The Department of English Language Teaching (ELT) at Tishk International University successfully organized a focused workshop on July 2, 2025, aimed at reviewing and improving the Graduation Research Project (GRP) and Capstone Project processes for all undergraduate students. This initiative seeks to enhance academic quality and research engagement.

Workshop Objectives

The workshop brought together ELT faculty members to:

  • Reflect on the experiences and challenges faced during the 2024–2025 academic year.
  • Discuss effective methods for student-supervisor assignment.
  • Evaluate the quality and consistency of project stages, rubrics, and assessment tools.
  • Update the GRP/Capstone Handbook with clearer guidelines and support materials.
  • Promote academic integrity and plagiarism prevention measures.

This initiative aligns with the university’s commitment to SDG 4: Quality Education, ensuring students are equipped with practical research skills and ethical academic standards.

Key Themes Discussed

The workshop covered several crucial topics, including:

  • Introduction of prerequisites for GRP/Capstone project selection.
  • A hybrid model for supervisor assignment based on student preference and capacity.
  • Revised assessment rubrics for fairness and clarity.
  • Structured progress monitoring and enhanced student support.
  • Standardization of viva and final presentation procedures.
  • Encouraging innovative and practice-based Capstone formats in ELT.
  • Emphasis on research ethics and the use of plagiarism detection tools.

Workshop Outcomes

The outcomes of this initiative will have a significant impact on the upcoming academic year. A task group was formed to finalize updates to the GRP/Capstone Handbook, rubrics, and templates. New internal deadlines, workshops, and resources will be introduced to support students throughout their project cycle. Additionally, increased faculty collaboration will ensure consistency in supervision and evaluation practices.

This workshop directly contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals:

  • SDG 4: Quality Education – by improving the quality, relevance, and accessibility of student research and academic writing.
  • SDG 9: Innovation – by promoting diverse and applied Capstone formats to address real-world classroom needs.
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – by fostering intra-faculty collaboration and aligning departmental goals with global education standards.

Keywords: ELT, National Workshop, Graduation Research Project, Capstone Project, Academic Quality, Tishk International University, SDG 4, SDG 9, SDG 17, Academic Standards, Plagiarism Prevention