1. Revised principles of Master thesis at Department of Mathematics and Informatics, University of Novi Sad B. Šešelja, Z. Budimac

2. Informatics studies in Novi Sad At University of Novi Sad studies in Informatics exist at: Faculty of Economy Faculty of Technical Sciences Faculty of Natural Sciences Several (and also many private) high schools

3. Department of Mathematics and Informatics History and tradition 1969 Faculty of Natural Sciences 1976 Institute of Mathematics 2002 Department of Mathematics and Informatics

4. Department of Mathematics and Informatics 2008 7 chairs in Mathematics 40 members, 30 teachers 2 chairs in Informatics 20 members, 7 teachers

5. Present studies of Informatics at DMI 3+2 : bachelor + master three study programs several modules compulsory and optional courses

6. Bachelor studies 3 years study program: informatics title: “informatician” two modules: Computer Science Information Technologies

7. Academic (master) studies 2 years two study programs: a) Informatics b) Information Technologies

8. Study program Informatics title: graduated “informatician” – master modules: Computer Science Teaching Informatics Theoretical Informatics

9. Study program Information Technologies title: graduated “informatitian” – information technologies – master modules: Software Engineering Information Systems

10. Two subject studies integrated academic studies 5 years Mathematics and Informatics Physics and Informatics Geography and Informatics

11. PhD studies in informatics 3 years title: PhD in Computer Science

12. DMI Master studies in Informatics How much of Mathematics? “Hardware and software change fast, what remains are principles from automata theory, formal languages, theoretical computer science. That is what students should learn mostly. ” “Mathematicians, they prove theorems.”

13. mathematical and other subjects Bachelor studies: 9 subjects out of 19 at Computer Science module 5 subjects out of 19 at Information Technologies module

14. mathematical and other subjects master of Informatics: 4 out of 9 at Computer Science 3 out of 10 at Teaching Informatics 6 out of 9 at Theoretical Informatics Optional courses: 6 out of 20

15. mathematical and other subjects Information Technologies: 0 out of 3 (4) at both modules Optional courses: 4 out of 20

16. Number of students BSC, 2008/09 BSc - Informatics: 10 BSc - Inf. Technology: 58 (We expect 10 more) Master, 2007/08 Informatics – 55 PhD, 2008/09 ?

17. Master thesis principles Guided by Previous experiences in diploma and ‘magister’ theses; Requirements of the present Law for high education; Some general guidelines by Bologna suggestions; Expected higher number of students of master studies than before; Results of the Tempus project on MSc studies; Experiences of UK and Spain.

18. Diploma thesis – so far After 4 years of BSc studies; Presenting some wider knowledge of the particular topic, including (not necessarily) some experimental result or practical application OR doing something; Publishable result was not required; The supervisor was in general (seen as) responsible for the quality of the thesis.

19. All in all… With diploma thesis, students demonstrates: That she/he is able to do (present) something (properly); Where ‘properly’ usually means ‘by obeying the rules of the trade’; [70 per year]

20. History and critics The process of preparation potentially ‘indefinite’. Student and supervisor exchange documents/products until supervisor is satisfied. Therefore, the highest mark is almost guaranteed; ‘faster’ supervisors are more popular (can it lead to lower quality?)

21. History and critics – contd. Since supervisor is seen as responsible, other members of diploma thesis committee: Do not (or do rarely and mostly superficially) read the thesis. Do not ‘complain’ too much, or complain ‘secretly’ to the supervisor (and not to the student). If they complain to the student, they may ruin the good relationships among colleagues (can be seen as ‘attacking’ supervisors work/opinions). Generally, students do not learn how to be responsible for their own work (they do the work but are not responsible).

22. History and critics – contd. Some closing statements by various supervisors (as a consequence of the practice): “The student did it all alone, I was just advising her/him”. Comment: But of course – how else it should be? “The student alone suggested topic for her/his thesis”. Comment: But of course – why shouldn’t she/he do that?

23. Magister thesis (Previous) MSc thesis at both, Mathematics and Informatics: After 4+3 years These 3 years were (almost) equivalent to PhD studies. MSc thesis was supposed not only to present the state of the art in the field, but also to contain creative, publishable result. The supervisor was in general responsible for the quality of the thesis.

24. History and critics Process too long Comment: “Still these were the only studies leading to PhD” “Small PhD” Comment: It was our tradition Only 2-3 students per year, i.e., Only those that will further pursue academic carrier

25. Present Master thesis in Informatics It is supposed to be a work whose quality lies between previous diploma and magister thesis’; Regulated by the document approved by the Department Council; The process lasted 6 months

26. Present Master thesis in Informatics – “heretic” issues The candidate, not his supervisor, is the only person responsible for the quality of the work, obeying the deadlines, submitting the documents… Master thesis demonstrates: a) adequate application of principles and theory b) advancement in knowledge, and c) awareness of current research issues in the field. Message: “I did it and I know why I did it and why it is different (if not better) of what others did.”

27. Heretics, contd. As a rule, the thesis describes practical product, e.g., literature review cannot be the master thesis. Comment: In Mathematics this does not exist as a rule.

28. Heretics, cont. Students choose the topic (from the list) and then negotiate directions of further work with supervisor. It is signed by both and contains also the Gantt chart. Supervisor once checks the student’s progress based on the document signed and Gantt chart. Supervisor once reviews the product and the text. Supervisor always answers student’s questions and gives advices obeying the previous two rules.

29. Heretics, cont. The duration of the whole process is fixed. The highest mark is not guaranteed – indeed passing this ‘final exam’ is also not guaranteed.

30. Differences… … between what the Tempus project (‘Joint master studies in software engineering’) suggested and what we accepted: Originally: supervisor never sees/reviews the text and the product. Accepted: She/he sees/reviews it once. Originally: the ‘advancement in knowledge’ is proved by ‘publishable’ paper(s). Accepted: Committee decides has “advancement in knowledge” been achieved.

31. What were the major discussion topics during acceptance of these principles… “Will committee be able to see the advances in knowledge”? No they will not. Usually committee consists of complete idiots “What the parents will say if the student fails this final exam”? Do not bring parents. OR. Student will be advised not to take the final exam - he/she would fail ‘secretly’.

32. … contd. How can it be that supervisor is not responsible for the student’s work? It has always been so, it should be so, we just have to create the environment where it will be easier to implement it. It is not fair to review students’ work only once. Imagine that you have 15 master students a year and that you have to review their work indefinite number of times and then ask the question again.

33. … contd. Eloquence is required during presentation; what about those having some speaking defect? Copyright of the result – it belongs to the candidate or to the Department? "Student cannot use products that are parts of the master thesis and the thesis itself in non-academic purposes without written agreement where all details of the usage will be defined."

34. What we hope we shall achieve Student is really responsible for her/his work; Supervisors and other members of master committees can be more objective; Higher “efficiency” of the process; Higher quality (within the given quality framework).

35. The End Thank you