MRMA project phase
A project is initially a draft concept based on discussion with as many stakeholders, interested parties, sponsors, lecturers, etc. as possible, which becomes a plan with the most precise possible initial description and objectives. A project will then implement the plan in practice.
The project can be planned and carried out as an individual or group project. However, each person must have made a recognisable research contribution to the work (at least developing the research question, collecting, processing and evaluating the material).
Up to eight individual coaching units are provided per student for the conception, realisation and preparation of the project report.
The project submission should include a timeline and indicate who will be the main person responsible for the project coaching. This person will also be the main assessor of the project at the project presentation in November. The naming of further advisory persons can be left open or decided during the actual implementation phase (see under implementation phase).
At least one reviewer must be a lecturer at the MRMA - preferably a professor.
Concept phase
The concept phase takes place from December to February. The conceptual planning of the project is based on
Action-scientific sub-questions
Description of the initial situation, explanations, possible forecasts, assessments, identification of actors, resources, working methods and evaluation methods
All modules attended
in particular Module B to determine the "vulnerable group" and Module C, which provides specific knowledge on human rights education, local and international human rights practice and change management in supporting organisations
Module "Social work science" for project evaluation
The practical project should include a research-related part. It can refer to the entire project (e.g. the survey of the living situation of Hartz IV recipients, interviews with politicians) or only to a part of it (e.g. the evaluation of an educational event, a project). The research methods used are selected based on the research question and the research objective.
Additional knowledge
Students acquire the necessary additional knowledge independently during the conception phase.
Implementation phase
Project colloquia are offered between February and November. Qualified participation in at least two days of project colloquia is mandatory (students can present their own project). The project colloquia are structured and organised as required.
The realisation phase is accompanied by individual coaching. Students can choose their own additional advisors.
A maximum of 8 x 45-minute coaching hours are available per student. Group coaching for group projects or individual projects with comparable topics is possible. In addition, it is advisable to discuss the (partial) results of the research in self-organised groups.
The involvement of advisors who do not teach on the course is possible, but must be agreed with the programme director.
Project presentation
The project presentation takes place in November. During the final colloquium, the project is presented to the main supervisors and a second assessor proposed by the students
second assessor proposed by the students. In addition, all participants in the degree programme are required to take part in the presentations. The final colloquium is also open to the university public. Students who are presenting can also invite external persons to their presentations or, for example, for reasons of research ethics
exclude the public for reasons of research ethics, for example.
If the public is to be excluded, please inform the degree programme coordinator in good time, stating the reasons, and note this accordingly in the programme.
If a reviewer is unable to attend and cannot/would not like to be connected online, the programme management will appoint a replacement with the involvement of the students. If a reviewer is unable to attend, this should be communicated to the office by the beginning of the month of the presentation date at the latest. The second assessor has an advisory vote in the assessment of the presentation.
Procedure of the project presentation
with a student
- Presentation: 30 minutes
- Questions from the reviewers: 15 minutes; the reviewers then withdraw for consultation
- Questions and comments from students: 15 minutes
- Feedback from the examiners to the project managers to the exclusion of the other attendees (15 minutes - break for the colloquium participants)
for two students
- Presentation: 50 minutes
- Questions from the reviewers: 20 minutes; the reviewers then withdraw for consultation
- Questions and comments from students: 20 minutes
- Feedback from the examiners to the project managers to the exclusion of the other participants (15 minutes - break for the colloquium participants)
Project documents
The project documents to be submitted four weeks before the presentation include
- Project summary of approximately 5 to 6 pages, which can be used for the website or/and the creation of project documentation (anthology of project work). This can also serve as a handout for the project presentation. If the summary is not also the handout, the handout can be brought directly to the presentation. A sufficient number of handouts should be brought to the presentation by the students;
- theoretical background of the project;
- Presentation and action-theoretical analysis of the project process (reflection, W-questions) including methods and results of the project evaluation; reflection on the learning experience; list of literature used (20 to 25 pages in total); for two students the total length is approx. 35 pages; for three students approx. 50 pages.
- Appendix with important documents, newspaper reports, question and evaluation forms, etc.
The documentation is prepared in triplicate and one copy each is sent to the first assessor, second assessor and the MRMA coordination office in paper form and to the office in digital form at least 28 days before the student's presentation. In addition, students must prepare the project summary for the day of the presentation and have a sufficient number of copies ready.
The examination in module D 7 is not graded. The entire module is deemed to have been passed if at least two of the following sub-areas are assessed as passed:
- Project realisation
- project report
- Project presentation
The assessors are asked to provide the students with brief written feedback on the project implementation and the project report at least 10 days before the presentations so that they can prepare for the presentation. The students should be explicitly informed whether the project implementation and report have each been assessed as passed. If both are not graded as passed, the presentation is not necessary because the module has already been failed.