
5) Should not start the project or data collection before officially registering
for Research Project 1.
6) Conduct and complete the Project as scheduled.
7) Follow all laboratory and field procedures (use of laboratory and field
equipment, laboratory and field safety regulations and practises).
8) Submit drafts from time to time to supervisor(s) for comments and
suggestions.
9) Submit final dissertation drafts to coordinators.
10) Attend oral examination on the date set by coordinators. Each student is
advised to bring a copy of the final draft during the oral examination.
11) Make corrections based on the suggestions and comments by
supervisor(s) and examiners after the oral examination.
12) Submit at least three (3) copies of dark green hardcover bound
dissertations to SSA General Office.
13) Fill in the application form to visit or use other departments, agencies and
libraries.
14) Complete an application form for permission to write the dissertation in
English.

Supervisors
1) Propose research project title.
2) Provide critical and objective review, feedback and guidance to students.
3) Hold regular discussions with each student to monitor the progress.
4) Evaluate the students regarding their initiative, efforts and commitment
to the project.

10
5) Monitor student’s log book.
6) Inform coordinators if a student never shows up for any discussion in a
month.
7) Submit project material requirements for each student to the School’s
Science Officer before registration of Research Project 1.
8) Write to the Dean of SSA to apply for a non-academician to be a co-
supervisor and send a copy to the coordinators.
9) Obtain letters of requests from the school to relevant persons, schools,
departments or agencies for the use of land, green house, laboratory,
expertise, etc.
10) To apply for a plot for Final Year Project.

Coordinators
1) Brief students and supervisors at the initial stage about the Final Year
Project.
2) Coordinate student presentations.
3) Compile marks at the end of each semester.
4) Update the Final Year Project Modus Operandi and Writing Guidelines
whenever necessary.
5) Keep database on all Final Year Project activities.
6) Record and distribute drafts to all examiners.

School
1) Administer and facilitate the smooth implementation of the courses.

11
Appendices

12
 Appendix A1: Tentative schedule of Final Year Project (RC/RH/RL 40102 Research Project 1 and RC/RH/RL 40204 Research Project 2)
year 3 4

semester 2 1 2

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16
week

No. Activities

1 Selection of title and supervisor(s) x x

2 Proposal preparation and writing x x x x x x x x x

3 Correction of proposal x x x x x x x x

Preparation for proposal presentation

4 x x x
(Powerpoint Format)

Checked by supervisor and corrected by

x x x
students
5 Proposal presentation x

6 Field/Lab work x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

7 Data collection x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

8 Data analysis x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

9 Writing of chapters 1, 2, 3 x x x x x x x x x x

Submission of Chapters 1, 2, 3 /
10 x
Progress to supervisor

11 Writing of dissertation draft x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

12 Submission of dissertation drafts x

13 Viva (oral examination) x

14 Correction x

Approval by supervisor, co-supervisor(s)

15 x
& examiner

Submission of dissertion to SSA for

16 binding (Each student must submit at x
least 3 copies to the school)

No. Activities
Selection of title and
1 identified their final year
supervisor(s)
2 Proposal preparation and writing
3 Correction of proposal
Preparation for proposal
4 presentation (Powerpoint
Format)
Checked by supervisor and
corrected by students
5 Proposal presentation
6 Field/Lab work
7 Data collection
8 Data analysis
9 Writing of chapters 1, 2, 3
Submission of Chapters 1, 2,
10
3 to supervisor
11 Writing of dissertation draft
Submission of Dissertation
12
drafts
13 Viva voce (oral examination)
14 Correction
Approval by supervisor, co-
15
supervisor(s) & examiner
Submission of dissertations to
SSA for binding (Each student
16
must submit at least 3 copies to
SSA General Office)
Appendix A2:
Supervisors
1. Identify title and discuss with
students
2. Prepare size of land needed,
equipment to replace or add,
chemicals needed, etc. then
hand in to coordinators
Supervisors will monitor
students under them
List of actions and milestones in Final Year Project
Action by
Students
1. Prepare title or select title
from lecturer's list
2. Discuss with potential
supervisor(s)
Students will meet and discuss
with supervisor(s)
Each student will submit the
final dissertation to SSA General
Office
Coordinators
1. Ensure all students identify titles and
select supervisor(s)
2. Get the lists from supervisors, compile
and hand over to farm manager
Prepare schedule for the presentation
1. Remind students and lecturers about
the submission date
2. Collect the drafts and distribute among
lecturers for marking
1. Remind students and lectures about
the submission date
2. Collect the drafts and distribute among
lecturers for marking
Ensure students have submitted final
drafts for binding
Milestones
By end of week 9, Semester 2,
Year 3, all students have
project titles and lecturers
have students to supervise
By end of week 2, semester 1,
yr 4, students are ready with
their proposal presentations
By end of semester 1 of yr 4,
students already started their
projects and write-up of
chapters 1-3
By mid semester 2 of yr 4,
students have finished their
experiments and polished their
dissertations
Students ready with their
presentations
Students completed final
project
 Appendix B: Proposal Guidelines

Introduction
Should be concise and may include a brief explanation of the field of study, the
importance of such research, contribution to scientific information / socio-
economic importance, historical account, etc.

