{"id":1238,"date":"2020-11-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogit.metropolia.fi\/hiilta-ja-timanttia\/2020\/11\/02\/benefits-of-systematic-degree-program-design-2-3-the-gate-model\/"},"modified":"2024-10-01T12:18:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T09:18:55","slug":"benefits-of-systematic-degree-program-design-2-3-the-gate-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogit.metropolia.fi\/hiilta-ja-timanttia\/2020\/11\/02\/benefits-of-systematic-degree-program-design-2-3-the-gate-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Systematic Degree Program Design 2\/3: The GATE model"},"content":{"rendered":"

Text 2 in this 3-part series of texts focuses on the benefits of the GATE model utilized in <\/span>Metropolia Industrial Management (IM) Master’s Program<\/span><\/a> for producing the thesis. The model is also used in the IM Bachelor level thesis process. The model centers on a <\/span>structured<\/b> thesis process for teaching the methodology and research skills needed for carrying out a business project for a case company and producing the thesis.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first text<\/span><\/a> dealt with the benefits of the overall degree program, which is designed to make each component work in favor of the students and the projects they have undertaken to complete in one academic year. Text 3 will take a closer look at the specific benefits of one key component of the GATE model, i.e. the Writing Clinics providing one-on-one guidance and using the IM Thesis template as a key tool.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main aim of this blog series is to share my observations and learnings with instructors interested in adopting scientifically sound, systematic and holistic research and business principles \u2013 that produce quality results \u2013 into their pedagogical toolbox. Moreover, to quote Dr. Juha Haimala, the Head of IM Degree Program, \u201cthe principles are highly applicable to any real business case, not merely higher education Master\u2019s studies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Components of GATE Model<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Metropolia IM Master\u2019s thesis is typically a real-life, practical development project carried out for the Master\u2019s student\u2019s employer organization. To tackle the development project, the Master\u2019s Thesis GATE model is based on the idea of dividing the thesis process into 7 <\/span>well-defined and logical<\/b> stages called GATES that help the students put together the thesis chapters one by one. The 7 GATEs and their corresponding thesis chapters are shown in Table 1:<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 1. The seven gates and corresponding thesis chapters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Number of Gate<\/b><\/td>\nContent of Gate<\/b><\/td>\nCorresponding thesis chapter<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/b><\/td>\nScoping\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIntroduction<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/b><\/td>\nProject planning\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMethods and Materials<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/b><\/td>\nCurrent State Analysis\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCurrent State Analysis on Case Company Problem x<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/b><\/td>\nLiterature\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nConceptual Framework on Thesis topic x<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/b><\/td>\nSolution development\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nInitial Proposal for Problem x<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/b><\/td>\nValidating solution\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nValidation of Initial Proposal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/b><\/td>\nPutting it together\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nConclusions<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The names of the thesis chapters naturally vary somewhat between students but the above provides a middle-of-the-road idea of what the headings of the main chapters could look like. Image 1 further down in the text depicts the entire GATE model in detail, but first a quick reminder is perhaps needed of what an individual Gate is.<\/span><\/p>\n

GATE = Instructor Input and Student Output<\/span><\/h2>\n

As described briefly in <\/span>Text 1<\/span><\/a> of this series, a GATE is a preparation to allow the student <\/span>to create one key component of the Master\u2019s Thesis at a time, ensuring timely completion<\/b>. Each of the 7 GATES includes both instructor input and student output and consists of five elements A-E, as illustrated in Table 2:<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 2. What is a GATE?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
GATE Instructor input A-C<\/b><\/td>\nGATE Student output D-E<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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    \n
  • A. Focused methodology class (Applied Research and Development Skills)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • B. Research clinic: one-on-one meeting with thesis supervisor<\/span><\/li>\n
  • C. Writing Clinic: one-on-one guidance with language supervisor<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
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