FAQs

Here’s some frequently-asked questions about the SPOre programme:

How long does a project last? Typically, a project would last for a duration of 10 to 12 weeks, between June to August. The starting date varies from project to project (please check with the supervisor but usually it can start anytime as agreed with the supervisor!).

What do I need to submit or deliver for the project? As this is a non-credit-bearing programme, there is absolutely no assessment (of any form) at all. What we do need is (1) your commitment to the project, (2) keep a simple logbook of your progress, and (3) do a simple demo and/or presentation to sum up your outputs and learning experience. We plan to also feature your project write-up on our webpage, and we would like you to blog or share to your social networks!

Do I need to meet my supervisor face-to-face regularly? This depends on the arrangement with your supervisor, with consideration for the nature of the project (whether face-to-face meet-up is necessary to demonstrate the problem, or to examine the work). We do encourage face-to-face sessions for better engagement with your supervisor.

The project says only 2 members. Can we have another person joining the project? The supervisor of the project probably had in mind that the project scope is suitable for 2 persons. However, your team can discuss with the supervisor if adding another person to the project is possible - in that case, the project scope could be broadened to include more persons. We would like all students to be actively participating in the project.

I have some idea of the kind of project I wish to do. But the supervisor that I have contacted does not want to supervise me! There could be many reasons why the supervisor you have contacted may not want to supervise your suggested topic, among which are: mismatch of area or expertise, supervisor may already have many students, time constraints, and more. Do ask the supervisor you have contacted to recommend someone else who could potentially supervise you.

What are the benefits of joining SPOre? If you have a summer break of 2-3 months to spare, use this as an opportunity to learn new coding or a new domain of knowledge, learn how to do research, learn to manage projects in a timely manner, learn to work in a team, and more. More importantly, use it as a platform to discover what you really like doing. On top of that, your project could also be a nice addition to your resume!