Final year projects and dissertations (FYPD) are a topic of interest in many countries. In the UK the final year dissertation has traditionally been seen as the gold standard for HE. It provides an excellent training ground for students who wish to continue research at Masters and Doctoral levels, as well as showing evidence of the all-important independence and critical thinking skills emphasised as graduate attributes. Effectively implemented, the outcome from undergraduate dissertations can be highly motivated students effectively empowered as independent self-learners. For many students it provides a transformative experience, yet for others the experience is less inspiring and sometimes quite negative. The traditional dissertation has come under pressure for reform as student participation in higher education has increased, there has been a growth in professional disciplines, and staff-student ratios have deteriorated. Some departments have dropped the dissertation altogether or made it optional, but this could be seen as ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’.

This workshop will explore ways in which we can rethink final year projects and dissertations, while at the same time retaining a significant element of research and inquiry and deliver key graduate attributes. Some departments have introduced separate ‘capstone’ projects in their final year courses either instead of, or in addition to, the dissertation. Such courses are common in North America and Australia. These may take many forms which are innovative in the context of their discipline or institution, and may include group, work-oriented and community-based projects. There can also be novel ways of disseminating the findings – via exhibitions, undergraduate research conferences and other forms of public engagement.

Participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences and practices of engaging students in research and inquiry through dissertations, both traditional and alternative. A set of up to 70 mini case studies from different disciplines and countries will be used to stimulate discussion and participants will be given the opportunity to plan how they might redesign their final year project or dissertation.