The learning objectives and formal requirements of the final projects and theses for the bachelor’s degrees at the Humak University of Applied Sciences are similar in all degree programmes. This thesis guide provides the general outlines for the implementation of final projects and the evaluation of theses to be applied in practice. The guide is intended to be used by both the student and the supervising teacher. The guide also provides information for the working life partners of Humak, who commission final projects and act as working-life supervisors of the work in the final project.
The key background material for this guide include the literature on the methods of development work as well as the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (Ammattikorkeakoululaki, 932/2014), the Government Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences (Valtioneuvoston asetus ammattikorkeakouluista, 1129/2014), the Copyright Act (Tekijänoikeuslaki, 404/1961), the quality recommendations for UAS bachelor’s theses (Ministry of Education and OAMK, 7 September 2006), the Data Protection Ombudsman’s guidance on the data protection principles and GDPR (Tietosuojavaltuutetun toimisto 20210; 2020), law concerning digital distribution services (306/2019), The Finnish National Board on Research Integrity's instructions on good scientific principles and the ethical principles of research focused on humans (TENK 2012; 2019), the letter of the Ministry of Education on the publicity of theses (DNO 3/500/2004) and the ethical recommendations for theses of universities of applied sciences (Arene 2019).
In order to harmonise the practices related to final projects and theses, this guide will use the terms appropriate for all fields of education in accordance with the quality recommendation, such as thesis, final project, thesis author, the commissioner of the thesis, thesis seminar, topic proposal, thesis plan, thesis cooperation agreement, thesis evaluation, thesis supervisor, a second evaluator, thesis coordinator, working life instructor, peer reviewer and knowledge base. These terms should be used consistently in all matters relating to final projects and theses, so that the common language and understanding of the nature of UAS theses and final projects is strengthened between the students, the supervisors as well as the working life instructors.
Working group, 14 May 2018: Arto Lindholm and Reijo Viitanen, supplements and updates Minna Hautio 22.10.2020, translation from Finnish by Ossi Muurinen 10.12.2020.
The guide has been discussed in the Pedagogical Development Group on 3.12.2020 and approved by the Managerial Group on 12.2.2021