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Guidance on achieving learning outcomes in doctoral education

Doctoral education aims to ensure that doctoral students achieve the national learning outcomes specified in the Higher Education Ordinance, as well as any additional goals defined for the specific subject area. Here you will find guidance and examples of how these outcomes can be attained.

The overall learning outcomes for the Degree of Doctor and the Degree of Licentiate are defined in the Higher Education Ordinance (Annex 2) and apply to all third-cycle education in Sweden. In order for either a doctoral or licentiate degree to be awarded, all outcomes must be fulfilled. In addition, there may be supplementary goals specified for the subject area of the doctoral education; all goals are to be stated in the general study syllabus. Together with the supervisors, the doctoral student is also expected to establish a shared understanding of what the outcomes mean in relation to the student’s own doctoral education.

Learning outcomes for the degree of doctor

With examples of how doctoral students can demonstrate achievement.

A. Knowledge and understanding

A1. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research field as well as advanced and up-to-date specialised knowledge in a limited area of this field

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve A1:

  • Actively seek new knowledge by keeping up to date with scientific literature and by taking courses that provide both breadth in the general field and depth in the specific subject.
  • Conduct peer reviews of scientific texts.
  • Actively participate in research group meetings, seminars, and research networks.
  • Present research at scientific conferences and symposia.
  • Teach within the field of research.
  • Demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding at mandatory seminars and in connection with the public defence.
  • Demonstrate strong knowledge of the research focus areas when writing the doctoral thesis.

A2. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate familiarity with research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve A2:

  • Become familiar with relevant methods through interaction with supervisors and the research group, as well as by participating in seminars.
  • Take courses in research methodology and apply this knowledge to the research project in dialogue with supervisors.
  • Attend research conferences to learn about the latest methods and insights.
  • Critically discuss chosen methods in the thesis and at the public defence.

B. Competence and skills

B1. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the capacity for scholarly analysis and synthesis, and to review and assess new and complex phenomena, issues and situations independently and critically

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B1:

  • Actively participate in seminars and doctoral courses to develop skills in critical review and discussion of one’s own and others’ research.
  • Contribute to the writing of scientific papers.
  • Write a systematic review article, including a meta-analysis.
  • Prepare a literature review for the half-time review and for the thesis.

B2. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, independently, creatively and with scholarly integrity, and to plan and carry out research and other qualified tasks using appropriate methods within given time frames, and to review and evaluate such work.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B2:

  • Formulate research questions, hypotheses, and choice of methods in discussion with supervisors and collaborators.
  • Actively contribute to research applications.
  • Participate actively in the publication process, for example through correspondence with journals.
  • Critically review texts by other doctoral students at seminars and conferences.
  • Serve as a student representative in School councils, committees, or boards at Halmstad University.
  • Critically review prior research when writing scientific articles and the thesis.
  • Organise scientific activities and coordinate network meetings.

B3. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate through a thesis the ability to make a significant contribution to the development of knowledge through his or her own research.

Example of how the doctoral student can achieve B3:

  • Place one’s own research results in the context of current research in the field when writing the thesis and at the public defence.

B4. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall
demonstrate the capacity in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings authoritatively in speech and writing and in dialogue with the scholarly community and society in general.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B4:

Oral communication

  • Take a course in oral communication of science/popular science.
  • Present research and results to the research group, at seminars, and at scientific conferences.
  • Teach or present research for students at undergraduate and master’s levels, associations, or the general public.
  • Participate in panels, public lectures, or media appearances.

Written communication

  • Take a course in scientific and popular science writing.
  • Author scientific articles with increasing independence.
  • Write popular science articles or press releases.
  • Review the texts of other researchers at seminars and conferences.
  • Prepare posters for conferences.
  • Conduct peer reviews of scientific texts.
  • Write the doctoral thesis.
  • Write a popular science summary of the thesis.

B5. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the capacity to identify the need for further knowledge.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B5:

  • Participate in strategic project meetings and consortium conferences.
  • Take doctoral courses and attend seminars and conferences.
  • Actively participate in seminars where future activities are presented and discussed.
  • Write research grant applications.
  • Identify knowledge gaps when writing and defending the thesis.

