ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE FOR THE ACCREDITATION EX-ANTE OF OFFICIAL DOCTORATE COURSES

Transcription

1 ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE FOR THE ACCREDITATION EX-ANTE OF OFFICIAL DOCTORATE COURSES This document is the property of ANECA. Its content may be used that the source is cited. V01-27/06/2012

2 INDEX Introduction... 2 Description of Doctoral Programmes... 4 Competences... 5 Entry and Admission of Students... 5 Educational activities... 7 Doctoral Programme Organisation... 8 Human Resources... 9 Material Resources and support available Doctoral programme review, improvement and results This document is the property of ANECA. Its content may be used that the source is cited. V01-27/06/2012

3 INTRODUCTION Royal Decree 1393/2007, which establishes the organisation of official university studies (as amended by Royal Decree 861/2010), establishes the general regulatory framework governing accreditation ex-ante, follow-up and accreditation ex-post processes to which official university courses must be subject. Royal Decree 99/2011, that regulates official doctoral courses, is the framework governing the organisation of doctoral studies. This royal decree incorporates, in a coordinated manner, the recommendations from the various European and international forums that have addressed doctoral studies. All these recommendations relate to the structure and organisation of doctoral courses, the competences to be acquired by doctoral candidates, the conditions of entry and the development of a research career at an early stage, the fundamental role played by the supervision and tutoring of research tasks, internationalisation, mobility and the incorporation of this type of education in a research environment that encourages communication and creativity. In accordance with the provisions set out in the aforementioned regulations, official doctoral courses will be accredited ex-ante by the University Council, being the Spanish Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), together with the assessment agencies established by the Law of the Autonomous Communities, responsible for establishing the accreditation ex-ante and accreditation ex-post protocols, evaluating official doctoral study programmes prepared by the universities and preparing assessment reports. This document is the property of ANECA. Its content may be used that the source is cited. V01-27/06/2012

4 In order to achieve the greatest possible consensus, the agencies conducting the assessment have agreed on a 1 common evaluation protocol, which has been developed within the Spanish Network of University Quality Agencies (REACU). The said protocol includes the criteria and guidelines used by the evaluation agencies for the proposals of official degrees submitted by the universities. Based on this consensus protocol, each agency develops the necessary documents to perform the evaluation process for the accreditation ex-ante. In this sense, ANECA has developed this evaluation template that will enable verifica programme evaluation committees to assess the doctoral programme proposals submitted. The purpose of this template is, therefore, to verify the extent to which the proposed official doctoral studies meet the criteria and guidelines detailed in Annex II of the said Royal Decree. This evaluation template has been organised based on the evaluation criteria detailed in Annex II of Royal Decree 99/ The evaluation protocol for the accreditation ex-ante of official doctoral studies is available on the ANECA website, in the VERIFICA section. This document is the property of ANECA. Its content may be used that the source is cited. V01-27/06/2012

5 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE 1.1 NAME OF THE DOCTORAL PROGRAMME The name of the doctoral programme is consistent with the lines of research. 1.2 PARTICIPATION OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS In the event that the doctoral programme should collaborate with other national or international universities, bodies or institutions: The said partnerships are considered necessary, appropriate and sufficient to provide the programme. The integration or not of the doctoral programme in a network or in international conventions has been adequately justified. The doctoral programme shows the proper degree of internationalization in terms of its subject matter and context. The integration or not of the programme in a doctoral school has been adequately justified. The doctoral programme has been integrated into the university's R&D+i strategy or into that of other bodies and institutions. In the event that the doctoral programme should not collaborate with other national or international universities, bodies or institutions: The said lack of cooperation is justified in relation to programme development. 5 V /06/2012

6 2. COMPETENCES. Whether the competences are consistent with those that correspond to a doctoral level. Whether competencies are measurable and have been defined clearly and accurately. 3. STUDENT ENTRY AND ADMISSION 3.1 PRIOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS The recommended entry profile has been defined for the doctoral programme. The proposal includes appropriate and accessible information mechanisms prior to enrolment and guidance procedures for new students. 3.2 ENTRY AND ADMISSION Student admission and selection procedures are clearly described and area consistent with the scientific field of the doctoral programme. 6 V /06/2012

7 3.3 ADDITIONAL STUDIES In the event that there are different entry profiles, additional studies adapt to each of the profiles. These specific additional studies are appropriate and consistent with the scientific field of the programme. 3.4 ENROLLED STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITIES OF ORIGIN If a doctoral programme has been developed based on other existing doctoral programme/s: The evolution of the numbers of new entry students over the past 5 years can be considered adequate to guarantee the feasibility of the doctoral programme. The percentage of students from other countries, over the previous 5 years, is considered sufficient, given the scientific programme. If a programme is a newly created programme: The estimate of new entry students expected justifies the existence of the programme. The estimate of new entry students from the percentage of students coming from foreign universities is considered sufficient, given the scientific field of the programme. 7 V /06/2012

