Academic Committee

The Academic Committee of each doctoral programme is responsible for its definition, updating, quality and coordination. It must monitor the progress of the research and training of each doctoral student on the programme, as well as authorise the presentation of their thesis.

Composition

1. The coordinator of the doctoral programme, who will chair the committee, appointed for a period of four years by the Rector, at the proposal of the Director of the Doctoral School, from among the professors with a PhD who participate in the programme and meet the requirements of Article 8.4 of Royal Decree 99/2011; in the case of a joint programme, appointed by the body specified in the collaboration agreement or arrangement.

2. Between three and six doctors with sufficient merit to supervise doctoral theses, who participate in the respective programme. The members of the academic committees of the doctoral programmes shall be appointed for a period of four years by the Doctoral School Management Committee, at the proposal of the programme coordinator, who shall consult the programme's lecturers for this purpose. The number of members of the Academic Committees shall depend on the characteristics of the doctoral programme and the number of lecturers and research teams involved in it. In the case of a joint programme, the Committee shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the collaboration agreement or arrangement.

3. The members of the Academic Committee may be dismissed by the body that appointed them, resign at their own request or cease to belong to the respective doctoral programme. Each member may serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms, except in exceptional circumstances.

4. The Academic Committee shall be convened and chaired by the programme coordinator, who shall appoint a secretary from among its members to take the minutes of the meetings. The coordinator shall appoint a doctoral student who may attend the meetings with the right to speak but not to vote. The coordinator may also invite doctoral students or participants whom they deem appropriate for informational purposes to attend the meetings.

Functions

1. The organisation, design and coordination of the programme, as well as its updating and quality.

2. The establishment of additional requirements and criteria for the selection and admission of students to their doctoral programme, including the requirement for specific additional training.

3. Monitoring the progress of research and training of doctoral students enrolled in the programme, as well as the programme's training and research activities, with actions to:

   1. Assigning the doctoral student a tutor, who must be a doctor with proven research experience, linked to the Unit or School organising the programme; this appointment shall be made at the time of admission to the programme.

   2.  Assign the doctoral student a thesis supervisor, who may be any Spanish or foreign doctor with proven research experience; this assignment shall preferably be made at the time of admission to the programme and in any case within a maximum period of three months from the formalisation of enrolment.

   3. Modify the appointment of the tutor or supervisor at any time during the doctoral programme, after consulting the doctoral student, the tutor and the supervisor, and if there are justified reasons.

   4. Grant authorisation to students who request to undertake the programme on a part-time basis.

   5. Carry out the annual evaluation of the doctoral student's activity report and the research plan of each doctoral student. The coordinator will sign the corresponding evaluation report.

   6. Decide on the doctoral student's continuation in the doctoral programme, based on the verification report and the School's regulations in this regard.

   7. Grant authorisation for the thesis to be presented, after consulting the supervisor, and propose the assessment panel.

4. Supervise the organisation of specific training activities for the doctoral programme.

5. Select the theses defended in the programme that will be eligible for the extraordinary doctoral award.

6. Resolve any issues that arise in relation to the development of the programme.

7. Apply the programme's quality assurance system established in the verification report.

8. Prepare the quality assessment reports for the programme and submit them to the Doctoral Committee.

9. Any other responsibilities assigned by current regulations.

Regulations

• Agreement of 17 October 2017, of the Governing Council of the University, approving the internal regulations of the Doctoral School of the University of Zaragoza, amended by Agreement of June 2020 and 13 December 2021

• Q111_2. Procedure for the appointment, renewal and dismissal of agents of the Internal Quality Assurance System in Doctoral studies