DOCTORAL EDUCATION IN DENMARK

DOCTORAL EDUCATION IN DENMARK D E A N E S K I L D H OLM NIELSEN FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE

Framework General information PhD education in Denmark is a 3 year educational program: R e s e a r c h p r o j e c t u n d e r s u p e r v i sion. 3 0 ECTS courses ( g e n e r a l a n d p roject c o u r s e s ). R e s e a r c h d i s s e m ination a n d / o r t e a c h i n g ( m a x. 7 3 2 h o u r s work load). C o l l aboration with ( s t a y a t ) e xternal research institution. Governed by: M i n i s t e r ial Order s e t t i n g the f ramework f o r t h e e d u c a t i on. L o c a l u n i v e r s ity implementations. S t i p u lated that o n l y universities m a y award degrees. Organization: D o c t o r a l s c h o o l ( a p p r o x. 650 e n r o l l e d a t A A U E n g i n e ering a n d Science Faculty). D o c t o r a l p r o g r a m m e s ( t ypically 20-6 0 s t u d e n t s p e r p r o g r a m ).

Framework General information Organization varies among universities. At Aalborg University the following is used for the ~650 enrolled doctoral candidates: Dean Academic council Administration Study Director PhD board Program 1..... Program N

Framework Recruitment etc. Funding: T h e majority of doctoral c a n d i d ates are e m p l o yed v i a p r o j e c t g r a n t s i n d u s t r y, EU, research c o u n c ils e t c. N o r m a l l y a f u l l t i m e occupation t o b e a d o c t o r a l c a n d i d ate. P a r t t i m e doctoral c a n d i d ates have p r o p o r t i o n a lly m o r e t h a n 3 years to complete t h e s t u d i e s. Joint degree doctoral programs possible: I n v o l v e s t wo universities i n a formal agreement t o j o i n t ly work on a doctoral e d u c a t i on i n s o m e s p e c ific a r e a. S u p e r v i sors from b o t h places. P r o g r a m s must be in c o m p l iance with the rules o f b o t h u n i v e r s ities. D e g r e e granted jointly by t h e i n s t itutions.

Framework Recruitment etc. Recruitment of doctoral candidates: A d m i s sion: R o u g h l y 3 year Bachelor + 2 year m a s t e r degrees o r e q u i v a lent. A l l p o s i t ions a r e o ff e r e d in open c o m p e t i t i on v i a p u b l i c a d v e r t i s e m ent web-pages, s c i e ntific m a g a z i n es e t c. I n a d d i t i on, t h e e xpected s u p e r v i sor (project owner) typically c h e c k s h i s / h e r n e t work for suitable c a n d i d a t es a n d e n c o u rage a p p l i cations. Assessment of candidates: A c o m m i t t e e i s f o r m e d ( m i n i m u m a s s o c iate professor l e v e l) t o a s s e s s a l l a p p l i cants. I n t e rviews a re conducted wi t h t ypically 2-3 p referred c a n d i d ates. F i n a l d e c i s ion by D e a n and PhD S t u d y Director. S o m e doctoral c a n d i d a t es f i n a n c e t h e s t u d i e s t h e m s e l v es t h e a d m i s sion r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e t h e s a m e.

Framework Recruitment etc. Topics: Government funded: typically these c a n be defined b y t h e s u p e r v i sor a n d / o r t h e doctoral c a n d i date. P r o j e c t f u n d e d : Normally defined b y t h e p r o j e c t o wner via t h e g r a n t e d p r o j e c t a p p l i cation. S e l f f i n a n c e d: N o r m a l l y d e f i n e d j o i n t ly b e t ween the doctoral c a n d i d ate a n d s u p e r v i sor. Adjustments: A s t u d y plan d e s c r i b ing n u m e rous d e t a i l s of t h e doctoral p r o j e c t m u s t be approved l a t e s t t h r e e m o n t h s after start. A revised p l a n i s d e l i vered a f t e r 11 m o n t h s. A d j u s t m e nts a r e m a d e as necessary t o a c c o u n t f o r t h e o b t a i n e d r e s u l t s a n d e xperiences i n g e n e ral t e r m s.

