Formation activities

Transversal and specific training activities within the scope of the program.

As RD 99/2011 (regulation norms) indicates, the doctoral programs will include organized aspects of research training that will not require its structuring in ECTS credits and will include both transversal and specific training in the scope of each program. Courses or seminars of transversal training and courses specific to the scope of the program are included in the doctoral program.

Transversal training courses are offered by the University Center for Education and Educational Innovation (CUFIE) of the UDC in its Doctorate and Training Support Plan. These courses are free for students enrolled in the doctoral program.

It is recommended that students take a cross-disciplinary course from among those offered by the CUFIE, while also completing the various specific educational activities listed below. These activities include tutorials, talks, or lectures, delivered primarily by renowned guest professors, and are designed to provide students with first-hand exposure to recent cutting-edge research, in addition to specific activities inherent to research work, such as presenting results at research forums. These activities are detailed below as they appear in the program’s current verification report.

ACTIVITY 1: Cross-disciplinary training courses offered by the University Center for Training and Teaching Innovation (CUFIE) at the UDC

Brief description of content: The University Center for Training and Teaching Innovation (CUFIE), as part of its Doctoral and Research Support Plan (PAI, https://www.udc.es/es/cufie/UFA/PAI/), offers interdisciplinary training courses designed for doctoral students. It is recommended that doctoral students complete at least one of the courses offered by CUFIE while working on their dissertation.

Timeline for the doctoral student’s research training: completion of at least one course while working on the dissertation, with a recommendation to take it during the first year of the dissertation.

ACTIVITY 2: Attendance and participation in the XoveTIC conference or another national/international conference

(Required activity)

Brief description of content: All students must gain experience presenting their research results at national or international conferences within the scope of the program. A presentation at the XoveTIC conference (https://xovetic.citic.udc.es/) is recommended; this conference is designed to help doctoral students make their first presentation of research results and is organized annually by the CITIC at the UDC. It is recommended that this be one of the first presentations students give on their research results, an activity designed to help them develop the skills needed to present research findings (preferably in English). This presentation at the XoveTIC Conference also fosters the exchange of experiences and shared understanding of the research topics among the various students. If the presentation is not given at the XoveTIC conference, the results must be presented at another national or international conference in the field of computer science and related to the thesis topic.

Timeline throughout the doctoral student’s research training: preferably during the first academic year of thesis work.

ACTIVITY 3: Attendance and participation in a national/international conference

(Optional activity)

Brief description of content: All students must gain experience presenting their research results at national or international conferences. Students are required to present their results at least once at a national or international conference (a mandatory prerequisite), while additional presentations at any conference or event specific to the thesis topic are recommended.

Timeline throughout the doctoral student’s research training: during any academic year in which the thesis is being written.

ACTIVITY 4: Attendance at lectures/tutorials

(Required activity)

Brief description of content: Students are required to attend lectures/tutorials organized by the various research groups supporting the program, which will focus on presenting the research topics being developed within the scope of the program.

ACTIVITY 5: Research stays

(Optional activity, Required for the international distinction of the Phd degree)

Brief description of content: All students pursuing the international distinction must complete one or more research stays lasting at least 3 months at foreign institutions.

Timeline within the doctoral student’s research training: at any time during the thesis period.