Information policy and transparency of third cycle programmes at

University of Bergen, Norway

Seventh Meeting of UNICA Bologna Lab CoordinatorsUniversity of Zagreb

14-15 December 2007PhD-coordinator Gry Kibsgaard

Information policy and transparency

• Setting the scene - third cycle from Bologna to Banff

• UNICA third cycle- a website journey of the european capital scene

• Acting on the third cycle scene - from Bologna to Bergen

Setting the transparency scene – Bologna to Banff

• Bologna process and third cycle:– Achieving Europe´s research goals through high quality

doctoral programmes – Third cycle part of continuum (1st and 2nd cycle) into

research– Doctoral programmes main link between the European

Higher Education Area (EHEA) with European Research Area (ERA)

• London communiqué, May 2007: focus on – joint degrees– mobility – transparency (access, assessment, supervision)– closer alignment of the EHEA and ERA

Setting the transparency scene – Bologna to Banff

• Banff, Council of Graduate Schools; Global Higher Education leaders Agree to Graduate Education Principles (june 2007):– Review and understand the global flow of graduate

students and postdoctoral fellows (early stage researchers)– Clarify and strengthen the role of masters degree (success

in masters a prerequisite for success in PhD-programs)• European University Networks:

– EUA: third cycle important link between EHEA and ERA– COIMBRA group:Doctoral level special: research training

and can thus not be seen as another study-level– LERU (League of European Research Universities) May

2007:Doctoral training must remain clearly distinct from the 1 and 2 cycle of higher educ in Bologna process

Information policy and transparency

• Transparency. Only possible with a clear strategy, rules, regulations and plans for doctoral training, and the fact that it is being conveyed information about these documents; strategy, rules, regulations and plans

• Information about what?– Which model of doctoral training do you have?– Which research areas do you have, your strenghts, cooperation

w/industry (future career moves for prospective PhD-students)• Transparency of what?

– London communiqué: • admission • assessment• supervision

– Transparency and qualification frameworks

Doctoral training – the times they are a changing

Undergraduate studies

Bachelor and master studies

Research

Doctoral training (unstructured)One-to-one training

Doctoral training – the times they are a changing

Undergraduate studies

Bachelor and master studies

Research

Research and doctoral training

Doctoral training

Structured programs

One-to-many trainingTraining in research teams, supervisory boardsGraduate schools/research schools

EHEA ERA

Doctoral training – the times they are a changing

Undergraduate studies Doctoral programmes Research

Bachelor and master studies Doctoral training Research

Research schools/graduate schools

EHEA and ERA

Information strategy – important areas to think of

• Communicate doctoral training as research?• Communicate doctoral training as education?• Coomunicate doctoral training as both research and

education?

• Your answer to this question will give you a major guideline for which information strategy you will choose for the third cycle programmes..

Transparency – important areas to think of

• Admission: Are admission criteria and process communicated clearly?

• Assessment: Which are the selection criteria and processes? Are they communicated clearly and openly?

• Supervision: Are supervisors rights and duties communicated clearly in a doctoral contract or similar?

• Mobility: Possibilities of mobility in doctoral training, are rules, opportunities clearly communicated? What about international candidates and possibilities for shorter stays at research institutions, clearly communicated?

• Potential career possibilities: post doctoral opportunities: academia and industry,public adm etc..

A web site journey of Universities in european capitals

Playing the devils advocate – or simply a prospective

PhD-student

What did I go looking for? (Transparency of own critical criteria)

1. Accessible information on websites: minimum criteria of accessability: ENGLISH!!!

2. Research opportunities (Info about PhD linked to research)1. After all I am a prospective early stage researcher, thus looking for

interesting research possibilities3. Who are the researchers, the research team (who will I be working with?)4. How is the doctoral training; programs, courses, mobility, funding?5. How can I apply?6. What are the admission criteria?7. Apply for funding8. Career opportunities after PhD9. What about the University in general? 10.The city? Good place to be?

What did I find? Which info are you offering prospective PhD-students?

• 41 websites (UNICAmembers)– 15 sites little or no info in english– Most websites organizational info: faculties and

departments– Majority of websites: contact person info for PhD: a

reminiscence of PhD still being a one-to-one business?– PhD-program info lacking– 5 websites strong on research opportunities and adm PhD

info and social dimension of PhD-student info

Research over 50% of total research output of the country!! INTERESTING!!

Important part of menu: Souvenir shop!

Research: not on web site menu!

Some universities only have contact info, but no substantial info about programs in relation to research groups or activities!!PhD= 1-1 business?

NO ENGLISH?

NOT TR

ANSPAR

ENT!

Transparency in information about selection processes, but is the selection process transparent?Selection process of faculty supervisor – information about possibilities needed! Matching info!

Structure and organization oriented information!Why not thematic?What is the university profile?Faculties?

A good UNICA-case: Both info on content of PhD-programs and how to enter program! Lack info on selection procedures!

One of best UNICA case:Links PhD-programs directly to research, research clusters, centres of excellence.Both info on content of PhD-programs and how to enter program! Lack info on selection procedures!

Best practice of web sites UNICA-members:central info graduate studies prospective students; national and international admission procedureslink between graduate studies and research inforesearch info in abundance!!!

Going home…

Acting on the third cycle scene - from Bologna to Bergen

• University of Bergen: Not a capital University• We denominate ourselves an international research university• We live up to it through research and education, but do we

inform about it well enough, are we clear enough about our strategy and transparent enough on our website?

•General info on PhD weak•Only 50% of faculties english web pages •Faculty info strong on adm PhD-info•Faculty info on research varies•Research in general good info•Transparency?

•Partly: on system strong, on realities weak•Selection processes not transparent enough?

PhD - UoB: An organisational chart

UoB: PhD-regulation (2003)

Fac of Law

Fac ofSoc

Fac of Psych

Fac of NatSci

Fac ofMed

Fac ofDent

Fac of Hum

Research school

Research school

Research school

Research school

Research schoolResearch groups/

research cooperation

Research groups/research cooperation

Research groups/research cooperation

Research groups/research cooperation

NOW: Focus on administrative and scientific units!Do the prospective PhD-student think organization or University structure when they look for future carreer opportunities?We think not:FUTURE: Think THEMATICALLY:Focus on strategic research areas and PhD opportunities!

Marine researchResearch project Publications

Research project Research schoolPhD- opportunities

Research project Masterprogram

Infrastructure Bachelor program

What do we want?

• The best brains• Excellent research and doctoral training• A strong link between research and education• Effective and qualitatively strong recruitment procedures• A stronger competition for research fellowships in certain

fields• Action plan for doctoral training 2008

And how will we get it?

• Strengthen link between masterprogrammes and research• Strenghten link between masterprogrammes and doctoral training• Information strategy which is based on thematic focus with strong

research areas as focus (mapping structure of website)• Research collaboration important indicator for successfull

recruitment of candidates in general• Strong international recruitment: strengthening of international

networks and good english websites!!• International recruitment through open announcements of

– Research fellowships: www.eracareers.no open competition, regardless of nationality

– NORAD/Quota scholarship scheme, applicants from a developing country or a country in Central and Eastern Europe or Central Asia. Priority is given to candidates from our collaboration institutions. http://prospective.uib.no

Last memo:

• London communiqué, LERU and Coimbra group: – avoid overregulation of doctoral programs!

• Avoid overregulation, but seek abundance in information and transparency in doctoral training!!

Thank you for your attention!!

Gry Kibsgaard, research adviser/ PhD administrative coordinatorDepartment of Research ManagementUniversity of BergenNorway+ 47 555 86 555gry.kibsgaard@fa.uib.no