Framework Recruitment etc. Two months study plan: D e s c r i b es t h e research project ( h ypotheses, m e t h o d s, s t a t e - of- the- a r t, r e s e a r c h i d e a, r e f e rences e t c. ). S t u d e n t -supervisor a g reement. P u b l ication a n d d i s s emination p l a n. Wo r k, time and c o u r s e p l a n. D e s c r i p t ion o f e xternal research i n v o lvement. Eleven months study plan: E s s e n t ially an updated a n d revised v e r s i o n o f t h e t wo m o n t h s plan. Importance: The two and eleven m o n t h s s t u d y p l a n s m u s t be signed b y t h e s t u d e n t, s u p e r v i sor a n d head o f d e p a r t m e n t and must s u b s e q u ently be approved b y t h e program leader. T h e s t u d y p l a n i s the k e y i n s t rument when monitoring p r o g r e s s e t c.

Framework Recruitment etc. Supervision: T h e education is b a s e d o n s u p e r v i sion t h e reby gradually e n c o u r a g ing i n d e p e ndent r e s e a r c h, which i s a m u s t f o r t h e d e g r e e. S u p e r v i sion i s done b y a s s o c i ate p rofessors a n d professors i n the Doctoral S c h o o l supervisor p r o p o s e d b y d e p a r t m e n t s a n d must be approved b y P h D S t u d y Director according t o l a w. T h e r e are no formal maximum number of doctoral c a n d i d a t es a s u p e r v i sor m a y h a v e t h i s i s d e c i d e d on a n individual b a s i s. Co- s u p e r v isor a l ways encouraged a n d s o m e t i m e s d e m a n d e d. A n n u a l workshops f o r s u p e r v i sors to s t r e n g t h e n s u p e r v ision q u a l i t y.

Doctorate formats Supervision: S t u d e n t - s u p e r visor a g r e e m e n t is p a r t o f t h e s t u d y plan s i g n e d b y b o t h and approved b y p rogram leader. S u p e rvisor reports progress b i -annually t o t h e d o c t o ral s c h o o l t h e P h D S t u d y D i r e c t o r m a y i n i t iate a t h r e e months r e e s t a b l ishment i n c a s e the s t u d y is not progressing as p l a n n e d ( p r o g r e s s a n d / o r q u a l ity). S u p e r v i sor t a s k s a r e p r e c i s e ly d e f i n e d i n t h e l o c a l i m p l e m e ntation of t h e Ministerial Order. Change of supervisor: T h e s t u d e n t c a n r e q u e s t c h a n g e o f s u p e r v isor, which i s n o r m a l l y granted in c a s e m e d i a t i o n or s i m i lar i s n o t p o s s i ble. T h e PhD Study Director h a s the authority to change t h e s u p e r v i sor when necessary n o m a t t e r f rom where the f i n a n c ing o r i g i n a t e s.

Status of Doctoral Candidates Doctoral candidates with stipend: R e c e i ves a g o v e r n m e n t n e g o t i a t e d s a l a r y. C o v e r e d b y s e l e c t a ble p e n s i o n (up to approx. 17% of s a l a r y). C o v e r e d b y n a t i o n a l h e a l t h c a r e. Industrial doctoral candidates: E m p l o yed b y a c o m p a n y 50/50 time at University a n d c o m p a n y. F i n a n c ially s u p p o r t e d b y g o v e r n m e n t. S u p e r v i sion f r o m b o t h University a n d c o m p a n y. F o l l o ws t h e s a m e Ministerial Order as other candidates. Tuition waiver doctoral candidates: S e l f f i n a n c e d and t a k e s c a re of pension and healthcare t h e m s e l v es. R u l e s a n d regulations a r e o t h e rwise t h e s a m e as for others.

