HANDBOOK OF THE FINNISH DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN NURSING SCIENCE

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1 FINNISH DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN NURSING SCIENCE Accepted 4 May 2009 Updated 1 June 2010 Updated 9 May 2012 HANDBOOK OF THE FINNISH DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN NURSING SCIENCE STARTING POINT The objective of this Handbook is to set out a quality management system by which the is able to fulfil its basic function in a reliable and high-quality manner in all fields of operation. The handbook is in line with the Handbook of the UTUGS ( The Programme s quality management system ensures that the objectives of the Finnish Doctoral Programme s strategy for and the Strategy for International Collaboration developed for the years will be implemented. The Director of the Programme in collaboration with the Academic Board and the coordinator of the Programme are responsible for the quality management system. This handbook is an extension of the quality assurance strategy developed in The quality management system covers Programme s all activities: administration, coordination, education and supervision, research, networking and international activities. The Programme ensures high quality of the recruitment of new students and student selection. The Programme supports the starting of the PhD students post doc research and follows it systematically. The quality management system is an integral part of strategic administration. The Programme s activities are assessed systematically and the results of the assessment are used in the development of the Programme s activities. The vision of the is to be ranked among the world s leading postgraduate schools and doctoral programmes in nursing science by To achieve the vision for 2015, The s quality management system has the following objectives in regard to its all activities: - to assure transparent and written processes in all activities. - to follow and assess systematically all activities - to assure high quality outcomes in all activities The target groups for doctoral programme quality assurance are the PhD students and their supervisors, staff, cooperation partners and the financiers of the operation.

2 1. THE FINNISH DOCTORAL PROGRAMME IN NURSING SCIENCE TASK AND ORGANISATION 1.1 Operational ideas and objectives The coordinates national doctoral education in the field of nursing science. The main goal is to educate high level researchers. The objectives of the Programme is to provide systematic and high-quality teaching and supervision for PhD students to advance their research career and to support the completion of their doctoral studies. The Programme promotes the students networking and arranges various international activities between national and European researchers. 1.2 Organisation and areas of responsibility The is a national programme managed and coordinated by the Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku in collaboration with four other Finnish Universities: Eastern Finland, Oulu, Tampere and Åbo Akademi, Vaasa. The Programme is financed by the Finnish Ministry of Education, the Academy of Finland and University of Turku. The coordination of the Programme is located at the University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science. 1.3 Administration of the Programme The Programme's Academic Board consists of five professors from member universities, one member of public health care services and a coordinator. Board members: Professor and Director Helena Leino-Kilpi, University of Turku Professor and Vice-Director Päivi Åstedt-Kurki, University of Tampere Professor Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen, University of Eastern Finland Professor Arja Isola, University of Oulu Professor Katie Eriksson, Åbo Akademi University Expert member, Chief Executive Nursing Director Kaarina Torppa, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa Coordinator and secretary of the Board Heli Virtanen, PhD student

3 2 ADMISSION OF PHD STUDENTS 2.1 Aims of PhD student admission The aims of the PhD student admission procedure is to select students who are suitable for a research career, and who are talented, motivated and committed to research and doctoral training. The purpose is to evaluate applicant's research phase and researcher career phase, ability to plan scientifically and socially relevant research, and research implementation. 2.2 Admission criteria In accordance with Finnish Doctoral Programme s strategy for , Academid Board of the Programme decides on the admission criteria for PhD students. In accordance with Academy of Finland and Graduate Schools working group's suggestions for doctoral training development ( PhD students are selected into doctoral positions according to admission criteria which have been defined and published in advance. Admission criteria are: quality of research plan (innovativeness, realism, and implementation) scientific and practical relevance of the research topic international orientation and required language skills 2.3 Applying and handling of applications Academid Board of the Programme decides on application periods based on decisions of Academy of Finland. Application periods and guidelines for application are announced on the web page of the Programme on the web page of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) in the nursing science units in five Finnish Universities: Eastern Finland, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Åbo Akademi, Vaasa, in Finnish Nursing Science journal. Applications in English must include the following documents: 1) Application letter 2) Curriculum vitae and list of publications (see guidelines, Academy of Finland 3) Cerficate of the Master or Licentiate of Nursing Science or equivalent 4) Research and funding plan (max 12 pages, see guidelines, Academy of Finland 5) Reasonings for application of the PhD position 6) Study plan, clarification of the study progress and estimated graduating time 7) The statement of the supervisor in a sealed envelope

