Co-supervision of theses without the requirement to provide proof of research experience
The academic committees may authorise the co-direction of theses when there are reasons of an academic nature or thematic interdisciplinarity, or in the case of programmes developed in national or international collaboration (and may subsequently revoke these authorisations). [In no case shall the number of supervisors exceed three, and the authorisation of the doctoral committee is required for the appointment of a third supervisor.]
Royal Decree 576/2023 of 4 July introduces the possibility for the Academic Committees to authorise people who cannot accredit research experience to co-supervise doctoral theses of doctoral students enrolled from the academic year 2023-2024.
To this end, by Agreement of 29 February 2024 of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School, those interested must submit to the Academic Committee of the corresponding programme an application justifying the need/appropriateness of the co-direction, attaching an abbreviated Curriculum Vitae indicating, where appropriate, publications (including the relevant quality indexes), participation in research projects and theses supervised. When the decision is favourable, explicit authorisation will be notified to the Doctoral School (tesis@unizar.es) in order to inform the Steering Committee through its Standing Committee.
This procedure is particularly suitable for researchers who do not belong to a Spanish institution, as is the case of directors of co-supervised theses from foreign universities. However, if you have the merits required by the Doctoral Committee, it is recommended that you apply for recognition of your research experience. The granting of such recognition will allow you to supervise other theses and to participate in thesis tribunals at the University of Zaragoza.
Co-directors with limitations in their research career during the eight years following the date of their thesis defence.
On the other hand, in view of the eleventh additional provision of the II Collective Agreement of the University of Saragossa's teaching and research staff, in force as of 1 November 2023, the Academic Committees of the doctoral programmes will authorise co-directions of theses by female doctoral students who do not meet the requirement of having research experience accredited by means of recognised research productivity (required by article 2.9 of Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies), when they accredit limitations in their research career due to the reconciliation of work and family life.
To this end, interested women must submit an application to the Academic Committee of the doctoral programme as indicated above. Specifically, including accreditation of the limitations set out in the justification referred to in the Agreement of 29 February 2024 of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School, on the need and relevance of the co-direction of this particular doctoral thesis. Likewise, when the resolution is favourable, the explicit authorisation will be notified to the Doctoral School (tesis@unizar.es) in order to inform the Steering Committee through its Standing Committee.
The aforementioned exception shall continue for eight years from the date of defence of the doctoral thesis of the woman applying to be co-supervisor.
Furthermore, it should be noted that this aspect applies to the theses of all doctoral students, regardless of the date of their enrolment in the doctoral programme.
In the event of a change in the appointment of directors, the Academic Committee of the programme shall ensure that at least one of the directors meets the requirement of having accredited research experience.
Regulations
- Agreement of 29 February 2024 of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School, regarding the requirement of accredited research experience of tutors, directors, co-directors and members of thesis tribunals and the condition of being linked to the doctoral programme of the tutors.
- II Collective Bargaining Agreement for contracted teaching and research staff of the University of Zaragoza
Enquiries: docto@unizar.es