2015-2016

FEB Brussels Master Thesis

Master of Business Administration
(MBA)
Information session September 2015
Introduction
Master’s thesis (MT) is mandatory
• Higher Education Structural Decree (2003):
o Each Master programme in Flanders must include a "Master thesis". In his
Master thesis the student shall prove his critical & analytical abilities (i.e.
academic competencies)
• The MT is a "subject", a "course" in the Master year
o MBA Master’s thesis is worth 18 credits
• The MT is subject to the Education and Exam Regulations!
• Student has to receive a mark of at least 10/20 for the Master
thesis
What is the concept of the FEB Brussels MT about?
• Research assignment carried out independently by the student
• Topic: depending on the degree programme, related to
(business) economics
• Research question: specific definition of subject
(possibly in collaboration with company)
• Content supervised by the FEB Brussels supervisor
• Methodologically sound approach to research
• Mandatory output by student (= exam) consists of:
o Research Proposal (= paper to be submitted before 1 December 2014)
o Written report (= work) of an academic nature (format, structure,
conclusions)
o Student defends his work orally before an FEB Brussels jury
MT types and topics (content)
1 type of internally organised Master thesis
 student carries out research at the request of an internal
client = FEB Brussels supervisor

2 types of "externally" organised Master thesis:

o Company project
o IBeO project : import/export, international
 student conducts research at the request of an Belgian(!)
organisation/company = external client
MT types and topics (content)
GENERAL
• (Business) economics approach required
• preferably link with graduation subject
• reflection on the (business) economics dimension, policy and/or
practice relevance of Master thesis research is obligatory!
• 2 Output formats: classic "report" or scientific "article" (paper)
• Language: EN mandatory for text and oral defense
Information on the Master Thesis
• Starting point: via Toledo Community “Start-up your master
thesis”
o Access and registration:
https://feb.kuleuven.be/eng/brussels/Students/masters-thes
es
• If you already have the Master Thesis in your ISP: Toledo B-
course “Masterproef – Master’s Thesis FEB”
o Automatic access via ISP!

• Master Thesis Regulations 2015-2016: READ IT!

o Additional information to ECTS card Master Thesis
o Toledo B-course
Internally organised Master
thesis (IOMT)
What is an IOMT?
• Context:
o A Master’s thesis which is completely embedded in the research of an
FEB Brussels lecturer or researcher (supervisor).
This supervisor acts as "internal client" for the research project. There is no official collaboration
with an external partner (company or organisation)
o Deals only with a (business) economic research question
o Is mainly carried out through "desk research"
o This type of Master’s thesis is open to all students from all degree
programmes/ graduation subjects
• Method :
o literature review completed with own empirical research by the student,
for example. survey, interviews, observations ...
o Comparison of several companies/industries, company cases by way of
illustration are allowed
Why an IOMT?
• This type of Master’s thesis usually builds on earlier research,
and/or forms in its turn the start of follow-up research (by a
next generation students)
• Usually there is a pretty strong control by the supervisor of data,
approach and methodology to be used

Cons:
• less practice-oriented than an externally organised Master’s
thesis
• offers no real business experience
Examples
• How CSR is bio?
• Is there a relationship between the characteristics of the Board
of Directors and the management control systems at Belgian
SMEs?
• The economic growth in China: cause and competitiveness
• Emotional management as a differentiator for client retention
and customer loyalty
• The EU's response to the financial crisis
• A study on the characteristics of companies that are the target
of a management buy out
• The future of the port of Antwerp
• Do workaholics perform better?
Selecting an IOMT?
2 possibilities:

o Through the FEB Brussels list/online search interface

(= most preferred)

o The student submits his own title proposal to the supervisor for
acceptance
Through FEB Brussels list
• See Toledo Community “Opstart Masterproef – Start Up your
Master’s thesis’
• Titles proposed by supervisors can be consulted via a search
interface
o various search entries (per supervisor, degree programme,
specialisation)
o each title proposal comes with an explanation made available
by the supervisor
o supervisor sheet (with contact information)
Through FEB Brussels list (2)

The FEB Brussels list is only available during start-up rounds!

o End of August – 7 October 2015 (obligatory for MBA Master
Thesis 2015-2016)

o Spring 2016 (exact date tbc >> for the Master’s thesis 2016-
2017)

