The Final Project, here in after FP, is an individual training activity that must be done by the student in order to complete the Master’s Degree, Specialization or Undergraduate of the Teachers Education area.

The FP guidelines have been designed to provide with the necessary guidance throughout the process of elaboration of the FP. With that aim, the next task sequence, which is mandatory, has been prepared to serve as a guide, especially if there is no experience elaborating this type of projects.

 

AREA 0: Before starting the Final Project

In order to start the Final Project (FP), students must meet the following requirements:

In addition, it is recommended to review the following documents:

TASK 1: General Information

The Final Project consists in the development of an academic work in which students must show that they have acquired the most important competencies developed in the program, and that they can properly handle the main concepts. Broadly speaking, students choose a topic of their interest and complete a monographic work.

The type of work that students must develop varies depending on whether they are enrolled in a Master’s Degree or in a Specialization/ Licence:

In the case of the FPMELE, FPMTFL, FPCELE and FPCTFL programs: the project tutors will contact the students through the Group Forum to begin the process one month before submission of the first document: the Initial Proposal (IP).

The Final Project Secretariat of TE contacts with the students through the group Forum in order to start with the process one month before the submission of the first document: the Initial Proposal (IP).

In the case of the FPMME program, the Final Project begins during the “Methodology of Scientific Research” subject. In the forum, both the faculty in charge and the FP Final Project Secretary provide detailed information on drafting the first document: the Initial Proposal (IP – D1).

In the case of the FPMDU program: the FP Final Projects Secretary contacts the students through the Group Forum to begin the process one month before submission of the first document: the Initial Proposal (IP).

During the FP development, the student has at any time the advice of the FP director, who is assigned to each student once the Initial Proposal (IP) is submitted.

Functions of the FP director are outlined in “What are the functions of the FP Director?”

Throughout the process, the student receives feedback on the Initial Proposal from the assigned tutor and the FP director regarding: Progress 1, Progress 2, and the final FP document.

At Master’s level, there are two itineraries for the FP development, so that one allows students to finish the Master’s Degree earlier (please see the academic calendar). Students can choose their itinerary depending on their needs and personal situation. The choice does not have to be formally communicated, and students are welcome to move freely from the shorter itinerary to the longer one if they feel they lack time.

On the other hand, Specialization and Licence students must submit three documents on the dates established in the academic calendar . These documents will be reviewed by the assigned FP director: Initial Proposal (IP), Advance 1 and FP Report Submission. In this case, submission dates are the same for all students.

Taking into account that all students in the same group submit the progress on the same date, the FP director has a maximum of 20 working days (4 weeks) to provide feedback.  In addition, it must be borne in mind that if the submission date coincides with any vacation period, this deadline can be extended. It is important that students have this information into account in order to organise themselves as best they can.

If the students do not know who their FP director is, they can contact the FP Academic Secretariat of Teacher Training through the Contact section.

TASK 2: D1 Registration

The first step in the FP development is to submit the Initial Proposal (IP) (document 1 – D1) on the date indicated in the academic calendar. Submissions are done through the Final Project section of the PANAL, using the link “Send D1 File”.

Master’s Degree students must use the following template:

Specialization students must use the following template:

The length of the proposal must be between 4 and 5 pages in the case of the Master’s Degree, and up to 4 pages in the Specialization. Please, follow instructions in the template carefully to build a good proposal. Writing the IP-D1 deserves special attention and dedication on the part of the student, since it constitutes the foundations and the guide of what will eventually be the Final Project. Sorting the ideas and organizing the work in a systematic way in this document will ensure a better development of the FP.

TASK 3: D1 Feedback

Once the tutor has received the P1 – D1, he/she has 20 working days (4 weeks) to mark it as APPROVED or NOT APPROVED. The feedback period is taken into account on the submission dates established in the academic calendar. Therefore, delays cannot be blamed on this feedback period.

