Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
MASITA @ MASILA ABDUL JALIL, NOOR AZLIZA CHE MAT, AMIR NGAH, NORAIDA HJ.
ALI AND DZUL FADLY ISMAIL
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science and Technology
University College of Science and Technology Malaysia (KUSTEM)
21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
MALAYSIA.
Abstract: - This paper describes the design and implementation of the Online Final Year Project Selection System
(OFYPSMS) that has been developed for the Department of Computer Science (JASKOM), University College of
Science and Technology Malaysia (KUSTEM). Through this web-based system, final year students can search for
project titles based on certain criteria and preferences. The system will then display all of the final year project
topics that match the specified categories. However, if none of the titles suit their interests, they can also propose
their own titles using this system and if these titles are accepted by any of the lecturers, it means that they got the
projects. This selection system also enables the project supervisors to view, insert and update the final year project
topics that will be offered. The Project coordinator on the other hand, could print various reports and obtain
statistics such as the number of titles offered for each semester and the number of students that have been
assigned to respective supervisors over a certain period of time. Since this is a web-based system, users can access
it from anywhere and at anytime as long as there is an Internet service available. This OFYPSMS has been
developed using PHP, HTML and SQL as its DBMS.
Keywords : - Project selection system, Final year project, Web-based system, Online selection processes.
1. Introduction
Most public and private higher academic institutions
in Malaysia require their students to undertake an
academic project in their final year of study [1].
Students can choose whether to take any titles i.
offered by the lecturers or might suggest their own
project. To date, manual project selection systems
are typically used to assign students to their final
year project topics and supervisors. The selection
process will become rather difficult if there were too
many students taking the course at a time.
One way to overcome this problem is to
develop a web-based system that could store all the
information about the projects. This will help
students where they can use the system without any
time and place constraints. A few institutions [3, 4,
5, 6] have actually adopted this so-called project
selection system. However, not much information on
how this system works has been made available or
2. Problem Descriptions
The Final Year Project Selection System that is
currently being used at JASKOM, KUSTEM is one
example of a manual selection system. Students are
given the project registration forms and are required
to complete and submit them to the project
coordinator within the given timeline. All project
titles offered by lecturers are posted on their
respective notice boards. Students are free to choose
from any of the topics proposed by the lecturers or
they may suggest their own titles to the lecturers. If
the students chose to pick the project topics under
the lecturers, they need to see the lecturers to get
detailed information about the project. The titles are
then given to the students on the first come first
serve basis. Students can also discuss with their
respective supervisors if they have additional ideas
to share.
This manual-based selection system however
suffers from some weaknesses especially in the
3. System Design
This selection system has been developed to give an
advantage to the final year students that register for
the TMK4998 course to select a project topic that
matches their interest and expertise. The selection
process was very simple because students will
simply need to submit their preferences and wait for
the related project titles to be displayed.
The page containing the project descriptions will
include all the necessary information such as the
project summary, aims, requirements and activities.
This is particularly important to make sure that
students get a better understanding and a clearer
picture on the project requirements and expectations.
There will also be some spaces reserved for lecturers
to put down additional information such as their
proposed timeline, appointments and detailed
activities. Based on the information, students will
know exactly when their supervisors are available
should they need advises and when they are
expected to submit their works. These spaces also
function as a medium for the supervisors to
communicate with their students.
The project topic will normally be given to the
selected student that have chosen the topic and meet
certain criteria as outlined by the supervisors. In the
4. System Implementation
The system comprises of three modules: for
administrator or project coordinator, lecturers/
supervisors and for students. Each module has
different menus that are set for the respective users.
In the coordinators module, there are eight
menus. Apart from the four common menus, the
coordinator also has access to menu for registering,
deleting and updating students records, viewing
several lists including project listing, the proposed
titles and students-supervisors allocation list. In
addition, the coordinator can also print the list if
needed and monitor students that have successfully
obtained project titles and those that are still looking
for one. Registration can only be done by the
administrator to avoid the data from being accessed
or modified by unauthorized persons.
Once registered, students will be able to
view all the project titles, do selection, forward
proposal as well as check their results. In selecting
the project titles, students are required to list out
their interests, skills, and performance for example,
they are good in C programming and Visual Basic.
They can then choose any lecturers that they wish to
work with and the type of projects; basically either a
Main System
Main Menu
Main Menu
Result
Add
Update
Update
Exit
Exit
Students' List
Supervisors' List
Search
Select
Students to Supervisors
Listing
CONCLUSION