Graduation Rubrics (2025-2026)¶

This page provides a detailed breakdown of the assessment criteria used for the final graduation project. Evaluation is based on four professional pillars, with grades ranging from Insufficient (5) to Outstanding (10).

Grades for all criteria must be at least a 6 (Sufficient) in order to receive a passing grade for the graduation project.

Pillar 1: Mastery¶

Focuses on advanced software engineering expertise and solution architecture.

Advanced SE knowledge¶

Sufficient (6)

• Applies advanced SE knowledge/skills.
• Determines what in-depth knowledge is needed.
• Provides basic overview of the state of the art of the domain.

Excellent (9)

• Provides comprehensive overview of the state of the art of the domain, comprising of scientific literature and other sources.
• Applies advanced knowledge from multiple different disciplines.

Reflection and Critical attitude¶

Sufficient (6)

• Directs own professional conduct.
• Has critical view on own conduct, based on moral values.

Excellent (9)

• Direction of project was guided by documented useful reflection on product, process and person.
• Initiates debate on own conduct with others.
• Stimulates reflective and investigative attitude in others.

Initiative¶

Sufficient (6)

• Project required considerable input from supervisor.
• Student took initiative and contributed one original aspect.

Excellent (9)

• Project required minimal input from supervisor.
• All phases of the project were initiated and defined by the student.

Pillar 2: Research Competence¶

Focuses on the methodological approach and problem investigation.

Problem Investigation¶

Sufficient (6)

• Defines stakeholders and their goals.
• Clear problem statement and minimal elaboration of the conceptual framework.

Excellent (9)

• Thorough analysis of the phenomena, causes and effects.
• Clear theory for how effects will contribute to goals.

Solution design¶

Sufficient (6)

• Clear specification of requirements and their contribution to stakeholder goals.
• Coherent solution design.
• Existing treatment options considered.

Excellent (9)

• Thorough review of all existing available treatments.
• Multiple coherent design options considered.

Solution Validation¶

Sufficient (6)

• Shows which effects the designed solution can produce in context.
• Validates whether these effects satisfy the requirements.

Excellent (9)

• Analysis of trade-offs for designed solution(s) and the sensitivity for different contexts.
• Improves design in an iterative way.

Methodological Approach¶

Sufficient (6)

• Uses accepted research methods during all phases of the design cycle.

Excellent (9)

• Systematically selects and uses appropriate research methods on a well-founded basis.

Pillar 3: Interprofessional Conduct¶

Focuses on professional attitude, initiative, and communication.

Collaboration in a Multidisciplinary Network¶

Sufficient (6)

• Stakeholders were involved at appropriate times.
• Communication with peers, superiors and clients based on conventions that apply to the context and professional practice.

Excellent (9)

• Defined and executed a structured process to actively involve a lot of stakeholders from different (professional) backgrounds and with different interests throughout the project.
• All perspectives were integrated into the solution and recommendations.
• Lots of concrete first-class examples of focused communication with peers, specialists, non-specialists, superiors and clients based on conventions that apply in context and professional practice.

Defence¶

Sufficient (6)

• Sound argumentation, in relation to conducted work.
• Most answers are thoughtful and complete.

Excellent (9)

• Strong argumentation, in relation to the conducted work.
• All answers are thoughtful and complete.
• Students and committee are equal participants during the discussion.

Pillar 4: Effect¶

Focuses on the impact on professional practice and the quality of deliverables.

Effect on professional practice and the broader professional domain¶

Sufficient (6)

• Project helps to get a handle on how to implement the solution under real-world conditions.
• Solves a novel problem, for which good/ best practices don't exist yet in the professional domain.

Excellent (9)

• Proposed implementation of the solution in the real world is extended to a defined vision regarding the future technology in alignment with the stakeholders.
• Contributes to innovation in the professional domain, by developing new knowledge and integrating knowledge from various fields.
• Provides input for possible transfer of that knowledge to other practical situations.

Research Report and Documentation¶

Sufficient (6)

• Documentation has a reasonable coherence of content.
• Structure and presentation are acceptable.
• Argumentation is well expressed.
• Few spelling and grammatical errors.
• Proper citation of all relevant sources using a standard (IEEE)

Excellent (9)

• Documentation communicates the conclusions, process, knowledge & rationale to the audience clearly and unambiguously.
• Text quality is almost at the level of a professional technical writer.
• No spelling and grammatical errors.

Presentation¶

Sufficient (6)

• Presentation has enough detail to support conclusions.
• Reasonable logical structure and visual aids.
• Presented in a clear way, with attention for the audience.

Excellent (9)

• Presentation has the right level of detail to support the conclusions and understand the recommendations.
• Communicates clearly and unambiguously to the audience in an engaging way.