Doctoral Degree Committee

Purpose:

The Doctoral Degree Committee is responsible for the overall quality and academic development of PhD studies at Kristiania University College. The Committee shall contribute to the overall strategic work with the PhD programmes and ensure that each PhD programme is developed in line with the academic profile of the University College, and true to the Programme Description for each PhD programme.

The Doctoral Degree Committee may request the programme committees, or the School of Doctoral Studies to initiate projects they deem necessary for the development of the PhD areas at Kristiania University College.
All case documents and decisions are confidential, and the members must observe this confidentiality.

The Dean of the School of Doctoral Studies chairs the Doctoral Degree Committee.

 

Members and appointment period:

Chaired by: Dean of School of Doctoral Studies,

Deputy chair: Pro-rector research and Artistic Development,

 

Regular representatives:

Head of the PhD programme in Applied Information Technology

Head of the PhD Programme in Communication and Leadership

Representative of PhD candidates

One representative from the School of Arts, Design and Media

One representative from the School of Health Sciences

One representative from an external institution

Observing representative: Head of Research administration

The secretary for the committee is the PhD coordinator.

  • Each representative must have a personal deputy.
  • All regular representatives are appointed by the Dean of School of Doctoral Studies by delegation from the Board.
  • The chair of committee, the Pro-rector for Research and Artistic Development and the Heads of Programme are permanent representatives.
  • The appointment period for the student representative is one (1) year.
  • The appointment period for the representative for the academic staff is two (2) years.
  • The appointment period for the external representative is two (2) years. 

The Chair of the DDC must ensure a relevant representation from the organization.  
 

The responsibilities of the Doctoral Degree Committee

  • Manage regulations, guidelines, and routines for the PhD programmes at Kristiania, in line with current regulations at an institutional level.
  • Ensure quality in the admissions process.
  • Evaluate the recommendation from the PGC and make the final decision on admission to the PhD programmes.
  • Appoint supervisors in connection with admission.
  • Ensure that appointed supervisors have sufficient formal expertise to attend to the candidates that are granted admission to the programme.
  • Approve the final evaluation from assessment committees, including any comments from the candidate.
  • Approve joint courses.
  • Contribute to and ensure that the programme committees continuously work to develop the PhD programmes strategically and academically.
  • Make decisions in cases that affect both PhD programmes, that are a matter of principle.
  • Makes decisions in applications for leave of absence other than absences regulated by law. 

The chair of the committee can make decisions by delegation in the following instances: 

  • Approve applications for change of supervisor in cases where the Head of Programme is the current or suggested supervisor.
  • Approve the final evaluation from assessment committees, including any comments from the candidate, in cooperation with the Head of the respective programme.
  • Approve changes and new guidelines and routines.

Administrative procedures:

  • The PhD coordinator is responsible for sending out the agenda in cooperation with the chair of the committee.
  • Case documentation and agenda must be sent to the committee members at the latest seven (7) days prior to the meeting date.
  • Each item that involves a decision shall normally be accompanied by a case presentation.
  • The minutes from meetings in the Doctoral Degree Committee shall be made available to the committee members within one week of the meeting.
  • The minutes from last meeting and the agenda for the current meeting must be approved by the DDC at the start of every meeting.
  • Voting rules:
  • In cases where a decision is not unanimous, a simple majority decides the vote. The number of votes in favour and against a proposal must be reflected in the minutes.
  • In cases where a vote is tied, the chair of the committee has a double vote.
  • Quorum is achieved when the chair of the committee or the deputy chair, and at least 50 % of the regular members or their deputies are present.
  • Each member is responsible for evaluating and ensuring their own impartiality in each respective case. If a member is found partial, that member’s personal deputy must step in. Should the deputy member also be found partial, the chair of the committee shall appoint a temporary deputy for the respective case.