Abstract:

This paper presents a new methodology for the Final Project subject, supported by the continuous evaluation and the intensive use of the virtual campus by both students and teachers.

In the last Advertising and Public Relations degree accreditation renewal by ANECA* (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación)*, one of the points of improvement that were indicated was in relation to the graduation rate of the degree, for being too low with respect to other indicators. A detailed analysis of the data showed that this rate is specially conditioned by the small number of students (in comparison with the total students enrolled) that exceed the TFG subject in the corresponding course or the next one. Although the methodology followed by the subject set deadlines and deliveries linked to those deadlines, the reality is that students, in general, did not meet the deadlines established and delayed the delivery of work at the last moment. What hindered the correction and improvement of projects throughout its implementation.

Through a teaching innovation project with funding from UCAM, the subject has been planned in a similar way to the rest of the subjects of the fourth course, with a series of face-to-face seminars and periodic tasks linked with them. All teachers associated to the degree have participated in the design and delivery of the seminars. In addition, the virtual campus has become an essential tool for the subject, both to provide precise instructions to students and to manage deliveries and the student-teacher workflow.

Two full academic courses have elapsed since the implementation of this new methodology, and the results show that the changes introduced have significantly improved the results obtained by the students.

*ANECA is the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation, the Spanish official agency to evaluate the quality of university degrees and postgraduate degrees. Every degree in Spain must be accredited by ANECA to be official.

Keywords:

Graduation rate, workflow, Final project, deadlines, tutoring.