Project collaboration

On these pages, we have compiled the most relevant information about project collaboration with companies. This applies to information about types of collaborative projects, process and relevant templates for confidentiality agreements, partnerships, etc.

Types of Project Collaboration

As a student, you may need to collaborate with companies during your study programme. This may be in connection with specific courses such as project work or as a part of the Master's thesis work.

We distinguish between collaboration in the context of courses and collaboration with companies in connection with the Master's thesis. For Master's thesis, the student should agree and co-ordinate collaboration with the supervisor.

There are also different approaches to business collaboration in specific courses. There are courses where the collaboration resembles a case study, i.e. students study how the company works with e.g. development methods or knowledge sharing, and there is project collaboration in which students work on an issue in the company with a view to proposing a solution. For the last type of collaboration, the exam may focus on the reporting of the process and/or a description of the proposed solution.

Types of Project Collaboration

As a student, you may need to collaborate with companies during your study programme. The typical cases are:

  • In connection with a specific course
  • Vocational Training Project.
  • Bachelor’s project
  • Master’s Thesis

Collaboration in a specific course: There are also different approaches to business collaboration in specific courses. There are courses where the collaboration resembles a case study, i.e. students study how the company works with e.g. development methods or knowledge sharing, and there is project collaboration in which students work on an issue in the company with a view to proposing a solution. For the last type of collaboration, the exam may focus on the reporting of the process and/or a description of the proposed solution. The type of collaboration and the company's role are defined by the course responsible and the course description.

Vocational training project. Collaborative project with a company under the supervision of an academic supervisor from the university and a project supervisor at the enterprise. The project is based on issues relevant to the company. The vocational training Project corresponds to 10 ECTS. Read more in the course description.

Bachelor’s project and Master’s thesis You can also choose to write your bachelor's and Master's thesis in collaboration with a company.  You are responsible for co-ordination with the company and the supervisor for the assignment.

The process regarding vocational training projects

WhatResponsibilityWhen
Find a company and a principal supervisor at AU which will be part of the project Student Before the project
Create a contract for vocational training projects via the Project Generator Student Before the project
Examine the need for a further supplementary contract (Fast Track), confidentiality agreement and Copyright agreement Student Before the project
Approve the contract Principal supervisor Before the project
Approve the contract Course Coordinator At project start
Submit project report via digital exam Student December / June
Arrangere dato + censor for  Arrange the date + co-examiner for oral examination with external co-examination Course Coordinator

January / June

How do you get started if you have not already found a company and a supervisor?

The first step is to contact a company with whom you would like to do a project. The best thing is to take the initiative yourself. Familiarize yourself with what they are working with and contact them to find out whether they are interested in doing a project with you. Afterwards, you will find an internal supervisor at AU. If you have trouble identifying a relevant supervisor, you are welcome to contact the course coordinator.

An other approach may be to first contact a potential supervisor at AU  and possibly use his or her network to come into contact with a company that works with topics that are related to the supervisor's research area.

What will you need to get out of your industry collaboration project (learning outcome)?

Together with your internal and external supervisor, you must define a project that provides the following competencies:

  • Describe the company/organisation where the project was carried out (i.e. the company's product/service, organisational structure, types of positions and duties) 
  • Describe and discuss an academic issue that motivates the work carried out by the company
  • Describe the work done, including the purpose of the work, the methods, the specific work tasks and processes 
  • Describe and discuss the results produced 
  • Reflect on the significance of the results for the company/organisation and the academic area 
  • Describe the academic qualifications and personal competences which were used and/or acquired during the course 
  • Identify the competences and qualifications needed to strengthen the transition from student life to working life.

The role of the internal project supervisor

The internal project supervisor must ensure the necessary academic skills and learning during the project period:

  • Ensure that the student – in collaboration with the project company (or his/her contact person) – formulates a project that fits the academic regulations and that the associated activity and schedule is in accordance with the project's objectives, content, scope and level.
  • Ensure that the project is organised in such a way that the student is given the opportunity to reflect on the correlation between experiences acquired in the company and the student's study programme.
  • Assist the student in the preparation of the project description.
  • Assess the report submitted at the end of the project period together with a internal co-examiner and in collaboration with the project company.
  • Act as an examiner at an oral examination.

Practical advice regarding project cooperation

When students collaborate with a company, it is important to take into account the agreement with the company and the requirements in relation to courses, exams and the Master's thesis.

In agreements about the co-operation, the student should ensure that there is a mutual understanding of the framework for the collaboration, so that the company and the student agree on the scope of the collaboration, confidentiality and other agreements, and that all parties understand that the collaboration must accommodate the students ' obligations and work in relation to courses, exams and Master's thesis. Sometimes, supplementary contracts must be drawn up (Fast Track standard contract). This should always be done in dialogue with the Technology Transfer Office (TTO).

    • The purpose of the collaboration is for the student to be able to use the collaboration for study purposes. For students the primary ‘product’ will be directed at an exam or a Master’s thesis.
    • Remember to match your expectations early in the process. Is the assignment e.g. a preliminary study, the mapping of an issue, a proposed solution or an actual working solution?
    • Remember to agree on what the parties have access to and the specific learning outcome of the collaboration. This applies to both agreements regarding confidentiality and access, and what the company receives in the form of presentations and reports at the end of the project.
    • Remember to agree on the time of the project. How much time will the student spend at the company and when does the project stop.
    • Remember to respond in due time if problems or misunderstandings in the collaboration arise. Contact the lecturer, supervisor or programme coordinator as soon as problems arise.
    • Remember that students who participate in a collaboration with companies represent Aarhus University and Department of Computer Science and should act accordingly.
    • Do not enter into contracts between a student and a company without first contacting tto@au.dk.
    • It is not unusual that a project collaboration can be transferred to a more permanent course, e.g. a student job or further project work after the actual process (e.g. courses or Master's theses) should be completed. In this case, it is important that the parties quickly agree on the scope of the further process and any eventual compensation for the work carried out.

      Confidentiality and Non Disclosure Agreement

      When one or more students complete a project in collaboration with a company, an agreement should be drawn up with a description of what has been agreed on. A supplementary contract may sometimes be necessary. For example, you will probably need to sign a written agreement in connection with projects where the students work closely with the company's product development. If, on the other hand, it is only a case of interviews or surveys, there is usually no need for a written agreement.

      In general, the following applies:

      • The university emphasises the importance of ensuring that conditions such as confidentiality and copyright are agreed, and that the agreements are made prior to the commencement of the project, as this can have an influence on the students ' benefits with regard to exam.
      • It may be that the company wishes to have the opportunity for the dissertation/Master's thesis/reports to be treated "confidentially". This means that the report may not be disclosed to anyone other than the AU administration, the supervisor and the co-examiner without a written consent from the company. And this agreement should be concluded before the start of the project.
      • The company may also require that certain information to which students are given access during the project should be treated confidentially.

      Copyright

      Students are entitled to dispose  their own work in accordance with applicable regulations and practice in the field. However, a specific agreement with a company may lead to a change in the student's legal position.

      Unless otherwise agreed, the publication of the written work may not take place without the students’ informed consent.

      In connection with the conclusion of agreements between company and student, the company may decide to use ideas and project results free of charge to the students.