8 4. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANISATION The training activities to students are consistent with the competences they are meant to acquire. These educational, cross-cutting and specific activities included in the programme are sufficient for the doctoral candidates to acquire the competences defined. The planning and organisation of the educational activities have been designed correctly in terms of their development over time and duration. The planning and organisation of educational activities for part-time students has been contemplated. The educational activity inspection procedures are considered appropriate and ensure the acquisition of the competences that the doctoral candidates are expected to acquire MOBILITY The doctoral programme provides the adequate mobility organisation for doctoral candidates in line with the competences they have to acquire. These mobility activities are sufficient to ensure the adequate learning of the 8 V /06/2012

9 doctoral candidates. In the case of programmes with part-time students, specific mobility actions have been planned for these students. 5. DOCTORAL PROGRAMME ORGANISATION DOCTORAL THESIS SUPERVISION The activities included in the programme/university aimed at promoting the supervision of doctoral theses are considered sufficient and suitable for the development of the said theses. Activities have been included to promote the joint supervision of doctoral theses, where justified academically. The doctoral/university study programme includes a good practice guide for the supervision of doctoral theses. The participation of international experts has been planned in relation to follow-up committees, preparing prior reports and as members of thesis tribunals DOCTORAL CANDIDATE FOLLOW-UP 9 V /06/2012

10 The procedure used by the academic committee to allocate thesis tutors and supervisors is considered appropriate. The procedure used by the academic committee to control the activity documents of each doctoral candidate, the certification of their data, the annual assessment of the research plan and candidates' activity documents are appropriate. Stays at other centres are considered sufficient for the development of doctoral courses THESIS PRESENTATION RULES Rules governing the presentation and defence of doctoral theses described in the doctoral programme are adequate. 6. HUMAN RESOURCES LINES OF RESEARCH AND TEAMS The doctoral programme is supported by a group of researchers capable of ensuring, a priori, the feasibility of the programme regarding educational issues. 10 V /06/2012

11 Each of the research teams that belong to the doctoral programme has at least one active research project on issues related to the programme's lines of research. The quality of the 25 scientific contributions prepared over the past 5 years and submitted by the personnel participating in the programme is considered adequate. The research staff has proven experience in supervising doctoral theses over the previous 5 years. The quality of the 10 scientific contributions derived from the 10 theses is appropriate. The University has mechanisms to acknowledge doctoral thesis tutoring and supervision tasks and these are appropriate. The participation of international experts in the doctoral programme, if relevant, has been considered. 6.2 MECHANISMS FOR ASSESSING DOCTORAL THESIS TUTORING AND SUPERVISION TASKS. The University has clear mechanisms to acknowledge doctoral thesis tutoring and supervision tasks. 11 V /06/2012

12 7. MATERIAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES The material resources and other available means (laboratories and workshops, library, access to databases, connectivity...) linked to doctoral programmes are considered adequate to ensure doctoral candidates will be able to undertake the relevant research work. Where appropriate, the material resources and other available means from collaborating bodies will ensure the development of research activities. The doctoral programme includes an estimate of external resources and travel expenses dedicated to grants for attendance at conferences and stays abroad to support doctoral candidates in their training. The estimate of the percentage of doctoral candidates who receive these grants is considered appropriate. 8. DOCTORAL PROGRAMME REVIEW, IMPROVEMENT AND RESULTS. 8.1 QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM 12 V /06/2012

13 The doctoral programme has an academic committee. The programme includes procedures and mechanisms to supervise its development, analyse results and establish appropriate actions for improvement. In the case of doctoral programmes involving more than one university, the doctoral programme features mechanisms and procedures to ensure coordination between the participating universities. The doctoral programme includes procedures and mechanisms to ensure the proper development of mobility programmes. The doctoral programme includes procedures and mechanisms for publishing information about the programme, its development and results. 8.2 FOLLOWING-UP GRADUATED DOCTORS The doctoral programme features procedures and mechanisms to follow-up graduated doctors. The estimate of the percentage of doctoral candidates who receive aid for postdoctoral contracts is considered appropriate. The data on the employability of doctoral candidates, during the three years following the presentation of their theses (in the case of existing programmes) or estimates of the said employability (for new programmes) are considered adequate. 8.3 RESULTS AND EXPECTED RESULTS 13 V /06/2012

14 If a doctoral programme has been developed based on other existing doctoral programme/s: The evolution of a doctoral programme's results over the previous 5 years justifies its existence, taking into account the scientific field. If a programme is a newly created programme: The estimate of a doctoral programme's results over the next 6 years justifies its existence, taking into account the scientific field. 14 V /06/2012

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