Justification
Explain the reasons behind the study with some scientific evidence or support.
Try to answer the When, Where, What, Why and How (4W+1H).

Objectives
Identify research questions to develop your objectives.

Hypotheses
Write down the hypotheses based on objective(s) – what you expect from the
study/results.

Literature Review
Provide very detailed research on a variety of topics related to the study in the
context of results / findings of previous studies, methodology and procedures,
species researched (material used as study object), site description, etc.

Methodology
Describe materials, equipments and methods used in field and/or laboratory
procedures. For example, sampling procedures, development of questionnaires,
collection of sample in the field, processing of sample in the field and the
laboratory, experimental designs, type of data collected, analysis used, and
parameters of the study.

Schedule
Provide a realistic Gantt chart or milestone chart to map out the expected
progress.

References
A list of references cited in the proposal.
 Appendix C: Application form for writing Dissertation in English

Student’s name :
Student’s No. :

Research Project Title :

Reason(s) for :
Writing in
English

Student’s Signature :
and date

Approval of
: Approved Not approved
Supervisor*

Supervisor’s additional :
Comments (if any)

Supervisor’s :
Signature & Date

Supervisor’s Stamp :

Approval of the Dean * : Approved Not approved

Dean’s Comments :

Dean’s Signature, :
Date & stamp

* please tick one

** Please attach the MUET or equivalent result.
(After getting the Dean’s signature, submit a copy to the Final Year Project Coordinators)
 Appendix D: Evaluation forms

Evaluation Form 1 (Proposal Presentation)

(This contributes 25% to Research Project 1)

Student’s Name :

Student’s No. :

Title :

Details Maximum Marks Evaluation marks

(%) (%)
i) Presentation style and multimedia application 5
(Clear, smooth, confident, appearance)
ii) Content (comprehensive, facts precision, 15
preparation, continuity)
iii) Answering questions (clarity and precision) 5

TOTAL 25

Comments :

Supervisor* co-supervisor* Examiner* * Please tick one

Signature :

Name :

Date :
 Evaluation Form 2 (Research Project 1: Chapters 1, 2 and 3)
(This contributes 60% to Research Project 1)

Student’s name :

Student’s No. :

Title :

Details Maximum Evaluation

Marks marks
(%) (%)
A. Writing Format (15%)

i) Writing format : Spelling, language (grammar) and 5

smoothness
ii) Text arrangement : Well organised, easy to understand, 5
clear and has continuity
iii) Illustration :sufficient, clear and relevant 5
B. Contents (85%)

i) Introduction (clarity, nature and scope of the problem 15

investigated, justification, objectives, hypotheses)
ii) Literature Review (Clear, sufficient and proper) 30
iii) Methodology (Clear, sufficient, proper, relevant and 30
rational)
iv) References (adequate, relevant, most current, complete 10
list, and follow suggested format)
TOTAL 100

Comments :

Supervisor* co-supervisor* Examiner* * Please tick one

Signature :

Name :

Date :
 Evaluation Form 3 (Supervisor)
(This contributes 15% to Research Project 1)

Student’s name :

Student’s No. :

Title :

This evaluation form will only be distributed to the supervisor and/or co-supervisor of the
student. The evaluation is based on student initiative and compliance to the project. If
the student never discusses the project with the supervisor, the supervisor
and/or coordinators can fail the student. The average mark will be awarded if the
student has more than one (1) supervisor.

Details Maximum Marks Evaluation marks

(%) (%)
Initiative
i) Initiative to meet supervisor / co-supervisor 5
(no. of times)
ii) Active involvement in project matters 5
discussion/consultation with supervisor / co-
supervisor)
Compliance with comments and
suggestions
iv) Compliance with comments and suggestions 5
in report
TOTAL 15

Comments :

Supervisor’s / co-
supervisor’s Signature :

Supervisor’s / co-
supervisor’sName :

Date :
 Evaluation Form 4 (Research Project 2: Dissertation writing)
(This contributes 60% to Research Project 2)

Student’s name :

Student’s No. :

Title :

Details Maximum Evaluation

Marks marks
(%) (%)
A. Writing Format (15%)

i) Writing format : Spelling, language (grammar) and smoothness 5

ii) Text arrangement : Well organised, easy to understand, clarity 5
and continuity
iii) Illustration : sufficient, clear and relevant 5
B. Contents (85%)

i) Abstracts (give compact, precise, true and clear picture of the 10

study)
ii) Introduction, Literature Review and Methodology 5
iii) Results (sufficient, quality, validity, description, presentation) 25
iv) Analysis and Discussion (correct/suitable, relevant, rational and 30
sufficient)
v) Conclusion and Suggestions (summarised, precise and sufficient) 10
vi) References (complete list, relevant and follow suggested format) 5
TOTAL 100

