The Categories of suitable MSE projects are:

• Product-based
  >> involving the application of software engineering techniques to the specification, analysis, design, development, or testing of a particular product. Any technique or combination of techniques could be applied to- or around – this product. There might be study of requirements, one or more specifications, some design work, some analysis, some programming or some testing.
  
  >> demonstrates a new or innovation approach to solving an existing problem. The project must a) identify a research question, b) present a solution to the problem, c)implement and demonstrate a substantial portion of the solution, and d) validate the solution.

  >>Examples:

  i. Design a framework for delivering web applications to mobile services. Compare with other frameworks and show the advantages and uniqueness of your framework
  
  ii. An object-oriented design and implementation with some accompanying analysis
  
  iii. Prototypes of Software Engineering tools for use by software developer - Design and implement a new tool for automatic code generation (or testing, verification, requirements elicitation, etc.). Compare with other similar tools and show the advantages and uniqueness of your tool

• Theory-based
  >> involving the extension of a particular technique, or a combination of techniques, for use for a particular class of application
  
  >> requires the student to carry out a theoretical or statistical solution to a significant research question.

>> Examples:

i. A customized profile for UML

ii. Propose a design pattern language for a new application domain. Show that the patterns in your language are new and different from known patterns

iii. Addressing a traditional problem using an innovative approach or original solution

iv. Design and implement an efficient index scheme for object-oriented databases. Show how your solution is an improvement over other approaches

• Process-based
  >> involving an examination or assessment of particular techniques, their development and application, in academia or in industry.

>> Examples:

i. A description and critical analysis of the software testing process for a particular product line

ii. A case study in requirements engineering

Procedure for Students to identify a Dissertation Project and a Supervisor

There are three ways

• A list of SE lecturers’ project titles will be published on the web after your final exams and you may approach the lecturer concerned directly
• A list of Software Engineering research groups can be accessed at http://www.fsktm.um.edu.my/web/SE_researchGroup.htm and you may approach the lecturer to discuss the possible research projects you may undertake. After a project title or a research idea is agreed you will write a pre-research proposal and submit to the Head of Research group through the lecturer concerned for approval
• If you have your own project idea related to your work, etc, you may approach any of the SE lecturers to discuss the viability of your project.

List of Supervisors

All the lecturers in SE Department

Examples of MSE Dissertation Titles

• Product-based
  1. A customizable report generator component system using XML-driven, component-based development approach
  2. A Tool supporting tool and task models in user-centred design approach
  3. Automated real-time commentary generation for football games
  4. Implementing a simulator for a Proportion Server
  5. Visualizing feature models for product lines
  6. A random graph generator
  
• Theory-based
  1. Developing a Resource Aware Data Warehouse Architecture
  2. Using Quality attributes to define and evaluate enterprise information integration architectures
  3. An executable framework for precise metamodeling
  
• Process-based
  1. Formal analysis of metamodels
  2. Capturing requirements for safe operation properties of a proposed emergent system
  3. Performance modeling through event-based traceability

The length of the dissertation, excluding appendices and references should not exceed 20,000 words for 12 credit hour dissertation and 30,000 words for a 18 credit hour dissertation.

How to Propose Project Titles

• Students approach lecturers from one of the SE Research Groups and discuss possible project titles
• Students write a pre-research proposal and submit to Head of Research Group for approval.