Observations:
o Title proposals are strictly tied to a specific supervisor: you
cannot choose a certain supervisor's title and develop under
the supervision of another!
The student's own proposal
1) Screen the research expertise of the supervisors and
select most suitable supervisor
2) Contact supervisor and motivate your proposal
3) If the supervisor accepts, he will register the student's
name and working title for acceptance
Externally organised MT:
- Company project
- IBeO project
What is an externally organised MT?
• A Master’s thesis in a contractual partnership with a company
• Objective: solve a real problem from the work field using an
academically relevant research method
• Always confidential (obligation of secrecy for student,
guaranteed in project agreement)
• Focus on research – no internship
(internship is rather 'working' in the company)
Why an externally organised MT?
• Not just theory, but real 'action' in a business environment
• You can apply your knowledge to a real business situation
• Consequently, you will contribute to innovative ideas within the
company
• You acquire knowledge in your particular field of study
• You will develop skills that are important on the labour market

• A Company Project is a unique selling point on your résumé and

during a job interview
Examples MBA
• Training and technical advice in the Flemish electrical sector: a
qualitative study at the installers (Unizo)
• Financing Plan for Groenendaal Recreational Site (RSG)
• Tendencies on energy saving in the lightning industry (Antwerp
Business Center)
• Market survey digital mammography in China (BARCO)
• Commercialisation of new Green Roofs (Greenskin)
• Business model for traffic information in a free of charge
environment (ARC Europe)
Looking for a Company of IBeO-Project?
2 possibilities:

o Through FEB Brussels list (most preferred)

o The student finds himself a company as well as a project

• Not for new incoming students who are writing their Master’s thesis in 2015-2016! This is
meant for students who will write their Master’s thesis in 2016-2017.
FEB Brussels project list
• Through the FEB Brussels list search interface :
o See Toledo Community “Opstart .. Start Up”
o During specific start up rounds

o Already screened project proposals + supervisor sheet

o Possibility to download project proposal for more details on the project

• If interested in a project proposal:

o Notify the supervisor you are interested in a particular project proposal (description of prior
knowledge / motivation through email - no more than 10 lines)
o The supervisor will select the candidate for the project (possibly in consultation with
company)
o If you are selected: you must send an email to els.vandenbosch@kuleuven.be
o Your name is then linked to the project proposal = official registration
The project proposal is labelled "assigned" and is no longer available for other students
Students looking for project themselves (1)
• Contact your company of choice yourself and write a project proposal
together:
o This project proposal contains:
• A research question that is sufficiently concrete and complex
• That can be carried out in an academically sound way
• Within one academic year
• a co-supervisor from the company to coach you until the defence

o Advantage: 100% your own field of interest and sector

o Remarks:
• Difficult to write a project proposal from scratch
• Internal screening of subject (sometimes adjustments necessary)
• Deadline: Spring 2016 for MT in 2016-2017
THEREFORE: Possibility to obtain advice from the Business Expertise Center:
christel.claeys@kuleuven.be
Student looks for a project himself (2)
• The student downloads a blank 'project proposal' (Toledo
Community or contacts els.vandenbosch@kuleuven.be)
• Student & company together write a project & fill out the form
(incl. name of student whose proposal it is!)
• Company sends completed form through email to:
els.vandenbosch@kuleuven.be
Regulation and more information on the
Master thesis
More information? In Toledo!
• Toledo B-Course “Masterproef-Master’s Thesis FEB Brussel”, i.e.:

o ECTS + Regulations incl. all deadlines (= time path)!

o Forms (adjustments - defense registration, ..)
o Templates (templates for cover, summary, article format ..)
o Submission of MT: practical details (what, where, when..) and
upload of your digital version
o Announcements …
Deadline registration MT
• MBA: 7 October 2015
for all students that intend to defend their MT in 2016
(January, June or September session)

o This is also the deadline for finalising your ISP incl. MT-
course!
o This is also the deadline for students who restart/continue
their Master’s thesis

MBA Master’s thesis in 2016-2017 (defence in 2017):

Start up in Spring 2016!
Questions ...?
Please, consult the specific presentations on Toledo first!

For any additional questions:

Carla Morlion (internally organised MT + general questions)

T’Serclaes – room B05-22
Tel 02 609 18 05 -- carla.morlion@kuleuven.be

Els van den Bosch (externally organised MT – Company projects)

T'Serclaes – room B06-14
tel 02 609 18 04 -- Els.vandenbosch@kuleuven.be