Announcement of selection for Doctoral positions Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering 24th cycle

Transcription

1 Announcement of selection for Doctoral positions Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering 24th cycle THE RECTOR In accordance with Law no. 210 of and in particular, Art. 4, which assigns the organization of doctoral studies to universities in accordance with the general criteria stipulated by ministerial regulations; In accordance with the Ministerial Decree no. 224 of , regarding the general criteria to be followed by individual universities in the organization of doctoral studies; In accordance with the Decree by the Prime Minister of , and subsequent amendments on the general criteria for uniform treatment regarding the right to higher education; In accordance with the Charter of the University of Trento and in particular Art. 8, paragraph 3; In accordance with the University Regulations for Doctoral Schools, issued with the Rector s Decree no. 997 of and amended with the Rector s Decree no. 359 of ; In accordance with the proposal made by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; In accordance with the report by the Scientific Committee in the session of on the scientific relevance of the proposals to set up doctoral programmes; In accordance with the report of the Internal Evaluation Committee of on the requirements for the Doctoral Programmes proposed; In accordance with the resolution made jointly by the Academic Senate and the Scientific Research Committee on the decrees ART. 1 - INSTITUTION The University of Trento announces the 24 th cycle of the Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering. Length: three years Specialized curricula: - Environmental Engineering - Urban and Territorial Engineering and Architecture Disciplines: Hydraulics Hydraulic and Marine Constructions and Hydrology Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Topography and Cartography Building Construction Urban and Building Design Spatial and Urban Planning Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer Atmospheric Physics Head of the School: prof. Alberto Bellin - Phone dicaphd@ing.unitn.it Official languages: English 1

2 Selection for 9 doctoral positions in the Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering, for which 6 positions will be assigned grants by the University of Trento. The number of grant-assisted positions may be increased by funds from universities, public research institutions or qualified private organizations made available after the publication of this announcement and before the beginning of the evaluation of candidates qualifications. Increase in the number of available positions resulting from an increase of grants will be posted on the website: ART. 2 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Applications for the doctoral positions are accepted from candidates, regardless of gender, age and nationality, who have an Italian laurea specialistica (magistrale) in compliance with Ministerial Decree no. 509 of as amended, a university degree of the previously enforced Italian regulations or an equivalent academic degree obtained abroad. Applicants who have a foreign qualification which has not been officially recognized as equivalent to an Italian degree must submit a request for equivalence in the application adding the following documents: - degree certificate (according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of regarding selfcertifications for EU citizens), - translation into English of the degree certificate with exams taken, grades obtained and signed by the applicant to enable the Doctoral School Committee to declare its equivalence, for the sole purpose of being admitted to the selection of this call. Successful non EU applicants who have a foreign qualification must present their degree certificate with exams taken and grades obtained, translated and certified by the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the country of the university that issued the degree and the value declaration ( Dichiarazione di valore ) not later than the date set for the enrolment in the Doctoral School. Applications are also accepted from students who expect to complete their degree by the date of the evaluation of candidates qualifications (3 rd of November 2008). In such cases, admission is "conditional" and the applicants must be able to present the degree certificate or a declaration that the degree has been conferred (according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of applicable only to EU citizens) to the Secretariat of the Civil and Environmental Department by 2 o clock of the above mentioned date. The candidate is allowed to send the degree certificate or the declaration by fax ( ) as well. Art. 3 THE DOCTORAL PROGRAMME The Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering is articulated into two curricula: 1) Curriculum in Environmental Engineering This curriculum deals with the following research areas: A) Environmental Fluid Mechanics; B) Land Protection; C) Environmental Resources Management and Hydrology; D) Computational Models for Environmental Engineering. 2) Curriculum in " Urban and Territorial Engineering and Architecture" This curriculum deals with the following research areas: E) Building Engineering; F) Architecture for the City and the Territory; G) Spatial Planning for Sustainable Development. The specific research subjects proposed for the 24 th cycle, together with the project supervisor/s, are published at the following address: &content_OID=206627&page=/jsp/editorial/editorial.jsp&programId= Training programme During the three-year course each student must achieve a total amount of 180 credits as follows: 60 credits for educational activity; 120 credits for research activity on the subject of the final dissertation, including periods spent in foreign or Italian universities or research institutions. 2

