Doctoral Program
in Regional Development

Training activities

Participation in workshops or seminars on research methodologies applied to the social sciences
  • Number of hours: 10 hours
  • Description: A joint methodological activity organized as an introductory course for doctoral students in the program's three research areas. It is aimed at strengthening core competencies as a guarantee for the incorporation of cross-disciplinary and specific research training. The course will include the following content: 1. Critical analysis of scientific publications; 2. Searching for bibliographical background; 3. Preparation of scientific publications; 4. Specialized English; 5. Advanced expression and writing techniques; 6. Ethics and research.
  • Time planning: Only at the beginning of the first year of the doctorate for full-time and part-time students.
  • Justification: strengthening of basic competencies CB11 and CB13.
  • Learning outcomes: Acquisition of basic knowledge about the methodology, the tools available in their environment, and ethical aspects for the development of their activity.
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Character: Mandatory
  • Control procedure: Attendance control by signature (50%), final exam (30%), summary of the activity recorded in the personalized activity log (20%)
  • Mobility: No mobility actions are planned

Collaboration in the organization of seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.
  • Number of hours: 30 hours
  • Description: Seminars taught by researchers from ULL groups and national and international guest researchers specializing in various fields of Arts and Humanities. The organization has a long history of organizing specialized seminars within the district's postgraduate programs.
  • Time planning: Full-time students: Attendance at 12 seminars throughout the first two years of doctoral studies.
  • Part-time students: Attendance at 12 seminars throughout the first three years of the doctoral program. The selection of seminars will be supervised by the tutor.
  • Justification: Strengthening of basic competencies CB11 and CB14, and capabilities CA05 and CA06.
  • Learning outcomes: Knowledge of the research lines developed in the work environment; establishing references with leading research groups at the national and international levels; reviewing the current state of the seminar topics; and stimulating critical thinking.
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Character: Mandatory
  • Control procedure: Attendance is recorded by signature. Summaries of the seminars are prepared. The most relevant aspects of the seminars attended are presented and discussed in research group meetings, with follow-up by the tutor. The seminar summaries and their subsequent presentation and discussion in the group meetings must be recorded in the personalized activity log.
  • Mobility: No mobility actions are planned

Seminars given by teaching and research staff participating in the program (including visiting professors)
  • Number of hours: 3 hours
  • Description: Each student must present at least one seminar on their research work. In it, they will present to other students and professors of the doctoral program the foundations of the research project, including the working hypothesis, objectives, methodology used, results, and conclusions. They must also discuss and answer questions posed to them.
  • Time planning: Full-time students: Once during the second or third year of the PhD program. Part-time students: Once during the third or fourth year.
  • Justification: Enhancement of basic skills CB12 and CB15, and the CA06 capacity.
  • Learning outcomes: Demonstrate the ability to synthesize information, clearly present and communicate scientific results orally. Ability to debate and respond to specific questions.
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Character: Mandatory
  • Monitoring procedure: Report from the supervisor/director and the professors from the research area who attend the seminar. The report should assess the depth of knowledge of the background, clarity of presentation, approach to the topic, and the doctoral candidate's ability to debate and discuss. The seminar summary, including aspects of the debate and the reports, will be included in the personalized activity log document.
  • Mobility: No mobility actions are planned

Participation in specialized conferences
  • Number of hours: 20 hours
  • Description: The student must attend at least one national or international conference related to their doctoral thesis research, in accordance with current regulations. The selection of the conference or scientific meeting will be based on the thesis supervisor's criteria and the availability of resources.
  • Time planning: Full-time students: during the second or third year. Part-time students: during the fourth or fifth year.
  • Justification: Enhancement of basic skills CB15, and capacity CA06.
  • Learning outcomes: Demonstrate ability in the preparation, defense and discussion of a scientific presentation.
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Nature: Optional, depending on the availability of resources for this action.
  • Monitoring procedure: Presentation and discussion of the paper in the research line seminars. The relevant points of the discussion will be recorded in the doctoral candidate's personalized activity log. A report of participation in the conference must include: 1. A summary of the paper, including comments and discussion with the attendees. 2. A summary of other papers on related topics presented at the same conference. 3. Proof of attendance and presentation. This report will be included in the doctoral candidate's personalized activity log.
  • Mobility: Funding for this activity comes from the university's own mobility funds, specific allocations from agreements and projects, and external calls for proposals at the local and national levels.

