Prof. Carlos Jaime Vice-rector for postgraduate studies

1. The transformation of Spanish doctoral programmes as a consequence of the EHEA: Difficulties and challengesat the UAB Prof. Carlos Jaime Vice-rector for postgraduate studies

2. Degrees: 77 Bachellors + 101 Masters Medium-large size (2nd largest in Catalonia) Maybe the 1st in postgraduate students. Some numbers: 32.000 undergraduate students  13.000 postgraduate students 2.500 doctoral students 2.000 foreign students (not Erasmus) 225 masters 90 Doctorates 375 Thesis/year 3.100 professors & researchers 1.900 administration staff General information about UAB

3. The Postgraduate School is the connection between the university and the outer institutions The Postgraduate School coordinates, manages and impulses all the postgraduate studies at UAB. Located in the ancient “Masía de can Miró”, was thought as the link between the university and the outer institutions gathering both the academic postgrades (like doctorate) and the professionalizing postgrades (masters and diplomas)

4. Where we were? (and where many of our universities still are)The pre-EHEA Spain (until 2005)

5. The pre-EHEA Spain (before 2005)Global view • Spain is different! • Europe recognizes Universities…… • Spain has a given list of state diplomas. • Two levels of state diplomas: • “Licenciado” (bachelor) and “Doctor”. • Spanish regulation allows other diplomas…… • with names different enough as not to create confusion (masters)

6. Details on the pre-EHEA #1/2 State diplomas • “Licenciado”: usually 5 years • (4 in Catalonia) • “Doctor”: organized in Doctoral programs • Doctoral program: 3 periods 1- courses > 200 h • 2- research work, 1 year 3- thesis, 3-4 years

7. Details on the pre-EHEA #2/2 University diplomas • Universities created their own Master degrees, as well as others (Expert, “Diploma de postgrado” -shorter- or others) • Master: usually professionally oriented and compete with doctoral programs. Length and requirements should be thus similar, but…. differences exist, they are much longer. • Expert: Definitely professionally oriented. Much shorter than the Master degree.

8. The pre-EHEA Spain in images Doctoral programme Courses 200 h Licenciado: 4-5 years 1 year Thesis Research Univ. Masters

9. Where we are? (and where all the Spanish universities are expected to be, sooner or later)The post-EHEA Spain (from 2005)

10. Details on the post-EHEA Global view • Three levels of official diplomas: “Grado”, “Máster Universitario” and “Doctor”. • Spanish law also allows other diplomas with names different enough as not to create confusion. • Spain is still different! The “Grado” is 4 years (in most European countries is 3 years).

11. Details on the post-EHEA #1/2 State diplomas • “Grado”: 4 years • “Máster Universitario”: 1 or 2 years • “Doctor”: very flexible • No given list of state diplomas, neither for “Grado” nor for “Master Universitario” (universities will become different!)

12. Details on the post-EHEA #2/2 University diplomas • Universities continue with their own Diplomas: Master, Expert, “Diploma de postgrado” and others) • Problem! Spanish law forbids the use of university diplomas to enter into Doctor level • Problem: Lifelong learning, “in and out” from academia.

13. The post-EHEA Spain in images Doctoral programme Master 60-120 ECTS Grado: 4 years Thesis Univ. Masters

14. How is the Doctorate in the post-EHEA Spain (from 2005)?

15. Details on the post-EHEA doctorate • The Ministry joins Master and Doctor levels and creates a unique set called “Doctoral program”. • Two periods: formation and research. • Formation: usually Master but it can be any 60 ECTS credits from official masters. • Research: thesis development, no fixed length, almost no regulation.

16. How have we built the “new” Doctorate in the UAB?

17. The “new doctorate” in the UAB #1/3 We have settled: • Number of positions per doctorate • Pre-enrolment at the UAB level (Graduate School) • Centralized control of diplomas • Selection procedures • Maximum 5 students/supervisor • Formation complements (< 30 credits)

18. The “new doctorate” in the UAB #2/3 We have settled: • Configured around research lines • A board (+ coordinator) manages the doctorate • Yearly follow up (at least oral presentation) • Length limited to 3-4 years • Part-time students: 6 years • Board can extend one more period • UAB can allow one third period • Rights and duties for students and supervisors

19. The “new doctorate” in the UAB #3/3 We have settled: • Supervisor: accredited research experience. • Co-tutelle: minimum of 9 months at UAB. • (agreement signed within the first year) • Thesis as set of papers (minimum 2 papers). • Examination board: 3 members from 3 different institutions (maximum one from UAB). • If “failed”, must apply again to be admitted. • Board members with research experience.

20. The key stone of the “new doctorate” The board: • Responsible for the admittance of new students. • Accepts the thesis proposal. • Responsible for the yearly follow up. • Should solve any non regulated affair. • Proposes the members for the defence board, with the approval of the department.

21. The new vision of supervision

22. The supervision: new vision • Traditional supervision: one-to-one (tête a tête) relationship between supervisor-supervised • New vision: reduce as much as possible the one-to-one relationship • The supervision is controlled by a team of “experts” (board), that controls both students and supervisors. Composition? Variable. • Yearly follow-up. • All the procedure is centred into the board.

23. One example: sociology • Only one board • Objectives of the board: to evaluate and to facilitate the contact between the students. • Both students and supervisor must present a yearly report. • Reports will be defended publicly in seminars, once a year. • Reports + public defence = final evaluation. • If negative evaluation = out!

24. Another example: chemistry • A total of 4 boards (25 new students per year). • Both students and supervisor must present a yearly report. • Reports will be defended publicly in seminars for as much as 10’ and the discussion may last not more than 10’. • The committees will act two times a year. • Reports + public defence = evaluation. • Negative evaluation = out!

25. Why have we been able to implement the changes so “reasonably well”?

26. The Postgraduate school Manages and controls all the doctoral studies at UAB (both academically and administratively)

27. Which have been the difficulties of the “new doctorate”?

28. The new vision #1/3 Results from Network 1 • Doctoral students are not only trained for research but also by research (subtle but important change). • Essential skills for a more competitive and dynamic knowledge-based European economy.

29. The new vision #2/3 • New Doctoral programmes must have educational objectives, while previous programmes have only (or mainly) research objectives. • Definition of what being a Doctor means is needed. • A relative disconnection between research and Ph.D. thesis emerges (difficult to admit for traditional university professors).

30. The new vision #3/3 • This brings about the concept of: • A Ph.D. thesis is finished when the educational objectives have been achieved, not when the research project has been finished. • Time, very long time, will be needed for accepting the new situation. • Students accept rather well this new vision. • Professors are more reluctant to this change.

31. Which are the challenges of the “new doctorate”?

32. The challenges The future • Contract students/supervisor/UAB • Unit for Formation and Employment of fresh doctors: • - Formation in transferable skills useful for • the “external world” • - Gathering of information on fellowships, • job opportunities, etc. • Program for the Supervisor professional development

33. Thank you very much for your attention Vicerectorat d’estudis de postgrau Edifici U. 08913 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Tel (+34) 93 581 2997 Fax (+34) 93 581 2000 Web: www.uab.es/postgrau Mail: vr.estudis.postgrau@uab.cat