Final Year Project

Coordination

• Anna Maria Dalmau Roda

Objectives

The Final Degree Thesis (TFG) is a subject in the last year of undergraduate studies that is essential to obtain a degree in any specialty.

The TFG aims for the student to:

1. Develop an academic paper.
2. Consolidate scientific and technological knowledge received throughout the study plan.
3. Participate in situations specific to a professional activity.

Learning outcomes

• RA1. He identifies his training needs and organizes his own learning with a high degree of autonomy in all types of contexts (structured or not).
• LO2. It collects and interprets data and information on which it can base its conclusions, which include reflections on aspects of a social, scientific or ethical nature in the field of biotechnology.
• LO3. Critically analyzes the results obtained in the experiments and problems that appear throughout the work.
• LO4. It consolidates and interrelates scientific concepts from various subjects.
• LO5. Properly plan and manage project development.
• LO6. Prepares written reports and documents (mainly of a technical nature) with spelling and grammar correction in Catalan, Spanish and English.
• LO7. Uses the audiovisual language and its different resources to express and present content linked to the specific knowledge of the field.
• LO8. He knows perfectly well the dedication and perseverance that scientific work requires.
• RA9. Globally evaluates the learning processes carried out in accordance with the plans and with the objectives set and establishes measures for individual improvement.
• RA10. It applies procedures specific to scientific research in the development of training and professional activity.
• RA11. It moves with desymboltura in the general use of ICT and, in particular, in the technological environments specific to the professional field.
• LO12. Shows an attitude of motivation and commitment to personal and professional improvement.

Skills

General skills

• Be prepared to overcome adversity in professional activity and learn from mistakes in order to integrate knowledge and enhance one's preparation

Specific skills

• Design projects and programs, and know about project implementation processes and management systems in the field of biology.

Basic skills

• Students have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of independent learning.
• Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific and ethical issues.

Core skills

• Be a critical thinker before knowledge in all its dimensions. Show intellectual, cultural and scientific curiosity and a commitment to professional rigor and quality.
• Become the protagonist of one's own learning process in order to achieve personal and professional growth and acquire all-round training for living and learning in a context of respect for linguistic, social, cultural, gender and economic diversity.
• Display professional skills in complex multidisciplinary contexts, working in networked teams, whether face-to-face or online, through use of information and communication technology.
• Interact in international and worldwide contexts to identify needs and and new contexts for knowledge transfer to current and emerging fields of professional development, with the ability to adapt to and independently manage professional and research processes.
• Use oral, written and audiovisual forms of communication, in one's own language and in foreign languages, with a high standard of use, form and content.

Content

• Research methods aimed at the design of experiments or projects applied to the field of biology
• Problem solving, data analysis and decision making
• Information search: tools, storage, citations...
• Writing reports and preparing presentations
• Project defense and communication

Evaluation

The assessment of the TFG is individual and is based on different elements depending on the type of TFG:

• Process to prepare the TFG (proposal and follow-up): 10%
• Written report or project
  • TFG development / media / innovation: 70%
  • Experimental TFG / literature review: 65%
• public defense
  • TFG development / media / innovation: 20%
  • Experimental TFG / literature review: 25%

Methodology

The student is responsible for choosing the topic of his final degree thesis. But the topic can come from the initiative of the student as well as from the proposals suggested by the professors of the departments of the University.

There are 5 types of TFG:

• experimental GFR
• TFG development
• Media TFG
• Innovation TFG
• Bibliographic review TFG

All degree theses must have an academic tutor who teaches at UVic, who guides the preparation process, presentation and defense. They can also have, if deemed necessary, an external tutor.

The criteria for assigning tutors to assignments are based on the academic coherence between the student's work proposal, the teacher's specialty and their availability.

1. Final thesis proposal

Formally, it is the first step in the process of preparing a thesis. Before registering for the TFG, you must enter in the TFG's specific computer application the "Proposal for the completion of the end-of-degree work (TFG)", which is a description of the project that you want to develop. The proposal must include:

• title and name of the student
• short description
• work objectives
• methodology...

End-of-degree theses can be prepared jointly by several students if the proposal so requires. In this case, the students complement each other to carry out the project. These teams can be interdisciplinary or not, and are formed with students from one or several degrees of the University.

2. Tutor/director of the work

The tutor/director of the work is a teacher, researcher, professional who has the responsibility of guiding the student throughout the preparation process, of supporting him and of following up until it is done defense before an expressly constituted court.

In the event that the tutor/director of the work is a person external to the university, the student is also assigned an academic tutor/guarantor of the work to guide the student in all the more academic aspects of preparing the proposal , of memory and defense.

The functions of the tutors are:

• Establish together with the student a work and tutoring plan.
• Provide support and follow-up of the student in the scheduled periods individually or in a group.
• Accompany the student in the presentation and defense of the work before the court.
• Participate in the evaluation and improvement proposals of the TFGs.

3. Presentation of the report

The report must be submitted within the deadlines established in the TFG calendar. To facilitate the preparation of the report, the Faculty has set guidelines and models that the student can find in the TFG Moodle classroom.

The report can be written in any of the official languages in Catalonia and in English. The length of the memory cannot exceed 50 pages (with the exception of the modality of TFG innovates).

4. Defense of work

The student must defend their work in court in a public event (or closed, in the event that there are specific confidentiality commitments, if the work was prepared for a company).

The student has 20 minutes to make the presentation without interruptions. In case of demonstration, the student has 10 extra minutes in which the members of the court can ask for clarifications. The panel members then have 20 minutes to ask the student in turn. Once they are finished, the president asks the student and the audience to leave so that the court can deliberate. The court has a maximum of 15 minutes to make the decision.

The student and the attending public are then invited to learn about the grade of the work.

Bibliography

Bibliography

• Sancho, J. (2014). Com escriure i presentar EL MILLOR TREBALL ACADÈMIC: Guia pràctica per estudiants i professors. Eumo Editorial.
• Coromina, E; Casacuberta, X; Quintana, D (2000). El treball de recerca: Procés d'elaboració, memòria escrita, exposició oral i recursos. Eumo Editorial.
• Ferrer, V; Carmona, M; Sòria V (2012). El trabajo de Fin de Grado: Guia para estudiantes, docentes y agentes colaboradores. Mc Graw hill.
• Rigo, A; Gesnescà, G (2000). Tesis i treballs: Aspectes formals. Eumo Editorial.