Overview of PhD supervision modalities in France, regulatory framework, and integration of transversal skills�Pr. Domenico Morabito
1
2
3
Studying at UO
Law, Economics �and Management
Literature, Languages and Human Sciences
Science, Technology,�Sport and Health
3 FACULTIES
4
Research at UO
5
UO today
18,500 STUDENTS
Bachelor
Institute of Technology
Engineer
Master
PhD
by a Doctoral College
Management and monitoring
of doctoral students
Supervision of doctoral students
Distribution of students?
6
The Centre Val de Loire
Doctoral College
-It’s a federation of doctoral schools and doctoral services, within an institution or group of institutions
- University of Tours
yyy
-In France, 41 doctoral colleges representing more than 80% of all doctoral students enrolled.
What is a doctoral college?
Association of 3 institutions in the Centre-Val de Loire Region (2 universities and 1 institute)
6
7
The Centre Val de Loire
Doctoral College
General Information
General information on the role of doctoral schools (doctoral college)
8
8
-Health, Biological Sciences and Life Chemistry
-Mathematics, Computer Science, Theoretical Physics and Systems Engineering
-Energy, Materials, Earth and Universe Science
-Humanities and Languages
-Sciences of Society: Territories, Economics and Law
The Centre Val de Loire
Doctoral College
5 doctoral schools
9
The Centre Val de Loire
Doctoral College
-13 joint research units
-3 Major research organizations (Inserm, CNRS, INRAé)
-8 host teams (EA) from the Universities of Tours and Orléans.
350 researchers or teacher-researchers qualified
to supervise research for a total of around 280 doctoral students.
10
https://collegedoctoral-cvl.fr
Website containing all the necessary information to:
-apply for a Ph.D. program
-enroll
-select cross-disciplinary course units
-track the progress of your thesis
-submit your manuscript
-propose a thesis committee
-…
All the necessary information
for the doctoral student
and their advisor can be found at :
11
12
12
Selects doctoral candidates by an open and transparent process based on explicit criteria (understanding of the subject, interest into the research, oral presentation, questions answers…) with a ranking of the candidates. (HRS4R)
1
- Quality of supervision by research units, private/public companies, fondations
- Compliance with the thesis charter defined by the decrees : CSI (individual monitoring commitee)
- National and international scientific exchanges
- Additional training courses
2
Monitors progress of the PhD thesis
Validates the process of thesis defence
Investigates professional integration!!!!!!
3
4
Role of the doctoral school
Monitoring and support during the PhD program
- Possible exemptions (re-enrollment, supervision, etc.)
A minority obtain a stable academic position (assistant professor, research fellow, professor).
13
13
Monitoring and support during the PhD program
The rights and responsibilities of doctoral students
✅ Rights
-Regular scientific supervision
-Access to the necessary material resources
-Additional training (scientific and professional training)
-Monitoring by an individual monitoring committee (CSI)
-Social protection and clear contractual framework
📌Duties
-Comply with the schedule and scientific commitments
-Participate in mandatory training
-Report regularly on progress
-Comply with the rules of ethics and scientific integrity
Doctoral Charter :
14
14
Monitoring and support during the PhD program
Doctoral Charter :
Responsibilities of the thesis supervisor
✅ Commitments
-Ensure the scientific quality of the project
-Provide regular and constructive feedback
-Help the doctoral student prepare for their professional career
-Ensure that reasonable completion deadlines are met (generally 3 years full-time)
📌Requirements
The relationship between the doctoral student and the supervisor is based on high scientific, ethical, and human standards.
The HRS4R is a European Commission label awarded to universities that excel in research quality and human resources management. It ensures alignment with the European Charter for Researchers, promoting fair recruitment, attractive working conditions, and professional mobility.
15
Monitoring doctoral students and re-enrollment in doctoral programs
Monitoring and support during the PhD program
Thesis monitoring committee (CSI)
Make recommendations and submit a report to the doctoral school
Intended for doctoral students, supervisors
16
Monitoring and support during the PhD program
The role of the individual monitoring committee (CSI)
-Ensure the smooth running of the thesis based on the doctoral charter and the training agreement
-Assess the conditions of training and the progress of research
-Identify and prevent any form of conflict and discrimination
-Must be external to any connections between PhD and supervisor
-Alert the doctoral school management in case of problems, conflicts
-May be accessed at any time upon request by the doctoral student or the thesis supervisor
17
18
The CSI : Evaluate the conditions of the training and the progress of the research
-Monitoring of good supervisory conditions and scientific context
-Temporality of the research
-Need for additional training
Throughout the thesis period
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLQh5j_yPKE
Monitoring and support during the PhD program
Functioning, role, and composition
19
20
21
22
Procedure before PhD defence
Conditions to defend the thesis
50 CTS
Formation : Ethics and
Integrity
sexual and gender-based
violence
1 st author of a
paper in an indexed
international journal
or Patent
Portfolio
completed
Poster or oral presentation
in international meeting
Recommended
Manuscript
Manuscript written in french
Derogation to ask at DS for writing in english
Retroplanning/ date of defence
Proposal of jury: 8 weeks
Deposit of the manuscript on ADUM: 7 weeks
Receipt of the reports: 3 weeks
Managment + defence advertising: 1+ 2 weeks
“All tasks performed
during the thesis
that are valuable
for a resume”
Mandatory
23
« In the presence of my peers. With the completion of my doctorate in [research field], in my quest for knowledge, I have carried out demanding research, demonstrated intellectual rigour, ethical reflection, and respect for the principles of research integrity. As I pursue my professional career, whatever my chosen field, I pledge, to the greatest of my ability, to continue to maintain integrity in my relationship to knowledge, in my methods and in my results. »
At the end of the defence and in case of admission, the doctor takes an oath, individually committing himself to respect the principles and requirements of scientific integrity in the rest of his professional career, whatever the sector or the field of activity
Oath of scientific integrity
PhD defence
24
1 year in Orléans,
1 year in Tours « end of June »
Posters and oral
communications
DS supports the lunch
buffet and transport from
one town to the other
« PhD Day »
25
Partnership Biotechnocentre – DS - SSBCV
2 days symposium every year in automn: Pluridisciplinar
-> 15/20 PhD students per branches (registration supported by ED)
-> 9 oral communications (10 min + 5)
-> 12 to 20 Posters per branches
-> Student Awards (3 for oral communication, 2 for posters)
-> DS participate to the budget
25
26
Thank you for your attention.
Any questions?
27