Digital support for final projects

What was the main goal of your project?
The primary goal was to use the Quality Funds to improve the thesis process for both students and staff while complying with laws and regulations regarding privacy and security. Specially developed software makes the workflow for theses, internships, and other final projects more transparent. Supervisors and students can see exactly where they are in the process, what actions are needed, and which documents or formats are required. Feedback on (partial) submissions is available to students in one place. Additionally, certain elements are automated, reducing manual work and minimising the chance of errors.

What concrete results have you achieved with your project?
We gained insight into the diversity of forms and processes used within final project courses, as well as the various parties involved. For this project, we chose the software OnStage, aiming to optimally support all trajectories. The supporting VU organisation is fully prepared, and OnStage has already been implemented in 45 trajectories this year. Most other thesis courses will follow in the academic year 2024–2025. We have arranged to provide extra support during the initial period and to implement improvements based on feedback from students and lecturers in collaboration with the supplier.

What did you personally find the most beautiful or special moment during this project? 
What I found most rewarding about the project was that the project team, faculty members, and the supplier put in the extra effort when it was needed. This made it possible to implement OnStage in every faculty for BSc final project courses right when they started. It was a close call, but thanks to the collaboration, we succeeded. From that moment on, a clear pathway for the entire process was ready for students.

How has this project contributed to the improvement of education at VU Amsterdam?
This project has improved education at VU Amsterdam by providing both supervisors and students with a better overview of the steps in the graduation process and the necessary documents and formats. Documents and feedback are now centrally accessible, making the process more efficient. Thanks to automation, less time is needed for administrative tasks, and information is more readily available for quality assurance and accreditation processes. The time saved can ideally be used to further enhance education at VU.