1. The Game Plan – Rules of Play
, Introduction to Doctoral Training
Kaisa-Leena Huttunen

2. ? The Game Plan – Rules of Play
APPLICATION
ADMISSION
DOCTORAL TRAINING
LIFE AFTER ?
GRADUATION
How to navigate through your doctoral studies?

3. Regulations that UniOGS take into account
1. European level development:
Seven Principles of Innovative Doctoral Training
2. Finnish law:
Universities Act
Government Decree on University Degrees
3. University level regulations:
the University of Oulu Rules of Procedure (yliopiston johtosääntö)
= e.g. management and responsibility, qualification requirements
the University of Oulu Education regulations (koulutuksen johtosääntö)
= e.g. responsibilities on planning and implementation in education, admission, student enrolment, procedures concerning study attainments

4. What is a doctoral degree?
A title that convinces other scientists that you:
know your own field of research and its social significance;
are able to independently and critically apply scientific research methods;
are able to generate new scientific knowledge;
and are able to follow development in disciplines related to your own field of research.
Government Decree on University Degrees
(794/2004) ch. 5, § 21

5. What is a doctoral degree?
To be awarded a doctorate, the student must:
complete the required postgraduate studies;
demonstrate independent and critical thinking in the field of research;
and write a doctoral dissertation and defend it in public.
Government Decree on University Degrees
(794/2004) ch. 5, § 22
What is a doctoral degree?

6. What is a doctoral thesis
What is a doctoral thesis? = evidence that the doctoral student can independently and critically apply scientific research methods and generate new scientific knowledge
The rest is all about…
… communication…
A doctoral thesis can be a compilation of published research articles and manuscripts and a summary based on these, or it can be a monograph.
A compilation-based thesis may include multiple published articles, accepted manuscripts, or other manuscripts, but a single article in a high- quality scientific journal can be sufficient.
… networking…
The doctoral thesis may contain joint publications or manuscripts, if the independent contribution of the doctoral student can be clearly demonstrated.
… and not wasting time!
The doctoral training should be defined in a way that the doctoral degree can be completed within a time equivalent to four years of full-time studies.

7. The key persons in UniOGS:
Dean & vice-Dean:
Markku Juntti, Kaisa Tasanen-Määttä
Leading the Graduate School
Granting of study rights
Granting of doctoral degrees
+ Vice: education & courses
UniOGS Management Group:
Eva Maria, Seppo, Janne, Kaisa, Markku, Helena, Hanna, Veikko, Saana & Jaana (student member) & UniOGS coordinators
Harmonization of processes
General education & transferable skills curriculum
Criteria for the selection of students and the acceptance of the doctoral thesis

8. DOCTORAL TRAINING COMMITTEES
HS DTC
Human Sciences
TNS DTC
Technology and Natural Sciences
HBS DTC
Health and Biosciences
ITEE DTC
Information Technology and Electrical Engineering
DTC members: Chair, representatives of the Faculties and Institutes, 2 students
Admission applications
Nomination of supervisors and follow-up groups
Acceptance of Doctoral Training Plans
Giving permissions to defend thesis, nominating kustos and opponent
Grading the thesis
Coordinators:
Kaisa-Leena Huttunen
Riitta Kamula
Anthony Heape
Niina Timosaari
Vuokko Iinatti (OBS)
Oili Sievola (FHum)
Helena Seppälä (FEdu)
Tero Vedenjuoksu (FSci)
Chief Academic Officers:
Tero Vedenjuoksu (FSci)
Anita Pirilä (FTech)
Tero Vedenjuoksu (FSci)
Sanna-Mari Ahonen (Fmed)
Heikki Kuoppala (ITEE)
DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES
HS-DP
TNS-DP
HBS-DP
ITEE-DP
Ritva Saastamoinen
Mirja Peltola
Coordinators:
Janne Kurtakko
Riitta Kamula
Tapio Repo

9. UniOGS: Doctoral training programme
RESEARCH (& publication of results)
THESIS AND PUBLIC DEFENCE
RESEARCH
GENERAL &TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
TOTAL 20 – 50 ECTS cr depending on Doctoral Degree Program
STUDIES
FIELD-SPECIFIC STUDIES
TEACHING (optional)
Human sciences
Economics & business administration
the rest are something between
10 %
20 %

10. Doctoral training programme – 4 years
DOCTORAL DEGREE
YEAR 1
YEAR 2
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
studies, research
Admission
study rights
follow-up group
First report
end of 1st year
full doctoral training plan
Mid-term report
end of 2nd year
Final report
end of 3rd year
defence expected within a year
End-process
nominating the pre-examiners
pre-examination
permission to publish
nominating the opponent
printing
public defence
Application
deadline 4 times / year
Annual progress report & follow-up group meeting
Preparations in advance
supervisor(s)
research plan outline
recommendations
…research, studies, conferences, research visits…

11. 1st year acceptance of the Doctoral Training Plan (DTP) = tohtorikoulutussuunnitelma
1. Nominate your Follow-up group
form (
Doctoral Training Committee chair nominates
2. Write your Doctoral Training Plan (DTP)
= research plan + study plan (PSP/HOPS)
+ career plan
3. Have your 1st follow-up group meeting
When? At the end of the first year
What? Student presenting DTP & progress in research and studies
 Follow-up group requires changes to DTP / recommends acceptance of DTP
 Chair sends a report to UniOGS
4. Acceptance of your DTP in Doctoral Training Committee meeting (3 ECTS; J)
+ Research & studies
Follow-up group
= Chair members