Doctoral formats Quality assurance during studies (examples): Two and eleven m o n t h s s t u d y p l a n s m u s t be approved b y b o t h s u p e r v i sor a n d program leader. I f u n s u c c essful this m a y i n i t iate a r e e s t a b l ishment p l a n. S i x months f o r m s o n s c i e ntific l e v e l a n d progress m u s t b e d e l i vered b y s u p e rvisors. P h D S t u d y Director may i n i t iate a t h r e e m o n t h s r e e s t a b l ishment p l a n i f unsuccessful t h e s t u d y is terminated. A l l s t u d e n t s a r e s t r o n g l y encouraged t o p u b l ish i n t e r n a t i o nally to experience t h a t p a r t o f research with e xternal p e e r r e v i e ws. S t u d e n t s m a y a t a l l t i m e s c o n t a c t the doctoral s c h o o l i n case o f s u p e r v i sor p r o b l e m s. T h e s e a r e h a n d l e d b y t h e PhD Study D i r e c t o r.

Doctoral formats Thesis: D u e to impact a n d the s h o r t t i m e of study a collection o f p a p e r s b a s e d t h e s i s i s r e c o m m e n d e d. M o n o g r a p h i s a p o s s i bility but not used a l l t h a t m u c h a n ym o r e. S i g n e d c o - a u t h o r s t a t e m e n t s c l a rify a students i n d i vidual c o n t r i b u t ion t o s c i e ntific p a p e r s. T h e thesis i s public a n d must be so before public d e f e n s e.

Doctoral formats Dissertation quality assurance: T h e s u p e r v i sor m u s t assess t h e o v e rall d o c t o r a l e d u c a t i o n, which m u s t be approved b y t h e PhD Study Director. T h e relevant d e p a r t m e n t proposes a n assessment c o m m i t t e e. T h e Dean is r e s p o n s i ble f o r a p p r o v i n g the a s s e s s m e nt c o m m i t t e e, which m u s t have external m a j o r i t y (three m e m b e rs in total). A s s e s sment r e p o r t s and procedure: P r e l i m inary t wo weeks b e f o r e planned p u b l i c d e f e n s e. I f a c c e p t a b le, p u b l i c d e f e n s e. F i n a l a s s e s s m ent r e p o r t. The PhD Study Director q u a l i t y a s s u res (legality a n d c o n s i stency) the preliminary and final reports. A c a d e m ic C o u n c il c o n f e r the degree when recommended b y t h e a s s e s sment c o m m i t t e e.

Outcome Expected doctoral skills from Ministerial Order: c o n d u c t r e s e a rch at international level. c o n d u c t d e v e l o p m e nt a t international l e v e l. be a b l e t o d i s s e m inate research results o r p e r f o r m t e a c h i n g. work independently o n a research t o p i c. p u b l i sh at i n t e r n a t i onal l e v e l (usually s c i e ntific papers). A doctoral degree is a prerequisite for any academic research career. Focus in Denmark on increasing the number of doctoral candidates: M a i n f o c u s on employm e n t in industry.

AAU specifics Recent enrolled and conferred degrees F a c u l t y of engineering a n d s c i e n ce: e n r o l l e d n u m b e r of students a n d degrees p e r year:

AAU specifics Quality assurance overview (extract) Recruitment: A s s e s sment b a s e d o n application. I n t e r v i e w a n d. During studies: S u p e r v i sor r e p o r t s e v e r y 6 months. S u p e r v i sion q u a l i t y monitoring when necessary. Co-supervisors a p p o i n t e d i n almost a l l c a s e s. E n c o u r a g e m ent t o p u b l i sh i n t e r n a t i o nally. Thesis: S u p e r v i sor s t a t e m e n t regarding t h e education a s s u c h. Check for plagiarism. T h e s i s a s s e s sed b y c o m m i t t e e with external majority. P u b l ic defense. L e g a l ity and c o n s i stency c h e c k o f a s s e s sment r e p o r t s. A c a d e m ic C o u n c il c o n f e r degrees.