Structuring the doctoral programs through the exchange of good practices

for advanced academic training curriculum

Campus of the University of Heidelberg, Novembre 14-17, 2011

EQADE (516891-TEMPUS-1-2011-1-DE-TEMPUS-SMGR)

Embedding Quality Assurance in Doctoral Education

Prof. dr. Luminita MORARU University DUNAREA DE JOS of GALATI, ROMANIA

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“Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati

Doctoral School Organization Chart

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Domains and Academic Programs in UDJG Doctoral School

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Units and services

Academic Affairs and Planning contributes to the University's educational and research missions by conducting reviews of existing academic programs and reviewing new graduate degree. The Office of Academic Affairs and Planning also reviews and modifies graduate program policies.

Computing and Information Resources coordinates process improvement and reengineering in the graduate education administration, maintains databases to support institutional research and reporting, manages and develops the University website.

Graduate Enrollment Management Services provides information and support to applicants to most master's and doctoral degree programs.It also facilitates completion of Master’s and Doctoral degrees. This division assists current graduate students, faculty and staff in understanding and implementing many of the policies, requirements and procedures relating to the completion of these degrees.

GOOD PRACTICES IN DOCTORAL STUDIES

Objectives

initiating a process of growth and enhancing the quality of doctoral studies in training a new generation of competitive European researchers

1

establishing a reference framework for organizing the doctoral studies;

2

establishing standards, common principles and procedures, and mandatory minimum quality assurance in organizing and conducting doctoral studies

3

promotion of intra and inter-institutional cooperation for the development of doctoral study programs nationally and internationally

4

ensure the university autonomy;

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optimizing the exploitation of university doctoral programs in building a career for researchers in order to increase their chances on labor market.

Equal Access – no discriminations 

GOOD PRACTICES IN DOCTORAL STUDIES

Admission

Accurate and complete information on doctoral programs

Fair competition for all candidates

Preventing academic fraud, including plagiarism

Promoting fair competition between fields of research in doctoral schools

Peer assessment procedures regarding the quality of institutional programs of doctoral studies;

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We are watching to ensure

IOSUD will publish all relevant information on doctoral studies programs and through other media such as brochures, posters etc.

Transparency in organizing the doctoral studies programs

Research projects involving doctoral school

Intellectual property rights, copyright and

industrial property rights

Extended abstracts of doctoral theses

PhD students’ research results

Funding and taxes

content of doctoral studies: curriculum, schedule, evaluation methods

admission criteria and procedures

Information

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A major objective is to ensure the transparency

Quality assessment of doctoral studies According to European rules

Doctoral programs are subject to regular internal and external assessment at intervals not exceeding five years

Methodology

The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS)

National Council of University Research (NURC).

Research results

Collaboration with PhD coordinators from other universities

Criteria, standards and procedures for

doctoral studies Compatibility of doctoral programs with the European and

National Qualifications Framework

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Flexibility of Curriculum

The curriculum is designed in such a way as to promote learning through research.

The doctoral curriculum studies program must

include at least the following elements:

syllabus

records of items in the curriculum

research plan tailored to the specific activities of doctoral

students and doctoral teams

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2

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Cross-skills training is needed to facilitate employment on the labor market and take advantage of expertise gained through

doctoral studies program

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they are of particular interest!

“DUNAREA DE JOS” UNIVERSITY OF GALATIDOCTORAL SCHOOL

SYLLABUS Cycle I - Advanced University Training Program (AUTP)

Diploma: Certificate of Advanced Educational StudiesPeriod: 1 year or 3 months (when the master studies are in the same field)Education form: frequency/extramural

1. Requirements for AUTP (Advanced University Training Program) promotion

40 credit points specialized preparation module (2 compulsory and 2 optional courses for each research field);20 credit points complementary preparation module;10 credit points elaboration of a scientific research project.

70 credit points

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2. Structure of academic year (in weeks)

Teaching activities Examination session  Practice

Holidays

Sem. I Sem II Winter Summer Arrears Winter Spring Summer

14 14 3 3 - - 2 1 10

Examination sessions according to the structure of the academic year approved by the Senate of the University.

3. Weekly number of hours First semester: 8Second semester: 8

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Each semester, a PhD student will choose an optional subject within the research area according to the theme of the thesis.

4. How to choose an optional course:

The preparation of project stage: during the second semester, ▪ Final Project: the last two weeks of first year;▪ Period of project support: according to the structure of the academic year approved by the Senate of the University

5. Scientific research projects

Under the Regulation regarding the organization and procedures of the doctoral schools from "Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, approved by the Senate.

6. Terms of graduation

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7. Specialized training module – 2 subjects/semester, 20 credits/semester

No.

Disciplines DisciplineCode

Semester I Semester II  

C S Evaluationform

CR C S Evaluationform

CR

COMPULSORY DISCIPLINES

1 Scientific Project Management

UGLFM D01

2 2 E 10 - - - -

2 Methodological bases of scientific research

UGLFM D02

- - - - 2 2 E 10

Total compulsory subjects 2 2 2 1 E 10 2 2 1 E 10

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Doctoral Thesis

Doctoral thesis must be the result of scientific research and must contain original results in scientific knowledge.

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Fulfill the formal requirements regarding the structure, the minimum number pages, the guidelines.

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Fulfill the criteria and indicators for assessing doctoral theses, which present research results obtained during the doctoral studies program.

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Doctoral thesis is subjected to a first peer-review in the department.4

Presentation and defending the doctoral thesis5

Diploma issued by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, at the proposal IOSUD within 60 days from the date of validation.

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PhD dissertation must meet some required criteria

Cooperation in the doctoral program

Universities should cooperate in doctoral education with research institutes, business and industrial sectors in their country and abroad, to promote occupational mobility for PhD students.

National and international cooperation and mobility at doctoral level must be a component of the research period (second and third year).

Aims to

a) bring together different disciplines in a field of study; b) promotion of interdisciplinary in research;c) provide an organized framework in which doctoral students to share their experiences and scientific knowledge acquired;d) prepare doctoral students for the labor market by developing contracts and partnerships with socio-economical environment; f) participate in international research projects; g) strengthening the international student’s mobility during and after the PhD studies.

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Mechanisms of cooperation

International agreements - experts to participate in supporting doctoral courses, mentoring pursuit of research activities, conferences and debates;

Exchange of PhD students and professors with the most important universities in the research field;

Doctoral research conducted in co- tutoring ;

Participation in international consortium, where the PhD research topics might be part of larger international projects

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1

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SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAM

Period: 4 semesters

Credit points (ECTS European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ): 30/semester

Activity Maximum credit points/activity

Scientific reports (minimum 2) 30/report

Projects and research grantsnationalinternational

20/semester30/semester

Scientific papers:ISI journalsCNCSIS journals

30/paper20/paper

Scientific papers in congresses, conferences, symposiums nationalinternational

10/paper20/paper

Other activities 5/activity

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It is important to communicate the results in highly ranking

journals