Бакалавриат 2026/2027

Научно-исследовательский семинар "Навыки подготовки ВКР"

ID 1195919

Статус: Курс обязательный (Управление цифровым продуктом)

Кто читает: Департамент бизнес-информатики

Где читается: Высшая школа бизнеса

Когда читается: 4-й курс, 2, 3 модуль

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Преподаватели: Текич Желько

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 3

Контактные часы: 30

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The goal of the course is to guide students from topic formulation to a defendable thesis proposal and empirical progress, ensuring academic rigor, methodological fit, and practical relevance. This course treats the bachelor thesis as a guided research or applied project, emphasizing: Autonomy – students learn to define, justify, and execute their own projects. Structure – a clear sequence of checkpoints ensures steady progress. Relevance – projects can be academic or applied, but must demonstrate clear reasoning and evidence. Reflection – students must understand why their approach and results make sense, not just what they did. Transparency in AI use – students are encouraged to use digital and AI tools responsibly and reflectively, not as substitutes for thinking. The seminars act as collective coaching sessions, not lectures. Each meeting focuses on doing, presenting, and receiving feedback — combining peer learning with instructor guidance.

Learning Objectives

• Formulate and justify a coherent thesis topic, question, and purpose. Design and execute a feasible research or applied project, with a sound methodological approach. Integrate theoretical and empirical perspectives appropriately. Demonstrate cumulative progress through clear documentation and argumentation. Communicate findings and reasoning effectively in oral and written form. Reflect critically on ethical, methodological, and AI-related aspects of their work.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Formulate and justify a coherent thesis topic, question, and purpose.
• Integrate theoretical and empirical perspectives appropriately. Derive meaningful research questions and objectives. Recognize the role of theory in guiding inquiry and interpretation.
• Design and execute a feasible research or applied project, with a sound methodological approach. Design a coherent data collection and analysis plan appropriate to the research goal. Demonstrate understanding of empirical rigor and limitations. Connect theoretical framing and empirical analysis (theory–data fit).
• Communicate findings and reasoning effectively in oral and written form. Present research ideas and progress clearly and persuasively. Incorporate feedback constructively and iterate project design. Write in an academically appropriate, structured, and ethical manner. Transparently acknowledge the use of digital and AI tools.
• Reflect critically on ethical, methodological, and AI-related aspects of their work.

Course Contents

• What is a Thesis (VKR)?
• Research Plan & Relevance
• Data Collection & Analysis Plan
• Theory–Data Fit & Literature Anchoring
• Presenting and Communicating Research
• Research and Ethics

Assessment Elements

• Idea and Research Plan Pitch
  Purpose: The goal of this task is to formulate and justify a coherent thesis topic, research question / practical goal, and preliminary research plan. You will present your selected idea (one only) and receive structured feedback.
• Data Collection & Analysis Plan
  Purpose: By this stage, your topic and direction are approved. The goal now is to show a credible and feasible empirical plan: You can clearly state your problem + RQ / goal You can explain why this data is the right evidence (link to theory/practical framing) Your data collection plan is realistic Your analysis plan is structured and aligned with the question Focus is on: What data you need and why, how you will collect it, and how you will analyze it — with a clear link to your research question / practical goal and your theoretical or practical framing.
• Framing–Evidence Fit
  Purpose By this stage, you should demonstrate: You can clearly state your problem + RQ / practical goal You can justify why you do it this way (framing) Your data + method fit your question/goal You can define what success means and how it will be measured/validated You show real progress (evidence of data collection and/or early analysis) Focus: Problem → RQ/Goal → Framing → Literature anchors → Data/Progress → Analysis pipeline → Success/Validation → Risks/Plan B
• Project Proposal Defense Simulation
  This task is not about rewriting the PP text. It is about translating the written proposal into a strong oral defense. Purpose By this stage, you should demonstrate that: your Project Proposal has a clear and coherent structure you can explain what the project is about, why it matters, for whom it matters, and how you will do it your literature review / framing is analytical and supports the project your methods, data, expected results, and validation logic are aligned you can show evidence of real progress you are ready to identify weak points before the real defense
• Thesis Pre-Defense
  Purpose By this stage, you should demonstrate that: your Project Proposal can be presented as a clear oral defense the presentation reflects the main content and logic of your written PP you can explain what the project is about, why it matters, for whom it matters, how it will be done, and what results are expected you can explain how success / validity will be judged you can identify the main remaining risks and limitations you can show concrete evidence of progress and readiness for defense
• Attendance
  Attendance at scheduled teaching sessions. Attendance is tracked per 80-minute session, not per day. Students register attendance using the method and timing specified by the instructor. Attendance cannot be replaced by extra tasks or later participation.

Interim Assessment

• 2026/2027 3rd module
  0.1 * Idea and Research Plan Pitch + 0.1 * Project Proposal Defense Simulation + 0.2 * Framing–Evidence Fit + 0.1 * Attendance + 0.3 * Thesis Pre-Defense + 0.2 * Data Collection & Analysis Plan

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Business Research Methods, Cooper, D. R., 1998
• Business research methods, Zikmund, W.G., 2000
• International organizations and research methods : an introduction, , 2023
• Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. J. (2016). Research Methods for Business (Vol. 7th ed). New York: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1639487

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• 9781000429817 - Sandra van Thiel - Research Methods in Public Administration and Public Management : An Introduction, 2nd ed. - 2021 - Routledge - https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2914612 - nlebk - 2914612

Authors

• Tekich Zhelko