University of Oulu Graduate School UniOGS

1
University of Oulu Graduate SchoolUniOGS

• Starting on 1.8.2011

2
Background

• Previously, doctoral studies were frequently
  characterized as a hobby-like activity with
• Little guidance
• Little support
• Ministry of Education and Culture has established
  the following goals to met by Finnish
  universities
• Development of doctoral training
• Shortening the training time required for a
  Doctoral degree
• Increase the number of foreign doctoral students

3
Doctoral training at University of Oulu
4
Background

• The Board of Directors of the University of Oulu
  decided, in March 2010, to reform the doctoral
  training as a part of a new strategy of the
  University
• 19.10.2010
• The Board of Directors decided that the
  University of Oulu will start a Graduate School,
  which will have the administrative responsibility
  for both doctoral degrees and for International
  Masters Degree programmes.

5
UniOGS Planning CommitteeChair Vice-Rector for
Research, Prof. Taina Pihlajaniemi

• Members
• Prof. Vanessa Andreotti
• PhD student Andrew Conlin
• Coordinator Sinikka Eskelinen
• Prof. Harri Haapasalo
• Prof. Markku Juntti
• Prof. Sanna Järvelä
• Prof. Sari Kunnari
• Dr. Eva Maria Raudasoja

Prof. Arja Rautio Dr Leila Risteli (until
28.2.2011) Prof. Outi Savolainen Prof. Veikko
Seppänen Prof. Olli Silvén PhD. student Hannah
Strauss Prof. Kaisa Tasanen-Määttä Prof. Jari
Oksanen (from 25.3.2011) Dr Elina Rossi
(secretary)
6
Goals

• The goal of the UniOGS is to educate doctors in
  four-year programs, so that graduates have both a
  professional and social proficiency to work at
  doctoral level tasks
• Good scientific capacity
• Good ability to search for information
• Good skills to work in groups
• Capacity to act in an international environment

7

• Create more uniform practices for doctoral
  training
• Application
• Admission
• Course work and other requirements
• Thesis work supervision
• Follow-up group
• Thesis examination practices
• Improving the planning and quality of
  doctoral training
• Shorter time to obtain the degree

8

• Create a flexible path to the doctoral training
  via Masters Degree programmes for candidates
  interested in research work

9
Faculties and Doctoral Training Committees
multidisciplinary
Health and Technology and
Human Sciences Biosciences
Natural Sciences
Doctoral degree
Masters degree
LkT LuTK TTK
TaTK HuTK KTK
10
Tutkijakoulun rakenne

• Student
• Commitment
• Motivation
• Interest in doing research
• Reaching the milestones of Doctoral Training Plan

• Supervisor
• Guiding
• Encouraging
• Ensuring appropriate support for the planning and
  implementation of the research and studies

Doctoral programme

UniOGS

• Follow-up group
• Composed of professors and/or senior scientists
• Annual evaluation and reporting
• Ensuring the training process under the best
  conditions possible

• Management Group and Dean
• Management group is responsible for management
  and monitoring of doctoral education
• Harmonizes the processes
• Ensuring the right of students and supervisors
• Compilation of the curriculum
• Dean is responsible for establishing the criteria
  for selection of students, accepting new
  students, approving the curriculum and the
  criteria for accepting the doctoral thesis and
  grants the doctoral degrees
• Reports to Research Council

• Doctoral Training Committee
• Composed of professors and other senior
  scientists of different fields, and coordinators
• Recommending the admission of students
• Managing the processes of student selection,
  admission and registration
• Appointing supervisors and members of follow-up
  group
• The acceptance of the full Doctoral Training Plan

11
Requirements for admission to the UniOGS

• Suitable Master of Science or Master of Arts
  degree, or their equivalent, granted by a
  recognized or accredited university
• Or, for entry via the International Masters
  Degree programmes, a Bachelor of Science or
  Bachelor of Arts degree, or their equivalent,
  granted by a recognized or accredited university
• Thesis grade at least 3 / 5
• Sufficient language skills