Active participation in seminars organized by the academic committee of the doctoral program
  • Number of hours: 360 hours
  • Description: A stay of at least three months, to be completed in one or two visits, at another national or international center of recognized prestige. The selection of the host center and the most suitable period of stay must be agreed upon with the thesis supervisor.
  • Time planning: Full-time students: during the second or third year. Part-time students: during the third or fourth year.
  • Justification: Enhancement of basic specific skills CB13, CB15, and capabilities CA04 and CA05.
  • Learning outcomes: To be able to integrate into a foreign research group and collaborate on its lines of research. To resolve specific questions raised in their research. To learn new techniques and be able to apply them to the development of their doctoral thesis. To initiate contacts for future collaborations.
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Nature: Optional, depending on the availability of resources for this action.
  • Monitoring Procedure: A pre-stay report must include: 1. Justification of the stay's relevance to the thesis work, 2. The host group's experience in the topic, 3. A statement of the specific issues to be addressed, 4. A work plan, and 5. Source of funding for the stay. After the stay: 1. A report from the head of the host group on the stay's effectiveness, 2. A reasoned personal report detailing the objectives achieved and not achieved in relation to the proposed plan, and 3. A presentation of the progress made toward the thesis during the stay at a research group seminar. This report must be included in the individual activity log.
  • Mobility: Voluntary activity subject to budgetary availability. Funding for this type of activity will be obtained through public and/or private grants as outlined in the previous points.

Preparation of a scientific article
  •  Number of hours: 12
  • Description:
    • With guidance from the supervisor in preparing and designing the article, the doctoral candidate will write the article according to the organizational and writing guidelines established by the chosen journal and submit it for review. Acceptance of the manuscript by the journal is not a requirement for the activity's validation, but the feedback received will be considered for improving the manuscript before final validation. This activity is recommended during the second and third years of the program.
    • Learning Outcomes: This involves putting into practice the full range of research skills acquired, focusing on a specific and manageable case: writing an article based on one or more aspects, or even partial results, of the dissertation. The doctoral candidate will learn about the structure and design of academic and scientific publications, and how to approach the review processes for scientific texts before publication in high-impact journals. The competencies promoted are: CB13, CB14, CB16, CA04, CA05, and CA06.
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Monitoring Procedure: A key element in the evaluation of this activity will be the reports from the journal reviewers. The supervisor will have access to these reports to guide the doctoral candidate, if necessary, in improving their original manuscript. This activity will be assessed favorably or unfavorably by the supervisor before the final evaluation by the academic committee responsible for the Program. The doctoral candidate will include the corresponding certificate in their respective "Activity Log.".

Internships in R&D Centers
  • Number of hours: 480
  • Description:
    • Research stays of at least 480 hours (12 weeks) will be encouraged. Doctoral candidates will be encouraged to undertake research stays, whenever possible, during the time required to obtain the European Distinction. Under the guidance and coordination of their supervisor or director, doctoral candidates may arrange a research stay with an external academic center, either national or international, supervised by a professor or researcher from that center. This stay will focus on developing instrumental or specific aspects of their dissertation, such as learning specific techniques, designing measurement or analysis instruments, critically reviewing and designing specific sections of their research, and so on. Host institutions will be determined based on existing agreements or through specific contacts of the thesis supervisor or director. If the doctoral candidate has external co-supervisors, the stay may take place at that center and under the supervision of that co-supervisor. In cases where the thesis director considers it appropriate, different short stays of four weeks each will be promoted for learning methods and techniques useful for the development of the research being carried out by the doctoral candidate, as well as collaboration in research activities of research groups of interest to him.
  • Learning Outcomes (Competencies that are promoted):
    • This activity will help doctoral students consolidate competencies CB11, CB12, CB13, CB14, CB15, and CA01 to CA06. Specifically, it will provide them with a deeper understanding of scientific research methodologies in the social sciences and current issues in the field of Regional Development, guiding them towards specific applications within the various research lines that comprise the program. Likewise, it will serve to establish contacts with international specialists, forge initial relationships with researchers from other networks of particular interest, and strengthen existing connections.
    • This activity is recommended starting in the second year for full-time doctoral students and from the third year for part-time students. In any case, the stay is advisable after the first year, for both full-time and part-time students.
  • Language: Spanish and English.
  • Monitoring Procedure: Each stay will generate an attendance record and an evaluation (positive or negative) by the supervising doctor at the host institution. If the evaluation is positive, the doctoral candidate will include the corresponding stay certificate in their respective "Activity Log." These recorded activities will be assessed favorably or unfavorably by the supervisor or director before being evaluated by the Academic Committee responsible for the Program. Both full-time and part-time students may participate in the training activities described. All these records will form part of the doctoral candidate's activity log (DAD), which will be reviewed regularly by the supervisor and thesis director and evaluated by the academic committee responsible for the program.
  • Mobility activities: The mobility program for part-time students follows the same format as for other students, with the sole difference being that those enrolled in this second category have two additional years to complete their program. Funding for this type of activity will be obtained through public and/or private grants as outlined in the previous sections.