Comments :

Supervisor* co-supervisor* Examiner* * Please tick one

Signature :

Name :

Date :
 Evaluation Form 5 (Viva Voce)
(This contributes 25% to Research Project 2)

Student’s Name :

Student’s No. :

Title :

Details Maximum Marks Evaluation marks

(%) (%)
i) Presentation style and multimedia application 5
(Clear, smooth, confident, appearance)
ii) Content (comprehension of the study, facts 10
precision, preparation, continuity)
iii) Answering questions (clarity and precision) 10

TOTAL 25

Comments:

Supervisor* co-supervisor* Examiner* * Please tick one

Signature :

Name :

Date :
 Evaluation Form 6 (Supervisor)
(This contributes 15% to Research Project 2)

Student’s name :

Student’s No. :

Title :

This evaluation form will only be distributed to the supervisor and/or co-supervisor of the
student. The evaluation is based on student initiative and compliance to the project. If
the student never discusses the project with the supervisor, the supervisor
and/or coordinators can fail the student. The average mark will be awarded if the
student has more than one (1) supervisor.

Details Maximum Marks Evaluation marks

(%) (%)
Initiative
i) Initiative to meet supervisor / co-supervisor 5
(no. of times)
ii) Active involvement in project matters 5
discussion/consultation with supervisor / co-
supervisor)
Compliance to comments and suggestions
iv) Compliance to comments and suggestions in 5
report
TOTAL 15

Comment :

Supervisor’s / co-
supervisor’s Signature :

Supervisor’s / co-
supervisor’s Name :

Date :
 Appendix E: Negotiating expectations

Most common problems between supervisor(s) and students are usually due to
miscommunication. One way to overcome these problems is for them to fill in a
similar set of questionnaires (Table E1 and E2) (Phelps et al., 2007) to identify
the differences in expectations. These will help supervisors and students to
understand each others’ expectations better.

Phepls, R., Fisher, K. and Ellis, A. 2007. Organizing and managing your research.
A practical guide for postgraduates. London: Sage Publications
Table E1: Supervisor’s questionnaire for negotiating expectations with Students
Priority
My current supervision style and practice is to (1=low; 5=high)

Be well informed about grants & scholarships my students can

apply for
Help my students with topic selection
Inform students about where they can go for help with resources
and expertise
Inform students about school expectations of student
performance and progress
Monitor and provide feedback on student work to ensure
adequate progress
Treat all students fairly and equitably in terms of time and effort
put into supervising students
Give students new ideas for their research
Help students to identify their key goals
Provide a lot of detailed supervision
Maintain regular contact/meetings on a pre-arranged schedule
Keep records of all meetings and indicate action taken or advice
given
Require written work on a pre-arranged schedule
Be available and easy to approach on any problem
Give students strong encouragement in their research
Answer students' specific questions
Have general expertise in supervising research
Be an expert in the student's area of research
Share my knowledge with the student
Support students with technical issues and problems
Be interested in the student's research project
Listen to and respect the student's existing knowledge and skills
Introduce the student to scholarly networks
Encourage the student to explore issues by themselves
Make available regular discussion groups combining my students
and other's students
Suggest ways the student can make the most effective use of
time
Give the student support and guidance in preparation of their
written thesis
Comment on the content and drafts of the thesis
Offer detailed editing of the final thesis draft
Help the student to develop academic writing skills
Assist the student to publish their research
Help the student with personal and employment issues
 Table E2: Student’s questionnaire for negotiating expectations with supervisors
I would prefer my supervisor to: Priority
(1=low;5=high)

Be well informed about grants & scholarships I can apply for

Help me with selecting my topic
Inform me about where I can go for help with resources and
expertise
Keep me informed about what the school expects of me in terms of
my performance & progress
Monitor and provide feedback on my work to ensure adequate
progress
Treat me fairly and equitably in terms of time and effort in
supervision
Give me new ideas for research
Help me to identify my key goals
Provide a lot of detailed supervision
Maintain regular contact/meetings on a pre-arranged schedule
Keep records of all meetings and indicate action taken or advice
given
Require written work on a pre-arranged schedule
Be available and easy to approach on any problem
Give me strong encouragement in my research
Answer my specific questions
Have general expertise in supervising research
Be an expert in my area of research
Share their knowledge with me
Support me on technical issues and problems
Be interested in my research project
Listen to and respect my existing knowledge and skills
Introduce me to scholarly networks
Encourage me to explore issues myself
Make available regular discussion groups for both myself and other
students
Suggest ways I can make the most effective use of my time
Give me support and guidance in the preparation of my written
thesis
Comment on the content and drafts of my thesis
Offer detailed editing of my final thesis draft
Help me to develop my academic writing skills
Assist me to publish my research
Help me with my personal and employment issues