12
Application process for admission

• The deadlines for submission are 30th October and
  31th March, applications may be submitted also at
  any time
• Electronic application including

• Degree diploma and transcript of courses
• Proof of language skills
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of research interest (applicants
  entering the UniOGS with no pre-selected
  Supervisor), or Outline of Doctoral Training Plan
  (applicants who have already taken contact with
  their Supervisor)
• Explanation for choosing part-time status, if
  applicable
• Two letters of recommendation from previous
  teachers or supervisors
• A plan for financing the doctoral studies

13
Admission of students

• The Doctoral Training Committees give a
  recommendation for admission to the Dean of the
  UniOGS
• EITHER
• Unconditional admission four-year Study Rights
  period starting at the beginning of the next
  semester
• OR
• Conditional admission an initial Study Rights
  period of one year. For the Study Rights to be
  continued, the student must complete the required
  background studies for the doctoral work and a
  Supervisor must have been appointed.
• Supervisors recommendation is a prerequisite for
  the continuation of the Study Rights to be
  granted.

14
Admission of students

• The Dean of the UniOGS admits the students
• All students will be registered in Oodi this
  registration gives the official status and rights
  for the students

15
Degree Requirements

• The aim is the completion of the doctoral degree
  in 4 years
• Full-time work
• Acquire professional and social proficiency to
  work at doctoral level tasks
• Doctoral Training Plan
• Study plan (60 ECTS in total)
• Research plan for thesis (180 ECTS in total)

16
Doctoral Training Plan

• Doctoral Training Plan will be made taking into
  account that the dissertation be completed in
  four years
• Students make a plan with his/her supervisor
• Doctoral Training Committee accept the plan
• Follow-up Group monitors the implementation of
  the plan annually
• The study and research plan can be redefined if
  necessary

17
Doctoral Training Plan

• Doctoral Training Plan is a tool for
• Planning the research and studies
• Task scheduling
• Implementation of monitoring
• Motivation
• Financial planning
• Determination of the critical milestones
• For research stages
• For publication process
• For dissertation process

18
Doctoral Training Plan
  YEAR 1 YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 4  
  H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2  
Studies (study plan in appendix)                  
Methodological studies (incl. ethics, seminars), 10-15 credits                  
Major studies, 40 credits                  
Transferable skills and doctoral studies, 5-10 credits                  
Credits in total 60 ECTS                  
                     
  YEAR 1 YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 4  
  H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2 H1 H2  
Thesis work (research plan in appendix)                  
Research plan                  
Theoretical frame                  
Research material Data collection                  
Analysis and reporting the results                  
Manuscript finalization and discussion                  
Pre-examination E                  
Public defense O                  
Mobility plan (in appendix)                  
Credits in total 180 ECTS                  
19
Study Plan

• Field-related studies
• At least 50 of the total study credits
• Courses from other domestic or international
  universities and graduate schools can be included
• Acceptance of supervisor and Doctorar training
  Committee
• Credits from international research visits can be
  also included
• Max 20 ECTS from teaching
• The tracking of all courses is done via Oodi

20
Study Plan

• Transferable skills courses
• Obligatory Courses
• UniOGS Induction Course
• General research ethics
• Recommended studies
• For example
• Writing and presentation skills, General research
  methods, Career development, Information
  management, Teaching and Learning skills, Patent
  information, IPR in research
• Max 20 of the total study credits

21
Research Plan

• Draft at the beginning of the studies
• A detailed plan must be submitted prior to the
  first meeting with the Doctoral Training
  Follow-up Group (beginning of 2nd year)
• Can evolve during research process
• Facilitate the scheduling of research and
  monitoring the implementation

22
Dissertation

• Monograph, compilation-based thesis, a collection
  of essays
• High-quality, discipline-specific thesis and
  Doctors
• Research plan should be planned so that a
  doctoral degree is possible to be carried out
  within the target time of 4 years

23
Summary