Project Work

Project work (projects) is a part of a Degree Programme for which academic credits are awarded, and which is to be assessed.

Each project is subject to deadlines and clear performance criteria (i.e., predefined characteristics pertaining to the project’s final result), and has external and internal customers with interest in the project results.

What type of projects are there?

The following types of projects are conducted, depending on their goals and project results:

• research projects refer to projects concentrated on research work conducted in order to generate research or applied research materials as the project result (e.g., articles/publications, reports, analytical surveys or notes, research grant applications, or teaching and learning guidelines, etc.);
• practical (applied) projects refer to projects focused on solving applied tasks; the results of such projects may be developed as substantiated project solutions, business plans or business cases, or products created upon the client’s request, etc.;
• service projects refer to projects focused on solving certain official tasks under the framework of a project assignment or providing support to HSE’s ongoing activities and/or those of related subdivisions which, in turn, may be conducive to development of students’ organizational and communicative competences. In this case, project results may be represented in the project team member’s tangible and recognized contribution to the organization of any event (e.g., conferences, Olympiads, excursions, Open House days, or admission campaign, etc.) or the implementation of organizational processes (e.g., organising feedback contributions by teachers and students, providing technical support required during preparation of teaching and learning materials and organizational support during classes, especially with a large number of participants, etc.). The share of service projects in total credits given for project work within the framework of a given Degree Programme is limited and may not exceed 25% of a student’s total credits.

Also the following types of projects are conducted, depending on the methods of project organization:

• individual projects refer to projects that may be implemented individually by one participant in the course of his/her work;
• group projects mean projects conducted by a team, and participants produce a collective result in the course of collaboration;
• short-term projects are scaled to fit in one academic module/semester;
• long-term projects are meant for longer periods of time (over one semester);
• external projects are implemented at the request of the University’s external customers;
• internal projects are implemented upon the request of the University’s subdivisions and academic staff.

What are the project seminars?

Project seminars serve as an academic model for the provision of organizational and educational support with respect to project work. Their aim is to develop project competences, teamwork and management skills on the part of students. Project seminars may focus on methods and techniques, which are used at different stages of a given project’s implementation (e.g., methods for setting problems, coming up with project solutions, assessing resources and project risks, etc.). During project seminars, students may discuss individual and group projects together, seek expert consultation, take part in master classes conducted by leading experts engaged in real business projects, and present interim project results.

What projects students can select?

Students may fill in applications for any service project, as well as other projects approved by the academic supervisor of their respective Degree Programme.

A project originator has the right to reject a student’s application, if the latter does not meet the requirements specified in the project proposal.

How much credits students can get for a project work?

The number of credits is defined in the programme's curriculum for every year.

Students may receive additional credits for project work in excess of the recommended limit during the entire period of their studies under a given Degree Programme.

Total credits awarded to students for project work may be reduced by a project manager if the scope of such work has not been fulfilled in full for:

• objective reasons: if a student has failed to fulfil all obligations due to force majeure circumstances (e.g., illness); in this case, a project supervisor may evaluate the student’s work and award a certain number of credits based his/her actual contribution;
• for subjective reasons: if a student does not properly cope with the assignments and/or displays a negligent attitude, and, thus, the project supervisor dismisses the student from the project; or if the student fails to fulfil his/her share of the collective work while in a group/team, which entails the redistribution of responsibilities within the group during the project, etc.

The project supervisor may decide to reduce the number of credits awarded to a given student for project work. A reduction of credits does not automatically entail a lower grade for the part of a project that has already been completed by the student.

Is it mandatory to participate in a project work?

Students shall be responsible for selecting projects during the entire period of their studies, as well as for making sure that they receive the required number of credits, pursuant to their given curriculum.

An insufficient number of credits earned prior to final state certification shall be considered as a student’s failure to fulfil the relevant curriculum in full. A student may not be admitted to the final state certification in this case.

What is a result of a project for student?

A project participant is required to prepare reporting materials based on the results of project work. The format of the reporting materials depends on the type and contents of the given project. The list and type of reporting materials for a particular project shall be defined by the project manager.

How the project results are assessed?

The results of a student’s participation in project work may be evaluated according to a 10-point or Pass/Fail (if project accounts for less than 3 credits) grading scale. Information on the grading system must be provided in the given project’s application.

The resulting grade for project work includes an assessment of the competences stated in the given project application as to be acquired by the student. This may also include an evaluation of the project result/product and the student’s participation therein.

With respect to group projects, the resulting grade may also consider an assessment of teamwork/individual contribution on the part of each participant.

Grades for all projects completed by students in the course of theirs studies under a Degree Programme shall be recorded in their degree certificates, thereby specifying project types and total credits awarded.

If a project participant is replaced or dismissed from the project group before the project is completed due to a violation of the terms and/or conditions of work, or the unavailability of interim results, or if the student refuses to work on the project without a valid reasons, the work performed by such project participant shall be assessed as unsatisfactory; no credits shall be awarded for the project work; such work shall be considered an academic failure.

What if a student fails the project?

If a student receives a “Fail” or less than “4” on a 10-point grading scale as the resulting grade for a project, his/her performance is qualified as an academic failure.

In order to liquidate an academic failure, a student must take part in another project and achieve results not deemed as an academic failure.

Students can select a project via Project Fair (there you can switch the language for English-tought or Russian-tought projects)