All students MUST submit the document "FinalApproval.doc" as a signed pdf document by your supervisor by 21 August 2019. You can find the document under the Module Content of this website.

This process is required to ensure that all topics for the mini-dissertation are approved by the Computer Science committee. Therefore, due to this process you DO NOT require a supervisor/co-supervisor from the School of IT anymore for your mini-dissertation.  

Even if your topic was approved earlier this year and the scope of your topic did not change, you still have to submit the document. However, you supervisor can then indicate in the space to discuss any changes to the topic or scope, the following: "Topic is already approved and no changes have been made to the scope."

The list of topics and supervisors have been released. You can find it under the module content of this website. Please check the information and if anything has to be changed, send me an email.

Take note that you will use the same topic that you had for the project (MIT808) for your mini-dissertation, unless you choose to do a different topic. However, if you want to do a different topic, it is your responsible to find a supervisor and to submit the topic document for approval.

The difference between MIT808 and MIT807 is that with MIT807 you will focus on the research component of the topic, but you can still use the results obtained in MIT808 for your mini-dissertation. However, you may have to do additional experiments to obtain additional results for the mini-dissertation. In addition, you will write-up a mini-dissertation that will be submitted for examination. This will be your only mark for the module.

Take note that there will not be a session about the module. However, I have created a thread on the discussion forum where you can ask questions or anything that you need clarification about this module.

You can access the discussion forum here:
http://www.cs.up.ac.za/forum

Use the same login details that you are using for the Computer Science website (your module website).

This semester you should work on your mini-dissertation. For this module you must:
1) Ensure that you apply for ethical clearance. If you use data of people (even if it is anonymized), you must apply for ethical clearance. If you are in doubt, contact Dr Cleghorn at ccleghorn@cs.up.ac.za
2) Set up regular meetings with your supervisor. The mini-dissertation is your deliverable for MIT807. The mini-dissertation will take time and effort on your part. Your supervisor is there to guide you along the way. Regular meetings with your supervisor are therefore essential. 

Take note that for MIT807 you will not submit any assignments or write an exam. Your deliverable is your mini-dissertation that will be submitted for examination. 

The mini-dissertation is examined by both your main supervisor and an external examiner (someone outside of UP).

I will arrange an optional discussion session for the beginning of the second semester where I will be available to address your questions or issues with regards to MIT807.

I will make an announcement about this session in June.

Take note that the process for ethical clearance has recently changed. You must still submit the form using the assignment slot as stated before for your records.

However, in addition to the form, you MUST also follow the process for MIT807 explained below.

As from 2019, all ethics clearance applications for your dissertation work must be submitted to the official EBIT committee for approval. Please, note that not every topic requires ethics clearance. For example, if you are working on public dataset designed for benchmarking approaches such as the UCI data repository, an application is not needed. I, therefore, direct you to EBIT's official procedure, for you and your supervisor to confirm whether you need to apply: https://www.up.ac.za/faculty-of-engineering-built-environment-it/article/15815/faculty-committee-for-research-ethics-integrity

Once you have ascertained the need to apply you must do so via the UP system. You will have a tab titled "Research Grants & Ethics" in your UP portal. By following that link you will find the location where you must submit your application. 

Things to keep in mind, in addition to the official forms/considerations:
1) Your supervisor must be fully involved.
2) If you are working with company data you must attach a signed letter from that company indicating that: 
A) you can use their data for the dissertation study, and who can see the raw data. For example, can only you, as an employee, see the raw data but not the supervisor. Additionally, it should be indicated what can be disclosed in publication(s).
B)confirmation from the company that, if the data is related to people,  they (the company) have the right to use the data for research work.

Take note that the ethical clearance document has to be submitted by 15 April at 9h00. All students MUST fill in the document and submit it on the course website. An assignment slot will be created.

If you are using the same topic for both your project and mini-dissertation, you must only submit one form. A slot will also be created on the MIT808 website. ONLY submit to the MIT807 website IF YOUR TOPIC FOR MIT807 is DIFFERENT than for MIT808. Otherwise submit on the MIT808 website.

You can find the document under the module content in the Ethical Clearance folder.