Strategi Penyusunan Proposal Dan Hibah Penelitian Tesis Magister Program Studi Magister Ilmu Ekonomi Universitas Negeri Medan

Abstract

This community service program aims to improve the capacity of Master of Economics students in developing research proposals for theses worthy of submission for grants. The main challenges faced by students are a lack of understanding of the differences between a thesis proposal, a research proposal, and a grant proposal, as well as limited knowledge regarding research grant application mechanisms. This situation results in low-quality proposals and minimal student participation in research funding schemes. The program was conducted as an interactive workshop using training and consultation methods, including presentations, case study discussions, proposal preparation simulations, and evaluation and reflection. The material covered proposal structure and systematics, grant assessment criteria (novelty, relevance, methodology, and practical implications), and internal and external grant application mechanisms. The results showed that participants were able to comprehensively understand proposal structure, explain research grant mechanisms, and produce draft thesis proposals ready for further development. The short-term impact of this activity is increased student confidence in designing thesis research, while the medium-term impact is expected to be an increase in the number and quality of proposals submitted to funding institutions. Thus, this activity contributes to strengthening academic independence and a culture of grant-based research within the master's program.