As part of the university’s systematic quality assurance efforts, eight third-cycle subject areas (doctoral-level disciplines) have been reviewed by an external assessment group. All of them are rated as meeting a high standard in the report by the assessment group.
The discipline of nursing received a positive assessment of their doctoral education. Carina Bååth, Head of Subject, is very pleased with the assessment group’s conclusions, which emphasise the high quality of the programme and the positive feedback from the doctoral students. The assessment group also highlight that the doctoral programme meets a high standard in terms of structure, guidelines, organisation and quality assurance system. Suggestions for improvements have been identified and will form the basis for an action plan that the discipline intends to present to the faculty no later than October 2024.
Doctoral programmes in public health science and social work have also been evaluated and assessed as upholding a high standard, with the potential for further improvements. Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, Head of Public Health Science, and Ulla Rantakeisu, Head of Social Work, both welcome the positive conclusions by the assessment group and look forward to addressing the identified areas for improvement.
Similar reviews and assessments have also been made in disciplines such as human geography, law, media and communication studies, and business administration. Overall, most disciplines have acknowledged their good work while also accepting and welcoming suggestions for improvements to further strengthen their doctoral education.
"We naturally support the recommendation from the evaluation group regarding more resources for application work and can confirm that both the faculty and the university are willing to contribute funds when external financing has been obtained, says subject representative John Sören Pettersson. We would like to see more doctoral candidates. However, the student volume depends on significant demand in the job market, which in the short term cannot be directly linked to the volume of doctoral education. Our doctoral students have expressed a desire for clarification regarding milestones in doctoral education and what is included in institutional service. Together with them, we will develop such clarifications."
To address the identified areas for improvement, subject heads and other relevant parties have committed to developing action plans that will be presented to the faculty board in question no later than October 2024. The plans will include actions and strategies to address the specific recommendations and further enhance the quality and effectiveness of the doctoral programmes.
This joint effort by several of the third-cycle subject areas demonstrates not only their commitment to ensuring high-quality doctoral education but also their willingness to continuously improve and adapt to changing needs and expectations in higher education.
You can read the reports here (in Swedish):
