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Roles and responsibilities

Appointment of promotor(s)

The responsibility for the supervision of the course unit Master's dissertation rests with a maximum of 2 promotors.

The head promotor

  • is a remunerated member of the ZAP staff (including guest professors), a PhD assistant at UGent or an academic (with a temporary or permanent contract) with the degree of PhD, and
  • is a staff member of the FBW or lecturer of a general subject within the master's programme concerned, and
  • has at least one year of experience at UGent/faculty
  • has good knowledge of the programme of the master's thesis student and the expectations of a master's dissertation (including the related credits and therefore study time) in the programme concerned, and
  • acts and is registered as administratively responsible promotor. The administrative promotor does NOT exercise powers of representation, decision-making or control in the company and is independent of the company and independent of the co-promotor or tutor if the latter(s) are closely involved in the operation of the company (= also UGent spin-off).

Both promotors

  • are academics with the degree of PhD and - because of the multidisciplinary character of the master's thesis - preferably associated with another research discipline (within or outside the same department, faculty or university)*
  • have a substantive affinity with the theme of the Master's thesis
  • have no close personal involvement or family relationship with the student

* Persons without a doctorate, but with extensive experience in the field of the master's thesis, can be admitted to the FBW as an additional supervisor if thoroughly motivated.

Promotor's assess the "process" part of the master's dissertation (30%).

Appointment of tutor(s)

At the FBE one to maximum two tutors are appointed for each master's thesis subject. They are responsible for the daily guidance of the student. 

  • A tutor must hold a Master's degree and has at least one year of research experience.
  • The promotor can also act as a tutor..
  • The aim is to have a maximum of 2 fulltime thesis students per tutor.
  • If there are two tutors, it is clearly indicated to the student which of the two tutors is the first point of contact.
  • A tutor cannot be a commissioner, but is involved in the scoring of the master's thesis via the promotor(s) (see section "Calculation of the examination mark" in the study sheet of the master's thesis)..

Appointment of 2 reading commissioners

It is the task of the promotor(s), after consultation, to propose 2 commissioners.

  • Commissioners must:
    • hold a master's degree and have at least 3 years of relevant research experience..
    • be independent (no family relationships, no direct managerial position, no research relationship) of the realisation of the Master's thesis (the Programme Committee checks this and advises the FR).
    • when accepting nomination as commissioner indicate in the application on honours that they are independent of the research conducted and have a minimum of 3 years of relevant research experience after obtaining the master's degree.
    • be present at the defence: on campus in the case of UGent commissioners; on campus or online in the case of non-UGent commissioners.
  • At least one commissioner has to be a FBE staff member.
  • At least 1 commissioner is not under the direct leadership of the promotor(s).

Reading commissioners assess the "report" part of the master's dissertation (40%).

Appointment chairman and secretary

The FBE appoints a designated chairperson and secretary for each Master's programme on the advice of the Programme Committee and the approval of the FR..

The chairman:

  • is a member of the ZAP staff
  • has a steering role in the assessment (in case of differences between jury members , discussion about the answers during the defence,...)
  • has feeling with the theme of the programme, but is independent of the student

The secretary is a ZAP, DA, AAP or educational tutor of the FBE with at least 4 years of experience in tutoring and supporting thesis students. 

The entire jury evaluates the presentation (10%) and defense (20%) components of the master's dissertation.