9th ERES Education Seminar Changes on Phd system in Spain. New regulation Paloma Taltavull de La Paz Universidad de Alicante Bratislava, December 2013

Previous system Doctorate based on two-year education research oriented: learning to research First year: 60 credits, specialised topics Second year: dissertation Then, 3-5 years to work in the thesis With a supervisor who has the responsibility to monitorize the PhD work Until the thesis defense

Previous system No need to follow any protocol: Only those activities defined by the supervisor 1st result: Doctoral thesis Many areas, PhD does not publish any part of the research –Publications: after the thesis defense Thesis filters (after the supervisor): 3 external examiners.. Favourable reports previously to allow the thesis to be defended 1 committee with 5 doctors (2 internal plus 3 external) in the defense

New regulation PhD Academic Committee for each PhD course. Only PhD with recognized research (acredited by the national agency) PhD course follow same rules than in other degress: evaluated each 5 years by National Agency Limited period: 3 -4 years.. full time students 5-6 years.. part time students 5 ECTS in general education, rest on researc activities

New regulation Control in the learning process: –List of activities to do 5 ECTS in general education, rest on research activities (Doctorate School is defining) 5 ECTS is specific research activities (attending seminars, presenting papers, foreign stays..) Control of the research plan Contens, methodology, structure and learning process Outcomes Yearly evaluation of each PhD (AC)

New regulation Control institutions Doctorate School (for most than one PhD course) Academic Committee (AC) who has the responsibility to control the learning process AC define two responsible persons: –Tutor or mentor.. inmediate –Control that student follow the research plan –Supervisor.. Whithin 6 month –Academic supervision as well –Could be different people, –For instance, when supervisor do belong to other university or research center

New regulation Requirements for tutors or supervisors –PhD –With accredited research (National Agency) –Link to the PhD program (formally) –Control the adequacy of each PhD work plan to the general lines of the program –Support the PhD –Prepare a yearly report and evaluate the PhD work. – Yearly possitive evaluation is a requisite to PhD to be on the program –Control the attendance and evaluation of the activities

New regulation Stress PhD students to do a ‘international thesis’. Partially written in other EU language Committee formed by international members Defended partially in other language Stay in a foreign University a minimum of 1 month 1st year: research plan + seminars + full research plan presentation in a doctoral session 2nd- 3rd year: Thesis sections: Presentation in doctoral sessions or in conferences International mobility.

New regulation 5 ECTS of basic education: –Data bases management. 10 h –Research aims and objectives, 10h –Scientific communications, basic skills, 10 h –Business techniqes for research, 10 h 5 ECTS research activities. In our PhD (Doctorado en economía).. Minimum: 30 hours in seminar attendance 30 hours (3-4 presentations) in doctoral sessions 1 regular paper in an academic conference Stays: optative

Conclussions Restricted PhD process: 3 years is low Intense and controlled working plan More responsibility of tutors and supervisors Evaluations yearly to be approved by AC (Academic comission) Less classes: more research concentration. Departments should organize seminars..