Aquaculture, Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Thematic Network in Education & Training

WP2: PhD Curriculum Development and Assessment

 

Coordinator: Peter Bossier – Ghent University, Belgium

OUTPUTS

2.1 - Database of all core data collected on PhD Course programmes

Work Package 2 gathered core data about education at the PhD third cycle in the AQUA-TNET domain by means of 3 different questionnaires for different target groups. The first questionnaire was directed towards the European Universities involved in the AQUA-TNET domain, the second questionnaire focused on gathering information among current PhD students on their perception on the quality and the need for change in their studies. Finally the last questionnaire was directed towards post-docs trying to gather information about their perception of the quality of the PhD third cycle from the perspective of their current working environment. Please check 2.1a, 2.1b & 2.1c for information on the questionnaires.
The results have been analysed and are summarised in different sources, as well as used to formulate the need for change at the PhD level in general and in the AQUA-TNET domain in particular.

  • Please CLICK HERE for the Report: “PhD curriculum development and assessment in the AQUA-TNET domain - Questionnaire outcomes”
  • For information in relation the outcome of the questionnaire itself, the reader is referred to Annex 5 (WP2 Final Report).
  • A PowerPoint presentation summarising the processed data can be found in Annex 6 (WP2 Final Report).

2.1a - Online questionnaire on PhD course programmes

This questionnaire was directed towards the European Universities involved in the AQUA-TNET domain. The questionnaire can be accessed and answered by partner institutions in their member section of the AQUA-TNET webportal - www.aquatnet.com
 
Please CLICK HERE for the questionnaire. Results can be found under 2.1

2.1b - Hard copy questionnaire on perceived strengths and weaknesses of current PhD Study Programmes

This questionnaire focussed on gathering information among current PhD students on their perception on the quality and the need for change in their studies. It was distributed at the AQUALABS student workshop in Galway (November 2006), and put on the AQUA-TNET website.
 
Please CLICK HERE for the questionnaire. Results can be found under 2.1

2.1c - Hard copy questionnaire on the organisational structure of PhD Study Programmes

This questionnaire was directed towards post-docs trying to gather information about their perception of the quality of the PhD third cycle from the perspective of their current working environment.

Please CLICK HERE for the questionnaire. Results can be found under 2.1

2.2 - Report on generic PhD CD projects

The Report on generic PhD CD projects is based on the outcome of projects run by the European Association of Universities, and summarises the main findings. Please CLICK HERE for the report, which has also been incorporated into the Final report on PhD Curriculum Development and Assessment.

2.3 - Report on feedback from 1st Vertical workshop

As the Annual Event in year 1 had been cancelled as a result of the budget cut, this deliverable could not be produced.

2.4 - Identification of perceived strengths and weaknesses of current PhD Study programmes

The Report on Identification of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the current PhD study programmes highlights the apparent weaknesses and strengths of the current system. Please CLICK HERE for the report, which has also been incorporated into the Final report on PhD Curriculum Development and Assessment.

2.5 – Workshop report (core group meeting Barcelona, March 2007)

The WP2 core group meeting in Barcelona focused on results and outcomes of the first 2 questionnaires (directed towards the European Universities involved in the AQUA-TNET domain, and gathering information among current PhD students on their perception on the quality and the need for change in their studies). The data had been compiled preceding the meeting and they were discussed and problems and recommendations were made. Please CLICK HERE for the workshop report.

2.6 - Virtual workshop available online (core group meeting Barcelona, March 2007)

The WP2 core group meeting in Barcelona took place in conjunction with core group meetings of the other AQUA-TNET Work Packages. Besides core group meetings, also round table discussions and plenary sessions were held, where each Work Package presented their results to the other Work Packages after which discussions on results and trends followed.

Please CLICK HERE to go to all the information related to the meeting in Barcelona, including minutes and presentations.

2.7 - Workshop report (Annual Event 2007, Crete)

The Annual Event 2007 was a two-day event involving workshops and presentations of all 9 Work Packages, plenary meetings, and stakeholder (representatives, research organisations, NGOs, SMEs, students, wider public) presentations on perceived needs from training providers, followed by discussions. Vertical work package workshops were held with multi-stakeholder involvement to ensure implementation of the vertical objectives. Decision makers had the opportunity to express industry practices and needs to the academic community, yielding business-driven solutions.

Work Package 2 held a core group meeting, discussing “Structuring PhD training in the AQUA-TNET domain”. Please CLICK HERE for the workshop report.

2.8 - Virtual workshop available online (Annual Event 2007, Crete)

At the Annual Event 2007 in Crete, WP2 held a session on “Structuring PhD training in the AQUA-TNET domain”. Please CLICK HERE to go to all the information related to the Annual Event, including minutes and presentations.

2.9 - Document on the analysis and the need for change of the PhD third cycle in the AQUA-TNET domain in view of the Lisbon objective for integrating the ERA and EHEA

Please CLICK HERE for the report “Analysis and the need for change of the PhD third cycle in the AQUA-TNET domain”, which has also been incorporated into the Final report on PhD Curriculum Development and Assessment.

2.10 - Document on the need (content and organisational structure) of new PhD courses in the AQUA-TNET domain

The need (content and organisational structure) of new PhD courses in the AQUA-TNET domain has been described in the “Report on PhD curriculum development and assessment in the Aqua-TNET domain”. Please CLICK HERE for the report, more specifically section 10.

2.11 - An interactive PhD webportal for PhD activities across the partnership

AQUA-TNET WP2 constructed an interactive PhD webportal, as a valuable information and research tool. The PhD portal gathers scientific and background information on finished doctoral research work throughout Europe, in a structure as compact and transparent as possible.
AQUA-TNET members can find (links to) full PhD - manuscripts, abstracts, related articles and author information. When available and free of copyright and privacy hampering, on-demand video streaming of the PhD - defense is possible.

 http://www.phdportal.ugent.be/

 

Annexes (to Final Report)

Annex 1 - Questionnaire 1

Annex 2 - Questionnaire 2

Annex 3 - Questionnaire 3

Annex 4 - Outcome generic EUA project

Annex 5 - Outcomes Questionnaire 1

Annex 6 - Results Questionnaire 1

Annex 7 - Outcomes Questionnaire 2

Annex 8 - Outcomes Questionnaire 3



Additional non-contractual deliverables produced by WP2:

1.    Core group meeting Ghent, June 2006: minutes and presentations

2.    Core group meeting Ghent, January 2008: minutes and presentations

3.    Annual Meeting Krakow, September 2008: minutes and presentations