Enhancing Capstone Program Workflow: A Case Study on a Platform for Managing Academic-Industry Projects

TL;DR

This paper presents a web-based platform designed to improve the management of Capstone projects by streamlining project sourcing and group formation, supported by real-world usage data and technological insights.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel web platform that enhances Capstone project management processes, including sourcing and group formation, with practical deployment insights.

Findings

Increased efficiency in project sourcing and group formation.

Positive user feedback on platform usability.

Data-driven insights for future improvements.

Abstract

Capstone projects are widely adopted by universities around the world as a culminating assessment in bachelor's degree programs. These projects typically involve student teams tackling complex, real-world problems proposed by external stakeholders, such as companies, NGOs, or research centers. Although they offer valuable hands-on experience, managing Capstone projects can be challenging due to their multiple stages and demands. The process typically begins by identifying students' interests, followed by sourcing and selecting potential projects from external organizations. After presenting these options to students, groups must be formed based on various criteria, including academic ranking, GPA, previous experience, and individual skill sets. In this paper, we detail a web-based tool designed to streamline the management of Capstone projects at Insper, with an emphasis on project sourcing and group formation. We also discuss the technological solutions and the challenges encountered throughout development and deployment. Furthermore, we present usage data from recent years, offering insights that may prove valuable for institutions or teams developing similar tools in the future.