Mémoire

Language

French

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
Mémoire	With this teaching unit, the student will acquire the capacity to: 1.          Solve a managerial problem in a science-based way​ This involves the capacity to: Define clearly a problem statement or research question​ Provide answers using relevant scientific literature​ Properly find, use and mention sources​ Choose, define, justify and use relevant research methodology​ Clearly present and analyse findings 2.          Showcase critical thinking​ This covers the capacity to: Present one’s analysis in a precise, structured and attractive manner​ Show one's reasoning process​ Present the limitations of the output​ Detail how generative AI is used​ Present and defend one’s reasoning to the jury committee​ Provide suggestions for further research and for practice​ Write in correct English or French​ Provide correct and convincing answers to assessors’ questions​ 3.          Manage one’s project​ Here, the student should be able to: Identify links between the thesis and the skills developed in one’s programme​ Explain what problems occurred and how they were solved​ Explain the planning and adaptations needed​ Expose links with potential profession or career​ The dissertation must be completed individually or in pairs (with a student from the same program).

Content

See all info on the intranet.
Unless express authorisation is given by the promoter and the programme manager on a cover page (which is not counted as part of the dissertation), the text of a dissertation may not exceed 40 pages, excluding appendices. A maximum of 60 pages is permitted for dissertations written by two students from the same program. However, it may be less than 40 pages.

Evaluation methods

The jury assessing the dissertation will be at least the promoter and a reader appointed by the jury chairman. The dissertation jury assesses whether the student reached the objectives, that is, the ability to:

1. Solve a managerial problem in a science-based way
2. Showcase critical thinking
3. Manage one’s project

The evaluation is based on:

1. the document submitted by the student(s);
2. an oral defence including a 5 minute presentation followed by a Q&A session of about 40 minutes with the jury.

1. First, the promoter assesses the value of the work done by the student(s) since the start of the teaching activity.
2. On this basis, the promoter determines whether the dissertation can be defended orally at the next examination session, within the time limit set by the faculty.

1. If the answer is yes, the promoter signs the defence authorisation (for Louvain-la-Neuve students only). It is important to note that authorisation of the defence is in no way synonymous with successful completion of the teaching activity; in fact, the written work and the oral defence must still be assessed by the jury, as described below.
2. If the promoter considers that the work completed up to that point is not sufficient for the oral defence to be organised, he/she will invite the student(s) to develop the thesis further and to defend it at the next examination session, again subject to his/her prior agreement. In the event of an objection to the promoter's decision not to authorise the defence, the student(s) may appeal to the Chair of the Examining Board.

To assess the work, the members of the jury use an assessment grid that is indicative of the skills expected for the master thesis. The scoring is left to the jury members’ discretion. This evaluation grid is accessible on the intranet.
Students are asked to include the following note in their work: 'The authors of this work declare on their honour that it is the result of their own original work. Any use of the ideas or statements of a third party, whether through translation or information processing software, is clearly identified and referenced as such.'
The master thesis must be an original piece of work by the student. Even if the student is assisted by a conversational robot, for example, the dissertation must demonstrate scientific rigor and be based on reliable, high-quality sources, which can be verified. It must also provide original data if the work includes an empirical dimension and clearly shows the stages of the student's reasoning. The assessment criteria included in the thesis assessment grid provide a clear indication of what is expected. In the section below, "Other information", you will find guidelines on the use of generative intelligence in the master thesis. 

Other information

Consult here the guidelines on the use of generatives artificial intelligence as provided by the LSM.
See https://www.uclouvain.be/fr/facultes/lsm/restricted/memoire-m120 for all practical and administrative details.

Bibliography

With the support of their academic sponsor, students will carry out the bibliographical research required for their work.
When writing their dissertation, students must comply with the Code of Ethics regarding the use of sources, as defined by the General Study and Examination Regulations of UCLouvain. It is your sole responsibility as a student to avoid any form of plagiarism. (https://www.uclouvain.be/fr/universite/rgee).

Faculty or entity

> CLSM