Decision Support Information System for the Choice of Master's Programs

Abstract

In the context of COVID-19, when most of the processes are transferred online, one of the tasks of digitalizing the main business processes of modern universities is the implementation of marketing strategies, in particular, for the implementation of career guidance activities, and helping future applicants - applicants for I and II (master's) levels of the higher education in the implementation of the choice of educational programs. Therefore, the need to design an information system for decision-making support for the choice of master's programs based on the results of career guidance testing is actualized. The creation and use of the system "Selection of a master's program" will contribute to an increase in the efficiency of career guidance work on the part of higher educational institutions, as well as a more conscious choice of an educational program on the part of applicants. Based on the results of the analysis of the needs of potential students (potential graduates) and other analogues, we have modelled a decision support information system for the choice of master's programs. The main business processes, types of users (applicant, methodologist, expert, analyst) and options for their interaction with the system, namely, the formation of tests, passing the test, the formation of recommendations (educational programs) and the implementation of educational analytics, have been determined. The option of realization of this system by means of Visual Studio Code and MySQL for definition of specialties and educational programs on an example of National university of bioresources and nature management (NULES) of Ukraine is offered. This web resource can be useful both for university students or prospective applicants of the University and for other users as the developed system belongs to the reference class. The directions of further research are determined, in particular, the application of data mining methods for educational analytics. The necessity of attracting specialists to create tests is defined to provide the basis for determining the educational program not only based on an analysis of future applicants’ preferences, but also the level of formation of the corresponding professional skills.