This seminar aims to foster the creation of a research environment based on a culture of integrity, transparency and rigour. The main focus is on preparation of the doctoral thesis, enabling PhD students to acknowledge their role as researchers and the ethical scope of research.

The seminar provides a basic framework of reference on the ethics of research applied to the specialist area and looks to provide PhD students with the ethical standards required in research as well as the frameworks, obligations and corresponding ethical and legal rules.
This seminar affords an opportunity to reflect on the social impact of research and offers an outline of basic resources that can be used to apply ethical criteria during the different stages of preparing the doctoral thesis. 

 Duration: 10 Hours

Thematic courses on research competences

Each course lasts from 10 to 30 hours, depending on the type. Each year the DIRS programmes a series of transversal and specific courses. The courses will be planned with an open approach to enable all PhD students to attend them. Students working on the programmes targeted by the specific courses will be given priority. This will be duly indicated when the course offer is published.

The courses are optional. Each PhD student must have attended at least 6 of these courses in order to complete the programme. Full time PhD students should complete at least two per academic year. Part time PhD student should complete one.

The courses will be organised according to the expected demand and availability of the lecturers.

The planned courses include the following:

1. Qualitative Research Methodology and Techniques
2. Quantitative Research Methodology and Techniques
3. Approach to Research Projects and the Doctoral Thesis
4. Academic Writing
5. Critical Thinking
6. Research Resources (search and use)
7. Management of Meetings
8. Assertive Communication and Active Listening
9. Publication in Scientific Journals
10. Manage and Share Knowledge

Research seminars are forums in which PhD students present and discuss their research projects with other participants in the programme or those from related programmes.

Full time PhD students should take part in at least three seminars per academic year, in one of which he/she will give a presentation. Part time PhD students should take part in at least two seminars per academic year, in one of which he/she will give a presentation. 

PhD students should present at least one communication at a key congress on the research area of his/her doctoral thesis.

PhD students will spend a period at another research centre other than the UD, preferably abroad, which concentrates on research linked to the doctoral thesis. Previous approval from the thesis supervisor and Academic Committee is required. 

PhD students may spend several periods at other research centres while preparing their doctoral thesis. Stays must last a minimum of 2 weeks to be included in the individual activities register. Priority will be given to stays of 12 weeks or more, with the purpose of achieving International Mention in the thesis.

PhD students who do not spend time abroad must arrange activities and experiences with their advisor and/or supervisor to ensure their research has an international and diverse dimension (cooperation with visiting or permanent foreign researchers, co-supervision of the thesis by a foreign researcher, attendance to international congresses, etc.).

Progress report on the doctoral thesis

Following the second year of their PhD studies, students are required to write out and submit a progress report on the their research work to their advisor and/or thesis supervisor at the end of each semester.

Part time PhD students are only required to submit this report at the end of the academic year.

Public presentation of research work related to the thesis

At the end of the academic year, PhD candidates must submit progress reports on their work related to the research plan approved by the Academic Committee of the programme.

PhD students will explain their research plan, the methodology followed, the tasks carried out, the results obtained and the dissemination of these results.

PhDs and PhD candidates taking part in the programme will be invited to this presentation and given the opportunity to make suggestions and comments. 

Publication of articles in indexed journals

PhD candidates are required to write a scientific article, submit it for review and publish it in an indexed journal from the research area of their doctoral thesis.