1. Introduction and context within the Degree

The Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, which establishes the organization of official university studies, indicates that all the official Degree courses should conclude with the preparation and defense of a Final Research Project that should be part of the Degree curriculum. The Final Research Project has a transversal meaning and pretends that the students can apply most of the educational content provided at the Degree.

The Final Research Project must be done individually and supervised by a professor; either belonging to University of Lleida or by an external tutor with proven experience in Nutrition

The development of the Final Research Project must encourage and promote the acquisition of transversal skills that are intrinsically related to the formation of a healthcare professional and should facilitate the student to acquire to:

• Learn how scientific knowledge is generated
• Learn and use the scientific method
• Develop capacities for critical reasoning 
• Develop the ability to interpret results in simple experimental designs.
• Use the information rationally and apply it to solve problems 
• Acquire bibliographic reference skills 
• Acquire the capacity for synthesis and the ability to perform clear and concise information obtained from a specific topic.
• Being able to perform group-work, acquire a sense of organization and initiative.
• Acquire skills to learn independently and continuously.
• Acquire communication and teaching skills 
• Ability to apply the basic nutrition knowledge acquired during the degree
• Integrate the values ??and attitudes of the code of ethics of the profession and promote ethical reflection

2. Themes and topics of research

The main objective of the Degree of Human Nutrition and Dietetics is to educate and promote well trained professionals for the development of activities oriented to the planning of dietary programs for individuals and specific groups, appropriate to their physiological and pathological needs, and according to the principles of health promotion and protection, disease prevention and nutritional and dietary treatment whenever required. In this sense it describes six potential areas of professional activity in the field of nutrition, which are listed below:

• Clinical practice setting
• Food management and quality control 
• Food development and innovation 
• Food and nutrition security
• Catering
• Community nutrition and public health
• Basic nutrition

3. Tutor selection

Tutors could be selected within the University of Lleida community professors that are recognized in performing research activities related to the field of nutrition in any of the previously described areas.   External tutors could also be selected, to this end, it is necessary to submit the Curriculum Vitae and photocopy of the DNI (Identification) for its appropriateness evaluation by the Degree Commission. This information will be included in the Degree database of external tutors. 

In either of the two types of tutoring,  the Request for Approval of the Final Research Project Theme (Annex 1) should be submitted to the Coordination of the Degree of Human Nutrition and Dietetics for its approval by the Degree Commission. The approval of themes will be held in a meeting in the date specified in the schedules of the Degree.

4. Preparation and presentation of research works

Written Final Research Projects must be submitted to the Coordination Degree of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at least one month before to the expected date for its oral defense. All papers must be developed with the following scheme:

• Summary (1 page per each required language -Spanish, Catalan, english/other)
• Introduction-Background 
• Justification and hypothesis
• Research Objectives
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion of Results
• Conclusions
• Bibliographic references
• Annexes (if needed)

Written Final Research Projects will be evaluated previous its oral defense. Written projects that do not pass the evaluation stage will not have the permission for its oral defense and should be resubmitted for its approval.

Two annual calls for oral presentation will take place (June and July). The commission will select an ad-hoc tribunal for the oral defense evaluation.

5. Evaluation

The evaluation of the Final Research Project is divided in three parts:

- The written presentation will have a ponderation of 50% in the final note. The following weighting to each section will be performed

• Summary (20%)
• Introduction and/or background (10%)
• Justification and/or hypothesis (15%)
• Results and discussion of results (25%)
• Conclusions (30%)

- The oral defense will have a ponderation of 40% of the final note. The following aspects will be taken into account:

• Clarity in the presentation of results (structure of the presentation, approach to the topic and discussion of results) (60%)
• Resolution of doubts and questions (40%)

- Tutor evaluation with a 10% ponderation of the final note.