12. Doctoral Training Plan (DTP) = research plan + study plan (PSP/HOPS) + career plan
The Research Plan
e.g. following Finnish Academy guidelines
(  Doctoral Training Plan Instructions)
Abstract (obligatory, 1 page max.)
1. Rationale (background, introduction)
2. Objectives and expected results
3. Research methods and material
4. Ethical issues (if relevant)
5. Implementation: schedule of research and studies, distribution of work, and funding plan
6. Research team, supervision, and collaboration (incl. mobility)
Key literature / bibliography
B. The Study Plan, Oodi-PSP
C. The Career Plan
part of the research plan or presented separately for FUG

13. Doctoral Training Plan (DTP) = your personal game strategy!
The DTP can be one of the most useful tools for keeping you and your training on track.
Written for you, your supervisory team and your follow-up group.
Gives you skills in writing funding applications!
A living document that needs updating ( for each FUG meeting)
Instructions how to write the DTP:  Doctoral Training Plan Instructions

14. 2nd year mid-point of doctoral training
Research & studies
+ conferences, research visits?
Update your Doctoral Training Plan (research plan, PSP, career plan)
Organize your second follow-up group meeting
When? At the end of the 2nd year
What? Student presenting updated DTP & progress in research and studies & plans for next year
Chair sends a report to UniOGS
Mid-term report (0 ECTS; J)

15. 3rd year agreeing upon the end-process
Research (& studies)
+ conferences, research visits?
Update your DTP (research plan, PSP, career plan)
Organize your third follow-up group meeting
When? At the end of the 3rd year (= approx. one year before the defense)
What? Student presenting updated DTP & progress in research and studies & plans for getting the work ready & discussion about pre- examiners and opponent(s)
Statement on student’s state of readiness
Chair sends a report to UniOGS
Follow-up Group reporting and meetings (1 ECTS; J) / Additional report (0 ECTS; J)
In the not-too-distant future, you will come face-to-face with your future. Be ready for it!
Lisää tarvittaessa alatunnisteteksti

16. 4th year sending the thesis manuscript for pre-examination
Finalizing research & thesis
Nomination of pre-examiners, pre- examination
Permission to publish, naming the opponent(s) & custos
Public defense
The length of the end-process c. 6 months
More information:
 Instructions and forms for the end-process
Towards doctoral degree -info by UniOGS (every spring)

17. What if my work is not going to be ready within 4 years?
”Four years”
= 4 yrs of effective (full-time) training
Year number X:
Research & studies
+ conferences, research visits?
Follow-up group meetings
Additional report (0 ECTS; J)
Other work? Breaks in funding? Parental leave? Sickness…*
Why not?!
Passive register! (University of Oulu Education Regulations, 4/2016, §9 Student enrolment)
A doctoral student’s study right is declared passive if the student has no study attainments during the past two consecutive academic years, or if the student has enrolled as absent, or neglected to register to the University, for the past two academic years.
* or problems e.g. in supervising?
 talk with your follow-up group!

18. Doctoral studies (total 20-50 ECTS cr)
8 ECTS obligatory of your study requirements
GENERAL & TRANSFERABLE SKILLS STUDIES, max 20% of total
Obligatory studies:
Introduction to Doctoral Training (1 credit),
Scientific Research and Ethics(2 credits),
Follow-up group reporting & meetings (1 credit)
FIELD-SPECIFIC STUDIES
12 – 42 cr depending on Doctoral Degree Program
Courses that help you to do research
Talk with your supervisor!
Post-graduate or advanced courses (with J- or S- included in the WebOodi course code)
Organized by Degree programme and Doctoral Programme
TOTAL 20 – 50 ECTS credits
depending on Doctoral Degree Program
STUDIES
FIELD-SPECIFIC STUDIES, min 60% of total
Obligatory studies:
Doctoral training plan (DTP; 3 credits) & seminar (1 credit)
TEACHING (optional), max 20% of total
TEACHING
Depending on the major, a doctoral student may include teaching in his/her degree.
Prerequisite: University Pedagogy for doctoral students -course!

19. Optional general and transferable skills courses
For example:
Basics of University Pedagogics for Doctoral Students
Utilization of Patent Databases in research
IP Rights and Research
Scientific Communication
Working Life Guidance Skills and Leadership
Mentoring programme
+ University of Oulu Staff Training
More information from:
PhD mailing list
WebOodi
It’s about the skills, not the degree!
…can be exploited to strengthen your weak spots (e.g. communication skills, project management, leadership)…
Be selfish! Take what you need to develop your future career… and stop counting credits!

20. Codes used for showing the progress of your research in WebOodi
Nomination of follow-up group (0 cr)
First Follow-up group meeting (0 cr)
Midterm report of Doctoral Training (0 cr)
Additional report (0 cr)
Pre-examination (0 cr)
Permission to defend the thesis (0 cr)
Acceptance & Grading of the Thesis (0 cr)
Passive register! (University of Oulu Education Regulations, 4/2016, §9 Student enrolment)
A doctoral student’s study right is declared passive if the student has no study attainments during the past two consecutive academic years, or if the student has enrolled as absent, or neglected to register to the University, for the past two academic years.

21. TOHTOS - Developing the Working Life Relevance of Doctoral Training
EU funded project (European Social Fund) during March 2016 – June 2018
A nationwide project coordinated by the University of Tampere, partners are Universities of Eastern Finland, Turku, Vaasa and Oulu
Main goal: to expand and diversify the potential of doctoral students to find employment also in other fields than the traditional academic ones
Visit TOHTOS webpages:

22. Forthcoming TOHTOS events
NATIONWIDE EVENTS:
(via remote access)
WED 29.3.Webinar: “How to support the visibility and recognition of doctoral students know-how?”
WED Webinar: “Digital solutions supporting doctoral training and research communication”
MON Workshop: “Creating and maintaining digital expert profiles.”
Registration via TOHTOS webpages
AUTUMN 2017 A digital study package to support working life relevance of doctoral training
Forthcoming TOHTOS events