3 The training opportunities, including seminars and courses, are generally held during the first year. The second and third years are devoted to the development of the research project, which will be the subject of the final thesis. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is the main seat where the educational and research activity of the doctoral students are carried out. During the academic years the students are evaluated according to the rules of the Handbook of studies, which will be available within the beginning of the academic year. At any moment, the Doctoral School Committee can suggest the Rector of the University of Trento to exclude the students from the doctoral course in case of a negative evaluation or a negligent behaviour. In order to be admitted to the third year of the course students must have achieved at least 53 educational credits. The doctoral title can be conferred to students who have produced relevant scientific results pointed up in their doctoral dissertation. For any further information please see the Website of the School: Art. 4 APPLICATION Application should be made using the application form attached to this announcement. The application, including all the attachments, must arrive at the University of Trento by October 15, 2008, in one of the following ways: - hand delivered to the University of Trento - Ufficio Dottorati ed Esami di Stato, Via Inama Trento, from 10:00 am to 12:00 a.m., Monday to Friday; - by mail to the following address: Magnifico Rettore dell Università degli Studi di Trento, via Belenzani Trento (ITALY) (please, write on the envelope Selection for Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering ); - by fax to the following number: The University of Trento does not take responsibility for loss of applications from mistakes in writing the address nor from possible postal or telegraphic delays or problems. Applications received after the 15 th of October 2008, will not be considered, even if posted beforehand. According to Italian Law no. 104/92, art. 20 and to Italian Law no. 68/99, art. 16, para. 1, special needs applicants are expected to explicitly state in their application whether they require special assistance or extra time during the examinations. Under Legislative Decree 196/03, all information will be kept confidential. Admission application attachments: - photocopy of the applicant s identity card or passport; - degree certificate or degree self-certification (according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of concerning EU citizens), with a list of the exams taken and scores obtained (except for candidates who have not yet obtained their degree certificate at the time of presentation of the application, as stated in Art. 2 of this announcement). For those candidates who have a foreign qualification that has not already been officially recognized as equivalent to the Italian degree have to attach a translation in English of the degree certificate with exams and scores obtained, signed by the applicant, in order to enable the Doctoral School Committee to declare its equivalence, for the sole purpose of being admitted to the selection of this call; - curriculum vitae; - statement of purpose. The candidate is required to describe in a few words (max 4 pages) which ones are the most interesting aspects of the chosen research subject among those suggested by the School. The choice is required in order to evaluate the candidate but a different research subject can be chosen during the first year. - extended abstract of the degree thesis (2 pages) - two letters of recommendation in English or Italian (attachmnet 3) written by experts in the doctoral research areas. The two letters of recommendation must be sent in sealed and signed envelopes 1 ; 1 In case the two letters are not available the candidate will not be excluded by the selection procedure. 3

