PhD in Marine Ecology

Academic year 2022-23

Interdisciplinary and specific educational activities

The Academic Committee for the PhD Programme in Marine Ecology generally recommends students take a minimum of 60 mandatory hours of common cross-cutting training activities (similar courses provided and taken at other universities shall be considered). In turn, full-time students are recommended to do these activities in their first year on the programme, whilst part-time students should do them in the first and second year.

Cross-cutting training programme for PhD students at the University of the Balearic Islands

The cross-cutting training activities proposed will have specific assessment procedures based on objective tests. As a general rule, the supervisor or tutor shall be responsible for including the assessment (pass/fail) or successful completion of the activity in the PhD activities document.

Cross-cutting Activities

Communication Skills in English: Written and Oral Expression (Mod. I) (Elective)
Objective
Attaining advanced knowledge of English (written and oral communication)
Hours
30
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Face-to face
Schedule
Semester one
Year
First year
Assessment Procedure
Actual attendance of students. Student assessment shall be performed by the lecturer for the training activity. Activities where students can practise their writing abilities in English to attain C1-level skills. Students shall sit an assessed activity test
Communication Skills in English: Written and Oral Expression (Mod. II) (Elective)
Objective
A cross-cutting training activity aimed at students attaining advanced knowledge of English (written and oral). Students shall work on their English usage based on immersion in the communcation context for the speciality, linked to inherent situations and documents for each area. The specific content of this module shall be oral fluency (seminars, presentations and workshops)
Hours
30
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Face-to-face
Schedule
Semester two
Year
First year
Assessment Procedure
Actual attendance of students. Student assessment shall be performed by the lecturer for the training activity. Activities where students can practise their writing abilities in English to attain C1-level skills. Students shall sit an assessed activity test
Ethics and Integrity in Scientific Research (Elective)
Objective
A cross-cutting training activity aimed as students understanding the purpose and objectives of scientific research in any area. The scientific method. Classification of scientific disciplines. Ethical problems in scientific research
Hours
30
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Blended
Schedule
Semester one
Year
First year
Assessment Procedure
Case studies

Specific Activities

Sample Collection aboard a Research Vessel (RV) (Mandatory)
Objective
Aimed at training PhD students in on-site research: collecting data on physico-chemical and biological variables with sensors used in oceanography (CTD, fluoroprobe, etc.); methodologies for collecting samples for chemical analysis and biotic communities; and the preparation thereof for further lab analysis
Hours
30
Requirements
Being registered on the programme and having authorisation from the thesis supervisor/tutor
Method
Mandatory (it may be substituted by another experiment activity in accordance with the criteria set by the Academic Committee)
Schedule
Throughout the academic year in sessions announced in advance
Year
This activity must be carried out during the first year of the programme for both full-time and part-time students
Assessment Procedure
Thesis supervisors shall monitor the activity and assess the respective reports. The work of the students aboard the RV shall be supervised by a researcher from one of the three participating centres in the PhD Programme
Mobility
-
State-of-the-Art Review of a Research Topic (Mandatory)
Objective
Acquiring the ability to perform and manage bibliographic searches on a research topic in different public and private bibliographic databases
Hours
30
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Mandatory
Schedule
-
Year
During the first year for both full-time and part-time students
Assessment Procedure
Supervisor assessment
Mobility
No
Research Seminars (Mandatory)
Objective
Attending seminars at the three paricipating centres in the PhD Programme in Marine Ecology (IMEDEA, UIB and COB [IEO]) given be researchers linked to the PhD programme, as well as renowned guest researchers (preferably from overseas research centres). In general, doctorands shall attend at least ten of these seminars
Hours
10
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Mandatory
Schedule
During the PhD programme
Year
This activity may be undertaken spread across the three years of the PhD programme (for full-time students) or across five (for part-time students)
Assessment Procedure
Students must produce an attendance certificate for each of the attended seminars duly signed by the organiser and stating the title, date and duration of the seminar. Moreover, doctorands shall submit a critical summary of what was explained and the possible impact it may have on their research work to their thesis supervisor
Mobility
-
Preparation and Presentation of a Scientific Paper (Mandatory)
Objective
The activity shall include production of a scientific article linked to the thesis topic, as well as its public presentation. The aim is for the work to be used for presentation at conferences or as a submission to a renowned quality journal
Hours
30
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Mandatory
Schedule
-
Year
This activity is planned for the second year for full-time students and the third year for part-time students. In any event, students may choose to do it earlier
Assessment Procedure
Skills assessment shall be performed on the production and public presentation of a scientific article. Where the paper is published, submitted to a journal or presented at a national or international conference or congress with expert review, the appropriate proof thereof shall be provided to pass the assessment
Mobility
-
Mobility Activities (Elective)
Objective
Fostering and promoting attendance at specialised courses and scientific conferences, and undertaking research stays at centres and labs different to those where the thesis is being developed, in accordance with criteria set by the thesis supervisors
Hours
160
Requirements
Being registered on the programme
Method
Mandatory
Schedule
 -
Year
This activity shall be undertaken in the later years of the programme by both full-time students (in the second and third year) and part-time students whose external obligations allow them to take a leave of absence (in the third, fourth and fifth year)
Assessment Procedure
The usefulness of the activity shall be assessed by the thesis supervisor who shall write a report. The mobility activity and the assessment result shall be included in the doctorand activities document
Mobility
 -