6.1 Standard of Academic Writing

All students shall maintain the highest academic integrity when writing projects, reports, essays, term papers, or assignments. Specifically:

• Do not submit the work of others as your own.
• Do not submit any work already submitted for another purpose.
• Cite appropriate sources — quotations, paraphrases, opinions, theories, data, figures, charts, and online sources.

6.2 Aim and Objectives of Projects and Seminars

1. To develop skills and explore potential in various fields of study.
2. To cultivate personal initiative, independent thinking, and a scientific approach to problem-solving.
3. To connect theoretical knowledge with practical fieldwork.
4. To foster creativity and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.
5. To help students grasp scientific principles by exploring their practical applications.
6. To develop skills in seeking information from libraries, the internet, archives, fieldwork, and interviews.

6.3 Assignment of Supervisors

Students are assigned project supervisors at the beginning of the third semester.

6.4 Topic Proposal & Approval

• The supervisor and student collaboratively develop a project topic proposal, submitted to the Departmental Project and Seminar Coordinator.
• Topics are categorized and forwarded to a screening committee (subject coordinator + staff teaching that subject).
• The committee may approve, modify, or reject proposed topics.

6.5 Topics and Scope

• Topics must be pertinent to the student's field of study.
• Scope must align with the NBTE curriculum.

Duration

• Seminar: Must be prepared for presentation at the beginning of the fourth semester.
• Project Defense: Projects should be ready for defense no later than three weeks after fourth-semester examinations.

6.6 Change or Modification of Topic

If a project cannot continue, the student — in consultation with the supervisor — can propose a change of topic to the HOD, who notifies the Coordinator. This does not entitle the student to an extension.

6.7 Training on Seminar/Project Writing

All students must attend coursework on seminar/project writing and presentation techniques. This forms part of continuous assessment.

6.8 Student–Supervisor Relationship

• Students must be in contact with their supervisor at least once a week.
• The supervisor fills a weekly progress form.
• No student is eligible for presentation or defense without the supervisor's clearance (given a week before).
• The HOD submits the list of cleared students to the Coordinator a week before presentations.

6.9 Handling Supervisory Failure or Student Negligence

Staff or students encountering difficulty should immediately report to the Coordinator and, if necessary, the HOD.

6.10 Time of Presentation and Defense

• Seminar presentation: Beginning of the fourth semester
• Project defense: Not more than three weeks after fourth-semester examinations, or one week before the DBOE meeting

Students who cannot complete their project shall continue as spill-over for their residency period and pay all applicable fees.

6.11 Attendance at Seminar/Project Presentation

A student cannot present or defend without the presence of:

1. The student's supervisor (in person)
2. The HOD or officially assigned representative
3. The Seminar/Project Coordinator or representative
4. An assessment panel of 5–7 staff members (the supervisor is not on the panel)

Seminar presentations are public. Project defenses are between the panel and the student only.

6.12 Guidelines for Preparing Reports

6.12.1 Components

1. Preliminaries — Cover, Title, Declaration, Certification, Approval, Acknowledgement, Dedication, Table of Contents, Lists of Tables/Figures, Abstract
2. Main Body — Five chapters (Introduction, Literature Review, Materials & Methods, Results & Discussion, Summary/Conclusion/Recommendations)
3. Terminal Part — References, Glossary, Appendices

6.12.2 Content of Key Parts

Cover Page

Title of project, name and reg. number, program, month/year of completion, name of Polytechnic.

Title Page

Title, author particulars, statement: "IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN… (NAME OF DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL), HUSSAINI ADAMU FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, KAZAURE, JIGAWA STATE."

Declaration

"I hereby declare that this work (Title) is the product of my research efforts undertaken under the supervision of (Name) and has not been presented anywhere for the award of ND/HND. All sources have been duly acknowledged." Signed and dated by the candidate.

Certification

"This is to certify that the research work for this project and the subsequent write-up… (name and reg. number in parenthesis) were carried out under my supervision." Signed by supervisor and HOD.

Approval

"This project has been examined and approved for the award of National Diploma/Higher National Diploma in (…)" Signed by Supervisor, HOD, and Representative of School of General Studies.

Abstract

Maximum 200 words (ND) or 250 words (HND) — aim and objectives, methodology, findings, contributions to knowledge, recommendations.

6.12.3 Structure of a Seminar Report

• Chapter 1: Introduction (background, aim, objectives, scope, limitations)
• Chapter 2: Literature Review (relevant literature, theoretical framework)
• Chapter 3: Materials and Methods / Methodology
• Chapter 4: Results, Findings, and Discussion
• Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations

6.12.4 Text Citation

Use the APA style — author surname followed by year of publication. Use suffixes (a, b, c) to distinguish works by the same author in the same year.

Examples:

• "In a recent study (Suleiman, 2023), it was found that…"
• "Suleiman (2024) synthesized a highly effective antimicrobial…"
• "Suleiman (2021b)…"

6.12.5 Listing of References

References shall be collated at the end of the write-up and listed alphabetically by author's name.

6.13 Seminar and Project Assessment

Students should provide four spiral-bound copies to panel members. Assessment follows NBTE guidelines:

• Supervisor's assessment — 50%
• Panel's assessment — 50%

6.14 Deadlines for Corrected Reports

• Seminar: Not more than two weeks after presentation
• Project: Not more than one month after defense

Submit one spiral-bound copy to the Coordinator who checks corrections, then four hardcover-bound copies to the Department in the course's chosen color.

6.15 Grounds for Rejecting a Report

1. Student lacks comprehension of the work.
2. Report did not address the proposed topic.
3. Wrong or inappropriate methodology.
4. Wrong or inadequate data.
5. Work copied from someone else, or evidence of falsified data.
6. Poor quality of research, analysis, write-up, or English.
7. Any other reason the panel finds that objectives were not achieved.

6.16 Binding and Cover Page

• Before defense: Soft cover
• After successful defense: Hard cover with gold lettering

On the spine: author's initials, surname, Diploma (ND/HND), and year of submission — printed in gold, all capitalized.

Submit with an acknowledgement signed by Supervisor, Project Coordinator, and HOD.

6.17 Misconducts Related to Projects, Essays, etc.

Deviations from accepted high standards may constitute misconducts punishable by penalties in these regulations.

6.18 Procedures for Preventing & Handling Misconducts

1. Lecturers and supervisors should guide students and draw attention to infringements when observed.
2. If a supervisor suspects a student of gross infringement:
   • For ongoing work: ask the student to address the problem (e.g., rewrite plagiarized chapters).
   • For coursework: impose a punishment corresponding to the degree of the offence (e.g., score of zero for downloaded work).
   • For final drafts of standalone works: require a rewrite, even if it means registering again next session.
   • For refusal to rewrite or serious offences: refer to the College Committee on Academic Ethics.
3. The Committee reports to the Academic Board Committee on Academic Ethics, which recommends punishment.

6.19 Categories of Offences & Punishment

A. Offences Punishable by Expulsion

• Submitting a final-year project done by someone else.
• Submitting a work already submitted for another purpose.
• Repackaging a whole project as one's own.
• Any other offence the Committee deems to merit expulsion.

B. Offences Punishable by Rustication

• Substantial plagiarism of others' work in final-year projects.
• Fabrication or intentional misrepresentation of data/results.
• Intentional sabotage of another student's project.
• Any other offence the Committee deems to merit rustication.