4 - any certificates of the English language (for foreign applicants any certificates of the Italian language); - any other document or qualification useful in the applicant s evaluation (scientific publications, study and post-graduate activities of research, prizes, grants etc.); - attachments no. 1 and no. 2 for foreign candidates taking the entrance examination in their own country (see art. 5). If, afterwards the submission of their application, candidates wish to add further information, they are required to send it to the University offices by October 15, The applicant s name, the Doctoral School he/she is applying for and the object "Integrazione domanda" must be clearly written on the envelope. The University of Trento reserves the right to verify (including spot checking) declarations and documents submitted by candidates, according to art. 71 and subsequent articles of Presidential Decree no. 445, dated Any time, candidates who do not fulfil the requirements requested, may be left out of the selection for the Doctoral School. Art. 5 SELECTION The selection process is designed to assess the candidate s knowledge and aptitude towards scientific research on the basis of the assessment of qualifications and an oral exam. Documents which can be evaluated by the Admissions Committee for the assessment of qualifications are: - degree certificate and previous university curriculum of the candidate; - any other document useful for evaluate the applicant s aptitude for scientific research (research project, statement proposal, thesis abstract, scientific publications, prizes, grants, study and research activities, etc.). The oral exam can be taken in Italian or English. It will evaluate the skills, the aptitude and the motivation of the candidates. Applicants must show a document for identification in order to be admitted to the examination. The Admissions Committee can assign each candidate a total score of 100 as follows: - 20 titles evaluation; - 20 statement of purpose and description of the research subject; - 60 oral exam. Applicants obtaining a minimum score of 24 points in the assessment of qualifications will be admitted to the oral exam. The oral exam is successfully passed with a minimum 40 point score. When the entrance examinations are over, the Committee will draw up a general final ranking according to the grades obtained by the candidates. The candidate who have reached a total minimum score of 70 (assessment of qualifications and oral exam) will be in the ranking. The assessment of qualifications and the oral exam will take place at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Via Mesiano, TRENTO according to the following schedule: - assessment of qualifications: 3 rd of November 2008; - oral exam: 7 th November 2008, 9.00 a.m. (+1GMT). Candidates not residing in Italy can sit the oral exam in their home countries. In this case they have to fill out the attachments no. 1 (Request for taking the oral exam in the own country) and no. 2 (Name of the professor appointed by the Head of the Institute or by the Dean of the Faculty for checking the exam procedures). The oral exam is taken by videoconference; the candidate is required to sign an IP address and Id for skype etc in order to be connected. The Head of the School will authorize the above mentioned procedure after a technical check, which will take place between the 20 th and 24 th of October 2008, The interested candidates will be contacted during these days in order to ensure the proper functioning. 4

5 Art. 6 PROGRAMME OF THE EXAMINATION The oral exam aims to evaluate the candidate s attitude towards scientific research and qualification on the chosen specialised curriculum. The specialized curriculum is chosen by the candidate in the application form. The choice of this curriculum is compulsory and binding. In case the candidate changes curriculum he/she can be excluded from the selection procedure. The applicants who want to compete for extra grant-assisted positions concerning a specific research subject as well, are required to ask the Admissions Committee for it during candidate s identification, which takes place before the oral exam. In such case the candidate s competence in the specific subject of the grant is evaluated during the oral exam. For any further information, applicants can see the list of the research projects proposed for the 24 th cycle of the Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering at the following address: Art. 7 ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE After hearing the Doctoral School Committee, the Rector appoints the Admissions Committee. It will consist of three members chosen among Italian and foreign professors and researchers, who are experts in the scientific areas of the Doctoral School. The Committee may also include two experts, who may be foreign, from public and private national and international research centres. The Committee will draw up a merit-based ranking according to the scores obtained by the applicants during the selection procedures. The final ranking of the candidates will be posted on the website: Through publication of such list, notification concerning the proceedings is considered to be fulfilled. Applicants admitted to the School will not receive personal communication of their results. Art. 8 - ADMISSION TO THE DOCTORAL SCHOOL Short-listed applicants will be admitted to the Doctoral School according to their placement in the list until all available places have been filled. If the candidates are equally worthy of admission, the student s economic situation will be evaluated for positions that include a grant, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers (D.P.C.M.) of as amended, for positions not assigned grant, the youngest student shall be given priority. If a successful applicant withdraws before the beginning of the Programme, the next applicant on the list will be offered the position. If a successful applicant withdraws or is excluded in the first three-month term of the first year, the Doctoral School Committee may decide to fill the vacancy place with another candidate on the list. According to art. 19(3) of the University Regulations for Doctoral Schools and according to previous Doctoral School Committee resolutions, the Admissions Committee may admit to the School up to 25% of the total assigned places, candidates who are eligible in the general ranking, if they belong to one of the following categories: - applicants from non-e.u. countries who have been awarded any kind of grant; - applicants from a country with a specific intergovernmental agreement with Italy, on the basis of a bilateral agreement between the University of Trento and the foreign university (with no obligatory financial burden for the University of Trento); - short-listed applicants who have been awarded grants under Law 449/97, Art. 51 ( Assegni di ricerca ). Art. 9 ENROLMENT Admitted applicants should forward their application for enrolment to the University of Trento - Direzione Didattica e Servizi agli Studenti Ufficio Dottorati ed Esami di Stato, Via Inama n Trento, ITALY, within 15 full days of the date of the publication of the final ranking. If applicable, the payment receipt of the provincial tax for the right to university study (TDS) must be attached to the application. 5