4 Application process for doctoral programmme positions Applications for doctoral programme deadline The decisions regarding doctoral programme positions made by Academy of Finland Call for doctoral programme positions: Information on the www pages of the Programme Accouncement in Hoitotiede journal, and Units of Nursing Science in five collaboration universities: Eastern Finland, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Åbo Akademi, sent on date Application period deadline Evaluation of the applications according to the evaluation criteria by the members of the Academic Board of the Programme until date Ranking of the applications by the Academic Board of the School in the meeting of the Academic Board of the School date Evaluation of the best applications if necessary according to the evaluation criteria by an international evaluator until the date Final selection of applicants for the doctoral programme positions in the meeting of the Academic Board on the date Admission letter and information on the doctoral programme position to the selected applicants by the date Registration for doctoral programme positions on the date

5 3 PhD STUDENTS/SUPERVISORS IN THE PROGRAMME Supervision practices of the are based on supervision practices of the PhDs' own universities (University of Eastern Finland, University of Oulu, University of Tampere, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi). Supervision practices of the Programme support the supervision of the PhD students own universities and standardize it. The objectives of the supervision are to support and develop PhD students critical and constructive scientific thinking and promote PhD students career planning. The supervision plan is an agreement between the PhD student, director of the Programme and the supervisor. It complements the personal study plan of the PhD student and the Programme s recommendations on supervision practices in doctoral studies. With this plan, the PhD student, the director and the supervisor agree to work in collaboration and in the agreed timeframe with a completed PhD degree as the goal. 3.1 Responsibilities of PhD students The PhD student must commit to his/her research project by aiming at high academic quality and following research ethical rules. The PhD student has an obligation to follow the set timetables and work in collaboration with the supervisors of the research and the thesis advisory committee. In the supervision plan template, the responsibilities of the PhD student are defined so that they: - carefully prepares for the meetings with a supervisor and an advisory committee and scientific discussions and send/bring material for the meetings. - is responsible for the progress of the thesis and research and report to the supervisor regularly on the progression - complies research ethics principles. - follows the agreed timetables. 3.2 Responsibilities of supervisors The obligation of the supervisor is to commit to regular supervision work and to advancing the research work of the supervisee, as well as to advise the PhD student on the practices of research. The supervisor must reserve enough time for all supervisees and meet them regularly. The supervisor ensures the quality of the thesis manuscript and its eligibility for pre-examination. In the supervision plan template, the responsibilities of the supervisor are defined so that they: - commits to supervising the PhD student's research and doctoral education throughout all stages.

6 - familiarises a PhD with a research career planning (academic work and practical matters related scientific qualifications e.g. research report, applications of research funding and internationality). - familiarises a PhD with complying of the research ethics principles. - follows the agreed timetables. 3.3 Personal research career plan Each PhD student prepares an academic portfolio and an internationalization plan at the latest when they accept a PhD position. The academic portfolio and the internationalization plan are updated throughout the whole doctoral training annually. The content of the academic portfolio is prepared according to instructions of University of Turku ( The academic portfolio is a supervision tool for researcher career and it aids PhD students to plan their resercer career systematically. The internationalization plan includes an schedule for international conferences (min. 2/year) and studies, relationships and memberships in international associations, universities and research institutes, registration of international experts registers in own reseach field international research funding sources international high level publication forums in own reseach field an international plan for a post doc research phase 3.4 Right to study PhD students have right to a PhD student position based on evaluation of Academid Board of the Programme. Positions are filled for a total of two four years period including evaluation of the student s progression. Students have right to complete their doctoral thesis in nursing science full timely. 3.5 Legal protection of PhD students Legal protection of PhD students follows the rules and regulations of the University of Turku Graduate School and PhD students' own universities for instance in the case of rectification of student admission decisions, decisions on losing the right to study and the evaluation of a completed course or thesis.

7 4 ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAMME 4.1 Administration The goal of the Programme s administration is to conduct high quality administrative processes for ensuring high quality research and education as well as sound nursing evidence for the field of nursing practice, leadership and education. The Director and the Academic Board of the Programme are selected for a four year term. High quality of administrative processes is ensured by resolving action and finance in the meetings of the Academic Board after thorough planning and preparation. The resolves and decisions are written and their implementation is followed systematically. 4.2 Coordination The goals of the Programme s coordination are to ensure the developing of the Programme s activities and promoting of collaboration between nursing science and other disciplines, international collaboration and collaboration between gradute schools and doctoral programmes in Finland and abroad. The Programme has a full-time coordinator. High quality of coordination is assured by planning and preparation, implementation and evaluation of the Programme s activities in collaboration with the Director and the Academic Board of the Programme. The coordinator organizes all activities and keeps record of them. The regular updating of the Programme s website offers current information on the Programme and doctoral education, the Programme s public relations, research careers and international activities. 4.3 Education and supervision The goals of the Programme s theoretical education are to cover theory building in nursing science; research methods; ethics and philosophy in nursing science; health service research; clinical and gerontological nursing science and nursing education, and to support the students learning. The education covers also transferable skills. The goal of the supervision is to support the student s scientific thinking and progress in their research careers. The Programme ensures high quality content of theoretical education by dividing teaching areas and course implementation responsibility in collaboration between the five other universities according to each university s profile. The teachers of the courses are senior researchers in nursing science or related disciplines. The scope of the courses is ensured with adequate ECTS credits (min. 6 ECTS) and number of participants (min. 8, max. 30). All courses are offered in the English language.