• When the FP director assesses the IP as APPROVED, the student is informed, and they are then able to continue progressing in the FP.  Students should then start using the Advance template corresponding to the chosen type of FP.
• When the FP director assesses the IP as NOT APPROVED, the student is informed that they must submit it D1 again through the Panal,  after having applied the requested changes. The student must not start the next phase before receiving the approval of the FP director.

TASK 4: Advance1 Submission

The templates for each program and type of project are available in:

In the case of the Master’s Degree, the student must develop and submit sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Advance template. Advance 1 must be 26 to 35 pages long. Submissions that do not comply with this length requirements will be returned to the student without being revised.

In the case of the Specialization Degree,   Advance 1 involves the submission of a full draft, therefore, it must develop all the sections . The submission should be 40 to 60 pages long. Submissions outside this length limits will be returned to the student without being revised.

In the Licence Degree, the supervisor will provide specifications on the length of the Final Project.  Advance 1 involves the submission of a full draft, therefore, it must develop all the sections.

In order to develop this Advance correctly,  it is very important to follow the indications offered in the following documents, in addition to the instructions provided in the template.

The student must submit Advance 1, as they did IP – D1: on the date indicated in the academic calendar and through the Final Project section of the Panal, using the link “Send Advance 1 File”.

TASK 5: Advance 1 Feedback

Once received the Advance 1, the FP director has 20 working days (four weeks) to , mark it as APPROVED or NOT APPROVED. This feedback period is taken into account on the submission dates established in the academic calendar, therefore, delays cannot be blamed to this reason.

• When the FP director APPROVES the A1 , the student is notified so  they are able to work in the other sections. and progress towards submitting Advance 2 .
• When the FP director APPROVES the A1 of the Specialization and Licence, the students is notified. If necessary, they can make some small changes, include the cover and, then, submit the final version of the FP (see Task 8 – Final Report Submission).
• When the FP director assesses the A1 as NOT APPROVED (Master’s Degree/Specialization/Licence), the student is reuquested to make changes and submit the document again through the Panal. Students cannot progres to the next phase without prior approval of the FP director.

In the review of this Advance, the FP director will verify that:

• The student is using the correct template.
• The title and the index of the work correspond with what was approved in the initial proposal.
• The rules of APA citation and the formal requirements are respected.
• There is no plagiarism.
• The contents are located in the corresponding paragraphs, they are sufficiently developed and justified, they are connected through the different sections, they are presented with clarity and are relevant, they do not have serious spelling errors and they show reliable and relevant bibliographic sources.

TASK 6: Advance 2 Submission

In the case of the Master’s Degree:

• Once Advance 1 has been approved, the student must begin to develop Advance 2. This consists of developing the other sections that conform the FP. The maximum length of the document must be 80 to 120 pages (cover page, index, and appendices not included).

In order to develop this Advance correctly, in addition to the instructions provided in the template, it is very important to follow the indications offered in the following documents:

The student must submit the Advance 2, as they did the previous documents, on the date indicated in the academic calendar through the Final Project section of the Panal, using the link “Send Advance 2 File”.

TASK 7: Advance 2 Feedback

Once the FP director receives the Advance 2 file, they have 20 working days (4 weeks) to assess it as APPROVED or NOT APPROVED. This feedback period is taken into account on the submission dates established in the academic calendar, therefore, delays cannot be blamed for this reason.

• When the FP director assesses the A2 of the Master’s degree as APPROVED, the student is informed so that, they are able to make the last changes, include the cover and submit the final version of the FP .
• When the FP director assesses the P2 as NOT APPROVED, the student is notified that they must resubmit the revised version through Panal. Students cannot progres to the next phase without prior approval of the FP director.

In the review of this Advance, the FP director will verify that:

• The student is using the correct template.
• The title and the index of the work correspond with what was approved in the initial proposal.
• The rules of APA citation and the formal requirements are respected.
• There is no plagiarism.
• The contents are located in the corresponding paragraphs, they are sufficiently developed and justified, they are connected through the different sections, they are presented with clarity and are relevant, they do not have serious spelling or grammar errors and they show reliable and relevant bibliographic sources.