6 In the application (forms are available at the Central Office of Doctoral Studies and on the website: candidates should: - indicate whether they ask to be awarded a scholarship (successful applicants, who have not been awarded a scholarship should also fill out this section, in case an applicant with a scholarship should withdraw); - state whether they have already been awarded an Italian scholarship for a doctoral programme (even for a single year); - state whether they are an Italian public sector employee. - state whether they receive a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another Italian or foreign institution; - declare that they are not already enrolled and undertake not to enrol on any other programme for a degree, an Italian Scuola di Specializzazione, a PhD, or master degree of the I or the II level, for the duration of this Doctoral programme. Or alternatively, commit of stop attending such a school before the start of the Doctoral programme; - commit to obtain authorization from the Graduate School Committee before taking up any form of employment; - commit to promptly inform the University of any changes of their residence or address. Admitted non-eu applicants holding a non-italian qualification and admitted EU applicants holding a non- EU qualification must also present their degree certificate along with exams taken and grades, translated and authenticated by an Italian consulate, embassy or diplomatic representative in the country where the degree was issued, and the respective declaration of validity ( Dichiarazione di Valore ) within the enrolment date. Applicants admitted to the School who do not send their application within 15 days following the publication date of the ranking on the website: lose the right to enrol and the corresponding position will be offered to the next candidate on the list. Art. 10 GRANTS Grants are assigned based on the ranking of applicants drawn up by the Admissions Committee, on request of the applicant. If an applicant forfeits his/her right to the grant, the next applicant on the list will be offered the grant. In the case of one or more grants financed by external entities, the candidates can choose which grant to benefit from, based on their position in the ranking. The applicant can choose this specific grant, requiring the development of a particular research topic, if a suitable and appropriate result on the evaluation concerning the knowledge of the specific research area has been achieved by the candidate during the oral exam. In the amount of the annual scholarship after tax has been determined as follows: First year: ,34 EUR for doctoral students residing in Italy ,56 EUR for doctoral students residing outside Italy, who can apply the international Convention to avoid the double taxation; ,21 EUR for the doctoral students residing in Italy and contributing to an additional social security system. Second and third year: EUR for doctoral students residing in Italy and for doctoral students not residing in Italy who can apply the international Convention to avoid the double taxation ,67 EUR for doctoral students residing abroad who cannot apply the international Convention to avoid the double taxation. Grants are paid bi-monthly and in advance, with recoupment of undue payments in case the doctoral student is expelled or suspended. Grants cannot be combined with other scholarships, except those awarded by national or foreign scientific institutes deemed appropriate for the research activities carried out by the doctoral student. Grants are increased by 50% for any periods spent abroad authorized by the Head of the School or by the Doctoral School Committee. 2 At the moment of the publication of this announcement the current Italia Law states that the doctoral scholarship is subject to social security contributions (INPS 17% or 24,72%. One third of the tax is chargeable to the doctoral student) according to art 2(26) of Law no. 335/95 as amended. 6

