Project Study Work (PSW)

The PSW serves as the starting point for the Transfer Project. It aims to give all participants—students, universities, supervisors, and project sponsors (if applicable)—guidance and initial planning for the project and its progression.

In the PSW, students focus on the following aspects:

• The challenge/problem/research interest as the starting point of the Transfer Project
• The leading research question and any sub-questions to be answered in the final Thesis. These questions can also be changed in the further course of the Transfer Project, e.g. after feedback from the project coach or if initial research results make this seem useful.
• Overview of theoretical approaches that can be used in the course of the Transfer Project.
• First discussion of possible scientific methods that could be used in the Transfer Project.

A mandatory component of the PSW is an ungraded presentation of the research project in an online Group Project Session (GPS) even before the PSW is submitted. During the GPS, S-Next employees and other students will be present to give the presenters constructive feedback on the ideas of the Transfer Project so far. In addition to the mandatory presentation, students are therefore recommended to participate in a GPS at least once as a listener or discussant to learn from other students, question their own approach, and be able to incorporate information into the PSW. 

To be able to start the Project Study Work and to be able to present its interim results in a Group Project Session before its finalization, contact must be made with a project coach. Therefore, the first formal step to start a Transfer Project is to register a Transfer Project via the OnlineCampus. This is because this is a prerequisite for obtaining a project coach with whom the Transfer Project is coordinated.

Further information on the written elaboration of the PSW can be found in the Word template for the PSW. The chapters in this template provide insight into the Transfer Project and its planning. The following is the content structure of a PSW:

1. The Problem /  Challenge
2. The research question of the Thesis
3. The scientific theories
4. The scientific methods

The table below describes the formal requirements for PSW.

Please get in touch with your Project Coach for guidance regarding your Transfer Project and written work. Your Project Coach can provide valuable insights and support throughout the process. You may also refer to this Evaluation Report for PSW template to gain a clear understanding of the expectations for your written work.