Thesis Direction & Defense

GUIDELINES FOR GOOD PRACTICES

The University of Málaga, through the CIPD, has defined the Guidelines for Good Practices of the Doctoral Programs at the University of Málaga (available at this link), which serve as a common reference for all Doctoral Programs at the University of Málaga.

The Guidelines for Good Practices should be considered alongside the current regulations of the University of Málaga, particularly those related to doctoral studies, and establish recommendations and criteria for the management and monitoring of the doctoral candidate's training activities and doctoral thesis.

DIRECTION OF DOCTORAL THESES ("DIRECTOR DE LA TESIS")

In the management of the doctoral process, the role of the thesis advisor (or advisors) ("director" or "directores") is essential. For this reason, the selection of this role falls to the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program, primarily based on the student’s admission profile, their preferences, and the availability of researchers who can act as thesis advisors.

Promotion of Thesis Direction and Supervision

It is a goal of this doctoral program that all faculty members direct at least one thesis at any given time and defend at least one thesis every five years. To encourage the direction of doctoral theses, the University, as outlined in its new Own Research Plan, will allocate a sum to all thesis advisors for each defended thesis, aimed at covering some of the needs associated with the thesis defense (binding, protocol expenses), as well as for other research expenses that the thesis advisor may require. This amount, previously assigned to departments, will now be allocated to thesis advisors, who may use it upon providing the corresponding invoices and receipts. The amount, around €1,000, will depend on whether the thesis has international mention, the quantity and quality of publications that support the thesis, etc.

Furthermore, the University has defined in its Teaching Organization Plan a recognition of 25 hours for conducting thesis direction and supervision.

Co-Direction of Theses

Each doctoral student will have, in addition to their supervisor ("tutor"), one or two thesis advisors. Whenever possible, the roles of supervisor and thesis advisor will coincide, unless the thesis advisor is not part of the faculty assigned to the Doctoral Program, or when the thesis advisor is not from the University of Málaga.

According to the doctoral strategy of the University of Málaga, co-direction is particularly beneficial in the following cases:

• When the thesis addresses an interdisciplinary topic that requires the involvement of thesis advisors from different fields or areas.
• To enhance internationalization, through co-direction by international researchers whenever possible and beneficial for the doctoral candidate.
• Additionally, co-direction by researchers from companies or research institutes is recommended to strengthen relationships with the productive and industrial sectors.

At any point during the thesis preparation process, the doctoral candidate may request, for justified and valid reasons, a change in either the thesis advisor or the thesis title. The request must be made by the doctoral candidate to the coordinator of the corresponding Doctoral Program, who will forward it to the Academic Committee for consideration.

Cotutelle of Theses ("Double-degree)

In line with the doctoral training strategy of the University of Málaga, cotutelle agreements with other international universities will be encouraged to enhance interaction with international groups and to allow graduates to obtain doctoral degrees from both universities.

The University of Málaga will promote these activities as much as possible, particularly through funding from its own Research Plan, as well as through scholarships and grants coordinated with other organizations, such as the Ibero-American University Association for Graduate Studies (AUIP).

In this regard, the Doctoral Program in MECHATRONICS will encourage thesis cotutelle through the signing of agreements with other universities to facilitate these actions for its doctoral candidates.

Participation of International Experts

The Doctoral Regulations of the University of Málaga allow for the inclusion of international experts in monitoring committees, the preparation of preliminary reports, and thesis defense committees. While this is a mandatory requirement in some cases, such as for theses seeking the International Doctoral mention, it is recommended that international experts be involved in all theses whenever possible, according to the University of Málaga's strategy for doctoral training, particularly concerning the internationalization of the Doctoral Program in Mechatronics and its doctoral candidates, and the enhancement of the quality of their theses and the publications derived from them.

The doctoral program already has appropriate measures in place to encourage thesis direction, supervision, and the presence of international experts on monitoring committees, both for preparing preliminary reports and for participating in doctoral thesis defenses.

This has been the case in the current and previous programs (more than 14 theses with European mention in the last five years), in addition to the participation of our professors as experts and committee members at other foreign universities, primarily in Europe.

REGULATIONS FOR THESIS DEFENSE

The regulations for the presentation and defense of theses are detailed in the Doctoral Regulations of the University of Málaga, specifically in Titles 4 to 7 of the same.