7 Grants are awarded for the entire duration of the Programme following confirmation by the Doctoral School Committee of the results achieved every year by the doctoral students. Doctoral students failure to attend the Programme for over thirty days will lead to grant suspension. Art DOCTORAL STUDENTS RIGHTS AND DUTIES Doctoral students must commit to attend the doctoral School and to carry out research and studies on a full time basis according to the schedules and the regulations laid out by the Doctoral School Committee as specified in Art. 3 of the present announcement. Students participating in a co-tutelle Programme are required to conduct study and research activities according to the agreement signed with the foreign university. In case of a negative evaluation given by the Doctoral School Committee regarding a student s participation in School s activities and studies, the Rector can exclude the student from the doctoral School. Grants financed by external bodies where specific research is to be carried out, limit the grant holders to carry out that specific work for the entire duration of the Programme. For the length of the Doctoral Programme, students are insured by the University against accidents and damage to third parties that occur in circumstances pertaining to the Programme. A public office employee admitted who is accepted for a doctoral Programme may request leave of absence for reasons of study without a stipend and may benefit from the doctoral grant, as long as conditions are met. In the case of admission to a doctoral programme without a grant, or should the applicant not accepted it, the person on leave of absence may benefit from the economic remuneration, social insurance and retirement benefits provided by the public institution where he/she is employed. Should the employee terminate employment in public office within two years from having obtained the doctoral degree, the amount paid out during the course of the doctoral studies must be claimed back. Art. 12 DOCTORAL TITLE CONFERRAL The doctoral title, conferred by the Rector, is granted when students pass the final examination which takes place at the end of the doctoral Programme. Upon hearing the advice of the Doctoral School Committee, the Examination Committee is nominated by the Rector, according to the University Regulations for Doctoral Schools. Release of title certification is dependent upon delivery of the final thesis to the University s open access institutional archive on behalf of the graduate, that guarantees the conservation and public availability of the thesis. It is the University s responsibility to then deposit the thesis, according to law, among the National Libraries of Rome and Florence. Art. 13 PERSONAL DATA The University of Trento, in accordance with Legislative Decree 196/03 Italian Personal Data Protection Code, uses applicants personal data only for the purpose of selection procedures and for institutional reasons. In observance of the above-mentioned legislative decree, participation in the selection requires the applicant to give the University of Trento permission to publish his/her personal data concerning the results of the selection procedure on the University website. Art. 14 REFERRAL RULE For matters not explicitly mentioned in the present announcement, art. 4 of Law no. 210 of , the Ministerial Decree no. 224 of and to the University Regulations for Doctoral Schools issued with the Rector's Decree no. 997 of and amended with the Rector s Decree no. 359 of Trento, 5 th June 2008 The Rector prof. Davide Bassi 7

8 Atachment 1 3 : Request for taking the entrance examinations in the own country I,(SURNAME) (NAME) ask to sit the entrance examination in my own country. For this purpose, I am indicating where I will sit the examination: theuniversity of LOCATED IN Address No. Zip Code Town / City COUNTRY TELEPHONE FAX IP number I declare that I am going to be identified and watched by: SURNAME FIRST NAME DATE OF BIRTH PLACE OF BIRTH TELEPHONE QUALIFICATION Date Signature N.B. attach the photocopy of the professor s identity card or passport 3 To be filled in only by candidates, not residing in Italy, who ask the Admissions Committee for the examination to be held in their own country. 8

9 Attachment 2 4 : Appointment of the professor checking the exam procedures The undersigned - Dean of the Faculty - Head of the Department of of the University of (Country) appoints the professor position as the person in charge to check the exam procedures for the admission to the Doctoral School in ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING of the University of Trento (Italy) of the following candidate: Name and surname of the candidate (place, date) Signature stamp 4 To be filled by the Dean of the Faculty or the Head of the Department of the University. 9

10 Attachment 3: Academic Reference Form APPLICANT S NAME Degree Applying for: Research Doctoral Programme in Environmental Engineering Planning to Enrol: Fall 2008 Applicant s Waiver The following waiver statement is provided in accordance with Italian privacy law. You may waive your right to inspect this reference by signing the statement at your own discretion. Should you decide not to sign, you may have access to the reference when you enrol in the graduate school. This is a confidential reference and will not be disclosed to me without the prior consent of the referee APPLICANT S SIGNATURE DATE REFEREE S NAME TITLE, EMPLOYER ADDRESS 1. How long have you known the applicant? <1 yr 1 yr 2 yrs 3 yrs 4 yrs > 5 yrs 2. In what capacity do you know the applicant? Professor Supervisor Colleague Friend/Relative Other Please attach a frank letter addressing the following questions. 1. What are this applicant s major strengths? 2. What are this applicant s major weaknesses? 3. Please describe the quality of the applicant s contributions in a group/team environment (professional or classroom). 4. Please rate the applicant relative to other graduate school applicants you have known. 5. If the applicant s native language is not English, please comment on his/her abilities in English. REFEREE S SIGNATURE DATE MAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Please give the completed form and letter of academic reference in a close and signed envelope directly to the candidate, who will attach it to the application, Thank you for your cooperation and assistance. 10

