Coordinator

Nature and requirements

The programme coordinator is responsible for the management, organisation and improvement of the programme’s teaching, with the aim of ensuring the practical application of the provisions set out in the verification report. They are also responsible for ensuring the implementation of assessment and improvement processes. They shall act in accordance with the criteria established by the CGCED and shall be accountable to it for their actions.

The programme coordinator must be a researcher with a relevant track record, evidenced by having previously supervised at least two doctoral theses, having completed at least two periods of research activity, and meeting any other requirements stipulated, where applicable, by current legislation.

They shall be granted the corresponding teaching reduction as set out in the regulations governing the management incentive scheme at the University of Zaragoza. Where applicable, this academic recognition may be shared with the other members of the Academic Committee of the doctoral programme.

Appointment and removal from office

The coordinator of each programme shall be elected by the programme’s teaching staff who are members of the University of Zaragoza, by universal, equal, free, direct and secret ballot, in accordance with the electoral procedure established by EDUZ. The Rector shall be responsible for the appointment, for a period of three years and for up to two consecutive terms. In the absence of candidates, the coordinator shall be appointed by the Rector on the recommendation of the Director of EDUZ. In the case of an inter-university doctoral programme, the coordinator shall be appointed by the body specified in the collaboration agreement or convention. In any event, the University of Zaragoza shall have its own coordinator, appointed by the Rector, who shall have the same rights and obligations as the coordinators of the University of Zaragoza’s other doctoral programmes. 

In the event of absence, the programme’s academic committee member designated by the Director of EDUZ, after consulting the other members of the committee, shall assume their duties. Under no circumstances may their duties be delegated to another lecturer. If the absence lasts for more than six months, a new appointment shall be made.

The programme coordinator shall cease to hold office upon resignation, expiry of their term of office, supervening loss of the requirements for the post, revocation in accordance with the established procedure, or other causes set out in legislation or regulations. In the event of the expiry of their term of office, they shall remain in post until the next coordinator is appointed.

Duties 

The programme coordinator shall have the following duties:

• To direct and coordinate the programme’s activities, ensuring continuity and the fulfilment of its objectives, and ensuring that the programme is run with the highest degree of efficiency, quality and success.
• Chairing the programme’s Academic Committee and Quality Assessment Committee, and implementing and enforcing their decisions.
• Provide all information required for the indicators that make up EDUZ’s SIGC. 
• Draw up, in conjunction with the Quality Assessment Committee, the proposal for the IEC of the doctoral programme.
• Represent the programme on the EDUZ Steering Committee and ensure that EDUZ agreements relating to the programme are complied with.
• Ensure that programme members are kept informed of any matters relating to the programme’s activities that may affect them.
• To ensure that the PhD candidate and their supervisor and programme director are aware of the results of the annual assessment carried out by the Academic Committee regarding the research and training plan and the candidate’s progress.
• Sign the annual assessment report for doctoral candidates on the relevant doctoral programme.
• Endorse the Doctoral Charter of doctoral students who enrol on the doctoral programme.
• Convene and chair, at least once a year, a meeting with the teaching staff of the doctoral programme in order to inform them about the programme’s progress and the actions undertaken by the EDUZ.
• Draw up proposals for improvement arising from the evaluation contained in the IEC (PAIM) and submit them to the CGCED for approval.
• Ensure that the specific content of the doctoral programme’s institutional website is kept up to date.
• Any other duties that may be assigned to them under the regulations of the University of Zaragoza.

Regulations

• Internal Regulations of the Doctoral School. Resolution of 13 May 2026, of the Governing Council of the UZ 
• Regulations on the Internal Quality Assurance System for doctoral studies. Resolution of 13 May 2026, of the Governing Council of the UZ
• Q111_2. Procedure for the appointment, renewal and termination of staff within the Internal Quality Assurance System for PhD programmes

Recognition in POD

The Doctoral School currently has an allocation of 1,400 hours for the recognition of time spent on doctoral programme management, excluding the programme’s management team. These hours are distributed amongst the various PhD programmes based on a weighted average of the number of PhD students enrolled in the three academic years preceding the year in which the allocation is made – which will take effect in the following academic year (70%) – and the average number of theses defended during those years (30%). In addition, 20 hours are allocated to the chair of the Doctoral Board, 10 hours to the secretary of the Board, 5 hours to the members of the Doctoral Board, and 5 hours to the representatives of each branch on the Standing Committee of the EDUZ Management Committee (as at the date of allocation). Furthermore, 5 hours are added for the inter-university doctoral programmes coordinated by the University of Zaragoza.

The hours corresponding to each programme will, by default, be allocated to the programme coordinator. In exceptional cases, the coordinator may, at their discretion, distribute these hours amongst the other members of the programme’s Academic Committee. For example, where the coordinator is not eligible for the reduction because they hold another management post of a higher rank or because they are not a member of the teaching and research staff at the University of Zaragoza. This may be communicated in response to EDUZ’s notification of the hours allocated to the programme for the POD for the following academic year.