Quality assurance processes for third-cycle studies
The Education Board for Third-Cycle Studies at LTH [Forskarutbildningsnämnden] (FUN) is responsible for third-cycle studies at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH). The board accommodates its decisions to the faculty board’s general strategies for the development of LTH. On the board, five PhD education leaders represent different subject areas. The board has given the PhD education leaders authority to make decisions about course syllabi, examining committees and external reviewers of doctoral theses. These decisions are made together with a group of department directors of studies. PhD student representatives are members of the PhD education board.
Third-cycle studies are conducted at the departments and are organised in different third-cycle subject areas. All departments have a director of studies for PhD studies who is mainly responsible for the quality assurance processes concerning the department’s third-cycle education.
At LTH, there is a range of third cycle courses directed at all PhD students independently of their subject area. These courses focus mainly on general competences such as communication skills, project management and academic writing. One of these courses is a mandatory introduction to PhD studies. All PhD students with departmental duties have access to academic teaching courses. All third-cycle courses are presented and opened for admission in a course database.
Quality assurance - third cycle study environment
To assure the third-cycle study environment, PhD educate surveys are for example conducted. Course plans are prepared and decided in a faculty-wide process. LTH also offers faculty-wide courses for the doctoral students.
PhD education survey
To follow up the third-cycle education environment systematically, surveys are conducted recurrently, directed to the doctoral students and supervisor. The questionnaire addresses questions about the PhD study environment, supervision, learning outcomes and the LTH strategic goals among other things.
Third cycle education courses
All course syllabi for third-cycle studies at LTH are prepared and established in a joint faculty process. The course director submits the course syllabus to the department representative for approval before the PhD education leader makes a formal review and decision.
Quality assurance - individual third cycle education
Reviews of individual study plans and midway reviews
The yearly review of individual study plans has both a retrospective and forward-looking function. The study plan meeting takes place between the PhD student, principal and assistant supervisors and a department representative. The Higher Education Ordinance qualitative targets are integrated in the LTH individual study plan and the PhD student and his/her supervisors discuss these together and decide what needs to be done to meet the different outcomes. The individual study plan matrix also encompasses internationalisation and career planning aspects.
The individual study plan also serves as basis for the midway review. This process includes an external review of the PhD student’s education, especially with regard to the Higher Education Ordinance qualitative targets.
At the end of the education, a final review of the individual study plan takes place.
Midway review (PhD-website LTH)
Final review of the individual study plan (PhD-website LTH)
Approval of examining committee, external reviewer and preliminary thesis review
As a preparation for the public thesis defense, the PhD education leader makes a formal decision about the examining committee and external reviewer. The third-cycle education board has delegated this authority. Before the approval, each matter is reviewed together with a group of department directors of study to make sure all LTH requirements are met and no bias occurs.
The faculty opponent and the members of the examining committee carries out a preliminary review of the thesis, to give feedback on whether the thesis is of sufficient quality to be presented at a public defense of the thesis.