11 TO THE MAGNIFICO RETTORE UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO VIA BELENZANI, TRENTO ITALY I, the undersigned, apply to be included in the competitive selection for the Doctoral School: A ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 5 24 rd cycle B Environmental Engineering Urban and Territorial Engineering and Architecture For this purpose I, the undersigned, declare SURNAME FIRST NAME DATE OF BIRTH PLACE OF BIRTH Town/City Country CITIZENSHIP PLACE OF RESIDENCE Address Zip Code Tel. Country Fax ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE (if different from residence) Address Zip Code Tel. Country Fax THAT I HAVE CITIZENSHIP THAT I HAVE AN ITALIAN DEGREE with mark IN (subject) FROM (University) CONFERRED ON (date) 5 The candidate must mark only one specialized curriculum between the 2 proposed. 11

12 THAT I HAVE NOT YET GRADUATED, that I am aware that my admission to the Doctoral School depends on the presentation of my degree certificate by the date of the assessment of qualifications. STUDYING (subject) AT (University) COUNTRY THAT I HAVE A FOREIGN QUALIFICATION which is recognized as equivalent to the Italian degree Italian Rector s Decree recognizing equivalence No. On (date) University of THAT I HAVE A FOREIGN QUALIFICATION and I request the Doctoral School Committee to recognize its as equivalent to the Italian degree 6 GRADUATED DATE MARK DEGREE IN AT (University) Country Length of the course years THAT I SPEAK ENGLISH (please, point out the level of knowledge) THAT I SPEAK THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE(S) Italian Spanish German French THAT I UNDERTAKE to inform the University of any changes of my address of residence, place of living and correspondence THAT I HAVE / DO NOT HAVE 7 ANY DISABILITY (art. 4 Law 104/92) and I need - the following assistance: - extra time (cross out as necessary): YES NO THAT I AM AWARE AND I ACCEPT THE REGULATIONS REGARDING - the present call - the University Regulations for Doctoral Schools - Regulations of the Doctoral School in Environmental Engineering Date Signature 6 For those candidates who have a foreign qualification that has not already been officially recognized as equivalent to the Italian degree have to ask it to be recognised as equivalent. In this case they have to attach, apart from the degree certificate or degree self-certification (according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of concerning EU citizens),a translation in English of the degree certificate with exams and scores obtained, signed by the applicant, in order to enable the Doctoral School Committee to declare its equivalence, for the sole purpose of being admitted to the selection of this call; 7 Cross out the item of no concern. 12

13 Attachments to participate in the selection 8 : - photocopy of the applicant s identity card or passport; - degree certificate or degree self-certification (according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of concerning EU citizens), with a list of the exams taken and scores obtained (excepting what stated in Art. 2 of this announcement for candidates who have not yet obtained their degree certificate at the time of presentation of the application). Candidates who have a foreign qualification that has not already been officially recognised as equivalent to the Italian degree have to attach a translation in English of the degree certificate with exams and scores obtained, signed by the applicant, in order to enable the Doctoral School Committee to declare its equivalence, for the sole purpose of being admitted to the selection of this call; - curriculum vitae; - statement of purpose. The candidate is required to describe in a few words (max 4 pages) which ones are the most interesting aspects of the chosen research subject among those suggested by the School. The choice is required in order to evaluate the candidate but a different research subject can be chosen during the first year. - extended abstract of the degree thesis (2 pages) - two letters of recommendation in English or Italian (attachmnet 3) written by experts in the doctoral research areas. The two letters of recommendation must be sent in sealed and signed envelopes 9 ; - any certificates of the English language (for foreign applicants any certificates of the Italian language); - any other document or qualification useful in the applicant s evaluation (scientific publications, study and post-graduate activities of research, prizes, grants etc.); - attachments no. 1 and no. 2 for foreign candidates taking the entrance examination in their own country (see art. 5). 8 After the conclusion of the entrance examination procedure, applicants intending to receive back their documents attached to their application for the selection of the Doctoral School must write to the Administration (Ufficio Dottorati ed Esami di Stato) a specific request within a year the expire date of the present announcement. Any postal expenses will be met by the applicant. 9 In case the two letters are not available the candidate will not be excluded by the selection procedure. 13