B6. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the capacity to contribute to the development of society and support the learning of others both through research and education and in some other qualified professional capacity

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B6:

  • Take introductory courses for doctoral students (including higher education pedagogy).
  • Take courses in teaching and learning in higher education.
  • Teach at undergraduate and advanced levels (master’s).
  • Present research findings and contribute to discussions at conferences, seminars, and meetings.
  • Engage with society, for example by teaching school pupils, patients, or the public.
  • Review the texts of other doctoral students at seminars and conferences.
  • Participate in career development activities.
  • Demonstrate social engagement and raise awareness, for example through debate articles, public lectures, or sustainability initiatives.
  • Discuss career plans with supervisors or mentors in meetings documented in the individual study plan.
  • Write a popular science summary of the thesis.

C. Judgement and approach

C1. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate intellectual independence and scholarly integrity and the ability to make assessments of research ethics.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve C1:

  • Take introductory courses in research ethics.
  • Discuss ethical implications with supervisors and colleagues.
  • Participate in activities related to referencing and plagiarism review.
  • Write ethics applications for studies.
  • Demonstrate openness and curiosity in discussions with supervisors and colleagues.
  • Develop intellectual independence by seizing opportunities to publish and collaborate outside the thesis project.

C2. For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate deeper insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society, and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve C2:

  • Take courses in research ethics and philosophy of science.
  • Participate in research seminars.
  • Engage in debates both within academia and with the wider community.
  • Reflect on the societal impact of research in global and local contexts (e.g., UN Agenda 2030).
  • Discuss the responsibility of researchers for interpretation and dissemination of results, for example in the thesis or at the public defence.

Learning outcomes for the degree of licentiate

With examples of how doctoral students can demonstrate achievement.

A. Knowledge and understanding

A1. For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of research, including current specialist knowledge in a limited area of this field, as well as specialised knowledge in research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve A1:

  • Actively seek new knowledge in the research field by keeping up to date with scientific literature and by taking courses that provide both breadth in the general area and depth in the specific subject.
  • Participate actively in research group meetings, seminars, and research networks.
  • Present research at scientific conferences and symposia.
  • Teach within the field of research.
  • Demonstrate solid knowledge of the research focus areas when writing scientific articles and at the licentiate seminar.
  • Become familiar with relevant methodology through interaction with supervisors, the research group, statisticians, and seminar participation.
  • Take a course in qualitative methods and apply this knowledge in the research project in dialogue with supervisors.
  • Take a course in quantitative methods and apply this knowledge in the research project in dialogue with supervisors.
  • Take a statistics course and apply this knowledge in the research project in dialogue with supervisors.
  • Visit a laboratory to learn specific methods.
  • Attend research conferences to learn about the latest methods and insights.
  • Discuss chosen methodologies in the licentiate thesis and at the licentiate seminar.

B. Competence and skills

B1. For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, independently and creatively, and to plan and carry out a research project using appropriate methods and within given time frames, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge, and to evaluate this work

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B1:

  • Formulate research questions, hypotheses, and methods in discussion with supervisors and collaborators.
  • Participate actively in as many phases of research projects as possible: planning, implementation, analysis, and writing.
  • Take an active role in the publication process, for example by corresponding with journals.
  • Conduct peer reviews of scientific texts.
  • Serve as a student representative in School councils, committees, or boards at Halmstad University.
  • Critically review prior research when writing scientific articles and the licentiate thesis.
  • Participate actively in doctoral education and licentiate seminars.

B2. For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the ability to clearly present and discuss research and research findings in dialogue with the academic community and society in general, orally and in writing, and to explain the knowledge and arguments on which these are based

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B2:

Oral communication

  • Take a course in oral communication of science/popular science.
  • Present research and results in the research group, at seminars, and at scientific conferences.
  • Teach or present research to students at undergraduate and master’s levels, associations, or the public.

Written communication

  • Take a course in scientific and popular science writing.
  • Author scientific articles under supervision and with increasing independence.
  • Write popular science articles or press releases.
  • Prepare posters for conferences.
  • Write the licentiate thesis independently.
  • Write a popular science summary of the licentiate thesis.
  • Actively participate in doctoral education and licentiate seminars.

