THE PROCESS AND DELIVERY OF A DIRECTED PROJECT COMPONENT: LESSONS AND METHODS FROM A COLLABORATIVE DEGREE PROGRAM

摘要

A Directed Project requirement is becoming more common in today's Masters Degree Programs Both academia and industry can derive value in requiring an in-depth study that can benefit the company's bottom line while fulfilling curriculum and learning outcomes. With a Directed Project experience, students focus in on improvement opportunities as part of their workplace environment. Students are challenged to identify and deliver possible solutions toward a defined initiative within a framework of process steps. These steps often expand the student's systematic and analytical view of working towards an optimal solution. This session will focus on the Directed Project component as part of the Masters in Technology degree program jointly developed by a university and multinational company. Emphasis will be given to the process model; guidance provided and project outcomes (quantifiable). Also, includes a discussion on how to identify and control project scope, collection and analysis of data, and consensus with project committee members and academic advisors. A brief look at the role of the directed project as the student progresses toward graduation; the mandatory oral defense, the life-cycle of a directed project and a comparison of directed projects pursued against other Masters of Technology degree programs. In 2004, collaboration between a university and a multinational company was launched to enhance the development of the company's technical workforce by providing an on-site opportunity to earn a Master of Science Degree in Technology while working full time. A cohort based model with a curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of the company while addressing the graduate level academic requirements of the university was created.