Revised principles of Master thesis atDepartment of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Novi Sad

B. Šešelja, Z. Budimac

Informatics studies in Novi Sad At University of Novi Sad studies in

Informatics exist at: Faculty of EconomyFaculty of Technical SciencesFaculty of Natural SciencesSeveral (and also many

private) high schools

Department of Mathematics and Informatics History and tradition

1969 Faculty of Natural Sciences

1976 Institute of Mathematics2002 Department of

Mathematics and Informatics

Department of Mathematics and Informatics

2008 7 chairs in Mathematics

40 members, 30 teachers 2 chairs in Informatics

20 members, 7 teachers

Present studies of Informatics at DMI

3+2 : bachelor + master three study programs several modules compulsory and optional courses

Bachelor studies

3 years study program: informatics title: “informatician” two modules:

Computer ScienceInformation Technologies

Academic (master) studies

2 years two study programs:

a) Informaticsb) Information Technologies

Study program

Informatics title: graduated “informatician” –

mastermodules:

Computer ScienceTeaching InformaticsTheoretical Informatics

Study program

Information Technologies

title: graduated “informatitian” – information technologies –

master modules:

Software EngineeringInformation Systems

Two subject studies

integrated academic studies 5 years

Mathematics and InformaticsPhysics and InformaticsGeography and Informatics

PhD studies in informatics 3 years title: PhD in Computer Science

DMIMaster studies in Informatics How much of Mathematics? “Hardware and software change fast,

what remains are principles from automata theory, formal languages, theoretical computer science. That is what students should learn mostly. ”

“Mathematicians, they prove theorems.”

mathematical and other subjects Bachelor studies:

9 subjects out of 19 at Computer Science module5 subjects out of 19 at Information Technologies module

mathematical and other subjects master of Informatics:

4 out of 9 at Computer Science3 out of 10 at Teaching Informatics6 out of 9 at Theoretical Informatics

Optional courses:6 out of 20

mathematical and other subjects Information Technologies:

0 out of 3 (4) at both modules Optional courses:

4 out of 20

Number of students BSC, 2008/09

BSc - Informatics: 10 BSc - Inf. Technology: 58

(We expect 10 more) Master, 2007/08

Informatics – 55 PhD, 2008/09

?

Master thesis principles Guided by

Previous experiences in diploma and ‘magister’ theses;

Requirements of the present Law for high education;

Some general guidelines by Bologna suggestions;

Expected higher number of students of master studies than before;

Results of the Tempus project on MSc studies; Experiences of UK and Spain.

Diploma thesis – so far After 4 years of BSc studies; Presenting some wider knowledge of

the particular topic, including (not necessarily) some experimental result or practical application OR doing something;

Publishable result was not required; The supervisor was in general (seen as)

responsible for the quality of the thesis.

All in all… With diploma thesis, students

demonstrates: That she/he is able to do (present)

something (properly);Where ‘properly’ usually means ‘by

obeying the rules of the trade’; [70 per year]

History and critics

The process of preparation potentially ‘indefinite’. Student and supervisor exchange documents/products until supervisor is satisfied.Therefore, the highest mark is almost guaranteed; ‘faster’ supervisors are more popular (can it

lead to lower quality?)

History and critics – contd.

Since supervisor is seen as responsible, other members of diploma thesis committee: Do not (or do rarely and mostly superficially) read the

thesis. Do not ‘complain’ too much, or complain ‘secretly’ to

the supervisor (and not to the student). If they complain to the student, they may ruin the

good relationships among colleagues (can be seen as ‘attacking’ supervisors work/opinions).

Generally, students do not learn how to be responsible for their own work (they do the work but are not responsible).

History and critics – contd.Some closing statements by various supervisors

(as a consequence of the practice): “The student did it all alone, I was just

advising her/him”. Comment: But of course – how else it should be?

“The student alone suggested topic for her/his thesis”. Comment: But of course – why shouldn’t she/he do

that?

Magister thesis (Previous) MSc thesis at both, Mathematics

and Informatics:After 4+3 yearsThese 3 years were (almost) equivalent to PhD studies.MSc thesis was supposed not only to present the state of the art in the field, but also to contain creative, publishable result.The supervisor was in general responsible for the quality of the thesis.

History and critics Process too long

Comment: “Still these were the only studies leading to PhD”

“Small PhD” Comment: It was our tradition

Only 2-3 students per year, i.e., Only those that will further pursue

academic carrier

Present Master thesis in Informatics It is supposed to be a work whose

quality lies between previous diploma and magister thesis’;

Regulated by the document approved by the Department Council; The process lasted 6 months

Present Master thesis in Informatics – “heretic” issues The candidate, not his supervisor, is the only

person responsible for the quality of the work, obeying the deadlines, submitting the documents…

Master thesis demonstrates: a) adequate application of principles and theory b) advancement in knowledge, and c) awareness of current research issues in the field. Message: “I did it and I know why I did it and why

it is different (if not better) of what others did.”

Heretics, contd. As a rule, the thesis describes

practical product, e.g., literature review cannot be the master thesis.

Comment: In Mathematics this does not exist as a rule.

Heretics, cont. Students choose the topic (from the list) and

then negotiate directions of further work with supervisor. It is signed by both and contains also the Gantt chart. Supervisor once checks the student’s progress

based on the document signed and Gantt chart. Supervisor once reviews the product and the

text. Supervisor always answers student’s questions

and gives advices obeying the previous two rules.

Heretics, cont. The duration of the whole process

is fixed. The highest mark is not

guaranteed – indeed passing this ‘final exam’ is also not guaranteed.

Differences… … between what the Tempus project

(‘Joint master studies in software engineering’) suggested and what we accepted: Originally: supervisor never

sees/reviews the text and the product. Accepted: She/he sees/reviews it once.

Originally: the ‘advancement in knowledge’ is proved by ‘publishable’ paper(s).

Accepted: Committee decides has “advancement in knowledge” been achieved.

What were the major discussion topics during acceptance of these principles… “Will committee be able to see the

advances in knowledge”? No they will not. Usually committee

consists of complete idiots “What the parents will say if the

student fails this final exam”? Do not bring parents. OR. Student will

be advised not to take the final exam - he/she would fail ‘secretly’.

… contd. How can it be that supervisor is not

responsible for the student’s work? It has always been so, it should be so, we

just have to create the environment where it will be easier to implement it.

It is not fair to review students’ work only once. Imagine that you have 15 master students a

year and that you have to review their work indefinite number of times and then ask the question again.

… contd. Eloquence is required during

presentation; what about those having some speaking defect?

Copyright of the result – it belongs to the candidate or to the Department? "Student cannot use products that are parts

of the master thesisand the thesis itself in non-academic purposes without written agreementwhere all details of the usage will be defined."

What we hope we shall achieve Student is really responsible for

her/his work; Supervisors and other members of

master committees can be more objective;

Higher “efficiency” of the process; Higher quality (within the given

quality framework).

The End

Thank you