Thesis Project course

Code:

PDSSE0046

Acronym:

PT

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Energy Systems

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Program in Sustainable Energy Systems

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDSSE	7	Sylabus since 2016/17	1	-	12	52	324

Teaching language

English

Objectives

This course has two main goals:

1- To allow the students to identify a research topic and to work during the semester to assess the potential of the topic to become a thesis topic, as well as to make a comprehensive bibliographic research and develop a first version of a research plan.

2- To provide the students contact with R&D experts form both the academia and the Industry, so as to allow them to develop a perception of R&D hot topics, research practices, entrepreneurship development, etc.

Learning outcomes and competences

- Knowledge of the Scientific Method in general and of the specificities of application to the Energy Systems area;
- Ability to raise research potential questions, confront them with literarute review and develop a research plan.
- Awareness of the relevance and pertinence of reserach topics in relation to the today's society including the business environment.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

None specific.

Program

The program consists in a mix of lecture from Faculty, Company executives and students who completed their thesis in the program, complementing presentaions by the studentes about the research statement, state-of- the art review and thesis plan.

Mandatory literature

Catherine Dawson; Introduction to research methods. ISBN: 978-1-84528-367-4
Peter Bock ; Bettina Scheibe; Getting it right. ISBN: 978-0-12-108852-1
John W. Creswell; Research design. ISBN: 978-1-4129-6557-6
Ranjit Kumar; Research methodology. ISBN: 1-4129-1194-X

Teaching methods and learning activities

1) Lectures by executives of companies on the Industry perception and practices in R&D and on Entrepeneurship;

2) Development of a Research Plan, including identification of a topic, literatire review, identification of research questions, development of a reserach plan to test/answer the research questions. Students are assisted by a faculty member in this process.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	0,00
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de investigação	100,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Total:	324,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must deliver all the Assignments, perform the Presentation/Discussion and attend a majority of the lectures.

Calculation formula of final grade

The components for student evaluation are: o Assignments o Presentation and discussion of the research topic with MPP faculty. Students PASS if they achieve a grade higher than 10 values and FAIL otherwise. However a grade higher than 14 values is needed to qualify for PhD continuation.

Examinations or Special Assignments

The students must deliver 3 assignments: Assignment 1: 1 page research statement up to about 2 weeks after Seminar starts; Assignment 2: 6 page literature review up to about 6 weeks after Seminar starts; Assignment 3: 10 page Seminar research report  by the end of the Semester.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

TE and DA students will be evaluated in the same manner as regular students, however with more tolerance regarding absence from lectures.

Classification improvement

Not applicable.

Observations

Main Bibliography: Presentations of the lectures will be made available. Each contains suggested bibliography on the lecture topic.