Goal

Once part 1 (project proposal) of the thesis has been completed (or is very close to completion), a colloquium needs to be implemented. The aim of the colloquium is to train the students into presenting a research field, delivering presentations that disseminate knowledge and educate on a particular field.

Content

The colloquium consists of a 30-minute presentation in the form of a tutorial on the general field of the topic of the student’s thesis. The presentation is aimed at introducing the audience (i.e., peers and staff) to the thesis research area (what it is, why it is interesting, why it is challenging, etcetera), and presenting the related works that have been done in it.

Timeframe

The colloquium should be scheduled immediately after completing Part 1 of your thesis, that is, when:

• Your literature study is complete;
• your main research question (RQ) and sub-research questions (SRQs) are clearly defined;
• and you have a proposed methodology in place (even if not everything is finalized yet; this is perfectly fine at this stage).

This timing offers an opportunity for others to benefit from your work through shared tools, research papers, and ideas that may prove useful across different thesis projects. Importantly, the colloquium also helps you, the student, develop your presentation and communication skills, which are key components evaluated during your Master’s thesis defense.