B3. For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall
demonstrate the skills required to participate independently in research and development work and to work independently in some other qualified capacity

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve B3:

  • Take an active role in all phases of the research project: planning, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of results.
  • Contribute to the writing of one or more scientific articles.
  • Take a greater role in analysis and writing during the licentiate thesis work.
  • Participate actively in doctoral education and licentiate seminars.

C. Judgement and approach

C1. For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall demonstrate the ability to make assessments of ethical aspects of his or her own research

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve C1:

  • Take an introductory course for doctoral students (including research ethics).
  • Take a course in research ethics and discuss implications with supervisors and colleagues.
  • Participate in activities related to referencing and plagiarism review.
  • Write ethics applications for studies.
  • Discuss ethical issues when writing articles and the licentiate thesis, as well as at the licentiate seminar.

C2. For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society, and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.

Examples of how the doctoral student can achieve C2:

  • Take courses in research ethics and philosophy of science.
  • Participate in research seminars.
  • Engage in discussions and follow debates both within academia and in other contexts (for example in dialogue with society).
  • Reflect on the potential consequences of research in different contexts, such as global societal challenges (e.g. UN Agenda 2030) and local issues.
  • Discuss and reflect on the responsibility of researchers for the interpretation and dissemination of results, for example when writing the licentiate thesis or at the licentiate seminar.

How the learning outcomes can be achieved

Planning and follow-up

Clarifying how the intended outcomes are to be achieved can facilitate supervision and provide the doctoral student with a clearer understanding of what is expected.

As part of planning the doctoral education, the doctoral student and supervisors should identify activities for each outcome in the Individual Study Plan (ISP). Examples for each outcome are given above and are also available in the ISP system (Ladok ISP).

Following up on the doctoral student’s progress in relation to the learning outcomes during the annual review supports a more systematic and in-depth evaluation of the doctoral education. It also facilitates dialogue between supervisor and doctoral student.

Learning and development through research

Interaction with supervisors, other doctoral students, and researchers within and beyond the research environment is crucial for developing independence and achieving the degree outcomes.

Regular formal and informal supervisory meetings, participation in project and research environment meetings, continuous engagement with scientific literature, and gradually taking greater responsibility for one’s own research are central elements in this development.

Supervisors are encouraged to actively reflect on how supervisory sessions can be designed to foster learning and independence.

Courses and other learning activities

Activities that contribute to achieving the outcomes include generic courses, subject-specific courses, seminars, and scientific conferences.

The structure and content of doctoral education are highly individual. The doctoral student’s own initiative, responsibility for their development, contribution to others’ learning, and engagement with society are essential for achieving the learning outcomes and for developing into an independent researcher.

Components of doctoral education that demonstrate achievement of outcomes

To provide doctoral students, supervisors, and members of examining committees with an overview of which parts of the doctoral education contribute to each degree outcome, matrices have been developed for each doctoral education. These matrices show, among other things, how various activities contribute to fulfilling multiple outcomes.

Learning outcomes in doctoral education – who assesses what?

Halmstad University must ensure that each doctoral student who defends a thesis has achieved all learning outcomes for the doctoral degree. It is important that doctoral students and supervisors reflect together during the doctoral education on the student’s progress and what needs to be accomplished to meet the outcomes. The principal supervisor and the doctoral student share the main responsibility for ensuring that all outcomes are achieved.

The principal supervisor

The principal supervisor is responsible for updating the Individual Study Plan (ISP) annually. During the annual review (in connection with updating the ISP) and in supervisory meetings throughout the education, feedback is provided on the progress of both the doctoral project and the achievement of learning outcomes. For example, this may involve the doctoral student’s ability to analyse and evaluate research results, present their work at a seminar, or write a scientific article. At these occasions, concrete suggestions should be given on how the doctoral student can continue to develop in line with the ISP or how the ISP, including the research project, may need to be revised. This is referred to as formative assessment.

When applying for the public defence of the thesis, the principal supervisor must ensure that the ISP is updated, including a section on fulfilment of learning outcomes. This requires a solid understanding of the doctoral student’s knowledge in relation to the degree outcomes, which is ensured through continuous follow-up.

Learning outcomes in doctoral courses

All doctoral courses at Halmstad University are examined according to the specified learning outcomes in the respective course syllabus.

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