TASK 8: FP Report Submission

Development of the final version of the FP:

Once received the approval of the Advance 1 (in the case of the Specialization and Licence) or of the Advance 2 (in the case of the Master’s Degree), the student must submit the final version of the FP. In order to do this, the following considerations must be taken into account:

• The format of the advance templates and the instructions given must not appear in the final document. Only the chapters headings developed in the FP should be kept.
• The maximum length of the Master’s Degree FP must be 80 to 120 pages long (cover page, index, and appendices not included). In the case of the Specialization and Licence, the FP must be 40 to 60 pages long (cover page, index, and appendices not included).
• The FP must include the official cover page of the university in which the student is enrolled, You can download the models below.
  • European University of the Atlantic
  • International Iberoamerican University – Mexico
  • International Iberoamerican University – Puerto Rico
  • Institut Supérieur pou l’Education et les Langues
• The final document must be submitted in .pdf format

Projects that do not follow these indications will not be assessed.

FP Report Submission:

The student must submit the final document of the FP, as all previous documents, on the date indicated in the academic calendar through the Final Project section of the Panal, using the link “Send MDFP File”.

The file must be named in the following manner: GroupFirstName’sInitialLastnames_FP. So, for example, a student named Jan Torres Ruiz of the group 2016-10 should name the document as follows: 2016-10JTorresRuiz_FP.pdf

Projects that do not follow these indications will not be evaluated.

However, before being able to submit the final FP document, the student must fill in the Available Form.

TASK 9: Oral presentation

Students of all the Master’s Degrees of the International Iberoamerican University of Puerto Rico (UNIB) and of some Master’s Degrees of the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO) must do an oral presentation of their FP Report.

Consult HERE if you must comply with this requirement.

In the case of a dual degree of UNIB and Master’s Degree of UNEATLANTICO, the prevailing requirements are the ones from UNEATLANTICO.

For further information, review the following guidelines:

• Oral Presentation Guidelines for Uneatlantico’s postgraduate programs
• Oral presentation Guidelines for UNIB’s postgraduate programs

Clarifications on this matter can be requested through the Contact section

TASK 10: FP Report Assessment

The FP assessment is carried out as follows:

• Specialization: The FP is assessed within 20 working days (4 weeks) using the following assessment criteria: Assessment report.
• Licence: The FP is assessed within 20 working days (4 weeks) using the following assessment criteria: Assessment report.
• Master’s degree:
  • FP without oral defense: The FP is assessed within 20 working days (4 weeks) using the following assessment criteria: Assessment report.
  • FP with oral defense: the FP reeived the final mark from the Evaluation Committee once completed the oral defense of the FP: 80% corresponds to the FP report and the remaining 20% to the oral presentation. In this case, the following assessment criteria must be followed: Assessment report.

Once assessed, the FP can be:

• Approved: diploma application procedures are initiated.
• Not Approved: the document is returned, so the student can implement revisions according to all the indications received by the Evaluation Committee. When the project is ready, the student should resubmit through the Panal, so the director can review the changes and give the approval.
• Rejected: if the work violates any professional or ethical code, the FP is rejected and the student may be expelled from the program. If the student continues in the program, they must propose a new topic and start the project again.

To request a review of the decision by the Evaluation Committee, follow the instructions provided HERE.

The institution reserves the right to keep a copy of the student’s FP and make use of it with educational purposes within the Virtual Campus, with the express reference to the author and the FP Director. Its use for other purposes that might be made subsequent to graduation (publication, use of data, among others) should always be done with the express consent of the author.

FINAL TASK: Completed FP

Once all the subjects are successfully completed and the FP Report is approved, the student’s academic record is closed.

Then, the student receives an email from the university with all the information for the diploma application procedures, as well as the amount to pay for the filing fees.

For any clarification on this issue, the student must contact the Academic Secretariat of the corresponding Headquarters.