Ph.D Program – Educational Program

Educational Program

Cotutelle

The Program is based on a cotutelle agreement signed by the competent authorities of the partner institutions (defined as Home and Host Institution, respectively) for each student involved. The agreement will cover the most salient aspects of the implementation and monitoring of the Program, notably a common governance structure (the ensemble of the Doctoral Program Boards (DPB) of the two partner institutions), the means guaranteed for the research projects, common procedures for supervision (co-supervision on the basis of an agreed Individual Study Plan), student assessment and support, shared policy for mobility, intellectual property, dissertation languages, format, and evaluation, and for degree award.

At coordinating institution.

Students enrolled at the University of Bologna: if granted a scholarship: 36.08 euros the first year for insurance, badge and registration; 17.08 euros the second and third year for insurance; if without a scholarship: 606.08 euros the first year for fees, insurance, registration and badge; 586.08 the second and third year for fees and insurance. No fees are due by students enrolled in the partner university.

At partner institution.

Students enrolled at the University of Lyon : 377 euros for fees, registration and badge, and 203 euros for health insurance per annum. No fees are due by students enrolled in the coordinating university.

Outgoing mobility

Students in the Program will be required to spend time in both countries involved as specified above from the second semester onward. Prior to the outgoing mobility period, the student and his/her supervisors will agree on a working program which will be consistent with the approved ISP and will include both research activity and academic training. The Program will also offer students the opportunity of spending at least one month (5 elective credits) in the premises of a stakeholder institution (e.g., public body, clinic, industry) with the added possibility of launching their careers in that institution. This stakeholder institution may be located in any country participating in the MOY.

In addition, students will be encouraged, and financially supported, to attend seminars and summer schools wherever these happen to be held.

Active participation to at least one international congress per year will be encouraged and supported.

Duration

The standard timeframe for completion of the doctoral Program is three years. After this period has expired, the doctoral candidate may defend his/her thesis.

Study plan

Each student has an ‘Individual Study Plan’ (ISP) prepared jointly with the supervisors (one from the Bologna consortium and one from Lyon 1 – i.e. joint supervision), which must be submitted to the Doctoral Program Board (DPB) of the university where the candidate is primarily enrolled (Home Institution) within one month after the commencement of study. After approval of the plan, it becomes a binding document for both the student and the supervisors.The ISP may be revised at the beginning of the second and third year and submitted to the DPB of the Home Institution for approval.

The ISP consists of 180 credits (ECTS)

The following study schedule is to be intended as a broad guideline for the determination of the ISP.

Year 1, semester 1:

15 credits It is assumed that each student enrolling in the Program has a baseline knowledge in biological sciences and/or engineering. However, remedial courses may be required, depending on the individual student’s background. For example, enrolled students that have a “traditional” engineering degree (i.e., not bioengineering, but rather mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.) are required to complete at least a fifteen-credit remedial (undergraduate or master level) “life sciences” course, such as biology, physiology or other appropriate course. Similarly, students who enrol that have a “life science” or other non-engineering background are required to complete a sufficient number of remedial engineering and/or math courses as deemed appropriate by the student’s supervisors. Having complied with this remedial exercise, the student may incorporate it in his/her ISP other elective educational/training activities.

15 credits

It is assumed that each student enrolling in the Program has a baseline knowledge in biological sciences and/or engineering. However, remedial courses may be required, depending on the individual student’s background. For example, enrolled students that have a “traditional” engineering degree (i.e., not bioengineering, but rather mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.) are required to complete at least a fifteen-credit remedial (undergraduate or master level) “life sciences” course, such as biology, physiology or other appropriate course. Similarly, students who enrol that have a “life science” or other non-engineering background are required to complete a sufficient number of remedial engineering and/or math courses as deemed appropriate by the student’s supervisors. Having complied with this remedial exercise, the student may incorporate it in his/her ISP other elective educational/training activities.15 credits research project

Year 1, semester 2: 6 credits advances in structure and function of the human neuromusculoskeletal system 3 credits experimental design and statistics 3 credits biomechanical measurement instruments 3 credits scientific writing and communication skills 15 credits research project Year 2, semester 1: 3 credits scientific writing and communication skills 3 credits electives 24 credits research project Year 2, semester 2: 3 credits scientific writing and communication skills 3 credits electives 24 credits research project Year 3, semester 1: 3 credits entrepreneurial mindsetting 3 credits scientific writing and communication skills 24 credits research project Year 3, semester 2: 30 credits research project Teaching activity is encouraged for doctoral candidates as a part of training in communication skills. This activity may be carried out in any of the institutions participating in the Program. An appropriate credit award (elective) and time limit for teaching duties will be set by the student supervisors depending on specific circumstances.

En route evaluation system

An external examiner is proposed by the supervisors and jointly appointed by the BDPs of the two partners. Each student is provided with a Transcript of Records, certified by the supervisors, documenting his/her performance with reference to the structured academic training. Monitoring of the research activity is carried out through regular (at least bimonthly) meetings between the student and the supervisors; every 12 months, students are required to write a progress report about their research program and relevant products and present it in a public event open to a forum discussion; the report is assessed by the supervisors and by the external examiner with relevant written reviews. Based on these reviews and on the Transcript of Records, the DPBs of both the Home and Host Institutions grant for the candidate to pass to the following year of study. In case of negative outcome of this assessment exercise, the doctoral candidate is asked to leave the MOY labelled Program.

ph.d program