Qualitative Study On Positioning And Management Of Full-time Professional Master’s Dissertation

Thesis is one part of postgraduate education. Also it is an important content which guarantees teaching quality, manifesting the graduate student’s academic achievement and their academic level. The full-time professional master’s education includes three components: thesis, courses, professional practice. Thesis not only has traditional functions, but also has the characteristics of full-time professional master’s education, which means that "academic" and "applied" are highly unified.This study randomly selected 20 full-time professional master’sstudents from a research university in South China. We examined their experiences of composing thesis and their understanding and feeling in the process. Based on the inductive analysis of qualitative material, this thesis arrived at three findings: the function and localization of full-time professional master’s degree thesis, the ideal model of full-time professional education of master, and some important management problems about the full-time professional master’s degree thesis.Firstly,position and functions of Full-time professional master’s dissertation. This problem is the primary problem of thesis management. This study argues that thesis cannot be replaced by any other means. At the same time, the thesis has five identities: the "judge", the "guarantor", the "teacher", the "summary", and the “users”; thus it is paramount in full-time professional postgraduate education.Secondly, professional practice and thesis are interlinked process in the full-time professional postgraduate education, the former cultivates application ability of students, the latter nurtures student’s academic achievement. Combined with the characteristic of full-time professional master’s education, this research found that it is worthwhile to explore the relationship between the two. The interrelationship between professional practice contents, to some extent, affects the quality of the dissertation. This study argues that translating the professional practice into a thesis, not onlyreflects the "academic", also ensure the "applicability."Thirdly, the educational function of thesis. For full-time professional master’s students, what they received is the process of education. In this research, I understood the educational function by interviewing the student’s experience and feelings. Compared with the educational function of the professional practice, this research aims to clearly define the educational function. The researcher found that the cultivation of individual innovative ability, scientific thinking, and the development of the scientific research ability cannot be replaced by professional practice.Fourthly, status quo of the relationship between advisors and students.There is no doubt that the role of teacher in education is significant. Full-time professional master’s education of "double tutors" system empowers students havingtwo mentors.Teacher’s function becomes more important. This study based on the description of the thesis process, found that there are still have problems of guidance from on-campus mentors and off-campus mentors.The problem is that"double tutors" system is not yet perfect, and thata few disagreements between "academic" and "professional”, major and minor advisors, "anarchy" phenomenon does exist.Fifthly, the format and criterion of full-time professional master’s thesis.Thesis should be diversified, which is the common voice of all the respondents. Butthere is certain confusion: What is the difference between different forms of thesis? This study found that students heldthat there was no obvious difference with the traditional. At the same time, although the students expected a clear thesis evaluation standard, but there is no standard yet. Given this problem, this study conducted in-depth analysis and finally put forward a conclusion that full-time professional master’s degree in thesis form should be diversified, and that the standard should be definite.Finally, strategies and suggestions. This study summarizes the related management problems of the full-time professional master’s degree thesis.It puts forward strategies and suggestions in four aspects. First is the adjustment and improvement of cultivation system: the system should be adapted to the specific program and practice; “double tutors " system should be perfect; “academic “and " professional “should be distinguished; Second, it puts forward the suggestion that thesis and practice are essential, and that three components should be connected. Third, for the construction of tutors system, this study asserts that universities should establish correct value orientation, mentor accountability mechanism, and supervision evaluation function. Finally, on the part of students, this study proposes that students should have a clear positioning, improve the understanding of postgraduate education, and should not regard education as a preparation for employment. In the process of thesis writing, the student should be proactive.