8 Courses in the field of discipline NURSING AND CARING THEORIES nursing theories (e.g. nursing theory development, the theory of science for caring science, family nursing) RESEARCH METHODS (e.g qualitative/quantitative methods in nursing research, instrument development, clinical trials, action research) ETHICS IN THE FIELD OF NURSING AND CARING NURSING EDUCATION SPECIAL NURSING AND HEALTH CARE ISSUES (e.g. child and adolescent nursing, elderly care, mental health nursing, cultural issues, outcomes measurement) HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH EUROPEAN RESEARCH Total Courses of transferable skills Research career (academic portfolio, internationality, project management) Research funding Academic writing Research ethics Total The students learning is supported by using various teaching methods (lectures, seminars, networking and multi-method teaching) in the courses. The students participate in research seminars in their own universities monthly, and in students and supervisors meetings 3-4 times in a year. The students individual supervision is carried out in their own universities by the students personal supervisors. The students can expand their learning and expertise by participating in other Finnish doctoral programme s courses. The PhD students of other disciplines can participate in the courses of The Finnish Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science. 4.4 Research The goals of the Programme s research are to promote high quality research and to strengthen nursing research, and to ensure continuity in nursing science. The students research quality assurance is continuous. The students research and study plans are evaluated with the general instructions issued in study guides when the students are selected for their PhD position and during their PhD position.

9 The Programme guarantees the starting of the students post doc research after doctoral dissertation, and the students researcher careers are supported according to their academic portfolio. 4.5 Networking The goals of the Programme s networking are to ensure and expand active networking between national and international researchers, lectures and PhD students, and to strengthen social impact and collaboration in the field of nursing practice and health care. The activities of international networking of the Academic Board are described in the Programme s Strategy for International Collaboration National networking is expanded with PhD students rotation to other Finnish universities and research groups. Rotation includes a plan, its implementation and evaluation. The Board members of the Doctoral Programme in their nursing director roles ensure the practical application of research knowledge and innovations in the field of nursing. All Board Members are involved in national and international science societies as well as in the boards of national and international nursing journals. 4.6 International activities The Programme has a Strategy for International Collaboration The strategy is in line with the general objectives of the Programme and collaborating universities. The goal of the international activities is to ensure that the objectives of the international education, research and social impact of the international strategy are achieved and evaluation is implemented systematically. All doctoral courses are provided in English language, and all experts are capable of teaching in English language. National and international students participation in English language courses is active. All students aim to perform part of their studies abroad. The students international activity is ensured with an individual internationality plan with the objectives, implementation and evaluation. International activities are ensured by seeking actively cooperation partners and funding opportunities for international education in the Nordic countries, across Europe and globally, and by participating actively in education provided in other European countries, in the Cross Border University and in the European Academy of Nursing Science. The Progranmme ensures international research collaboration and the experts at the Programme have active collaboration with international research groups. The students participate in international conferences and present their results in each academic term (min. 1x), and search actively opportunities to participate in international research projects.

10 5 FEEDBACK AND EVALUATION SYSTEM OF THE PROGRAMME All activities of the Programme are evaluated regularly for developing. The Programme s activities are evaluated by internal criteria supported with the material of the University of Turku (See Follow-up and feedback systems are constantly being developed to gain a clearer picture of PhD students studies and progress as well as their views on research seminars and supervision. PhD students' research and study plans are first evaluated when they are recruited to the PhD student position of the. During their research and education, students are required to report on the progress of their research and studies once a year, in keeping with the general instructions issued in study guides. In addition, there is a feedback system for PhD students and lecturers concerning doctoral courses. All follow-up and feedback can be provided online using webropol questionnaires. Evaluation discussions are also held immediately after the course when students can offer their feedback direct to the course leader. The scope and level of doctoral courses is evaluated on the basis of feedback received from students and experts. The courses are planned and accepted at Board meetings, which also discuss the feedback received. All feedback is collected and summarized by the coordinator, who presents it at the Board meetings for developing of the activities.

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T-0.050: Introduction to Postgraduate Studies in Computer Science Funding for Ph.D. Dr. Jyrki Kontio Professor of Software Product Business http://www.soberit.hut.fi/t-0.050/ Contributions from Mr. Markus