Access profile

The academic background required for admission to this doctoral programme has been defined based on the need for multidisciplinary approaches in science and engineering studies that integrate ideas from the social sciences and humanities, and by the need to integrate digital skills, computational thinking, design thinking and other specific competencies in other programmes of study. The time is ripe for this type of collaboration between humanism and technology, and engineering education is one of the areas where this pairing is most needed.

Applicants should have a background in engineering or science (such as mathematics, physics or chemistry) and have completed the master's degree in Secondary and Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Training and Foreign Language Teaching or an equivalent qualification. Applicants who have completed this master’s degree qualify for direct admission to the programme.

However, a master's degree in education is not essential; students who lack this qualification may complete bridging courses that provide a good foundation in education.

In addition to a suitable academic background, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics – namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative and perseverance in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Other competencies
CMECES1 - Have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields.
CMECES2 - Have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of knowledge that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community.
CMECES3 - Have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, to which they are able to apply their contributions, knowledge and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they are working.
CMECES5 - Have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity.
CMECES7 - Have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are capable of making advances of a cultural, social or technological nature and promoting innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society.
CMECES6 - Have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.
CMECES4 - Have developed sufficient autonomy to initiate, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer.

Number of places

15

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is three years, counted from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is five years, counting from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. For calculating these periods, the date of admission is considered to be the date of the first enrolment for tutorials, and the date of submission the moment in which the Doctoral School officially deposits the doctoral thesis.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years. When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the minimum period of study requirement.

The calculation of periods of study will not include periods of absence due to illness, pregnancy or any other reason provided for in the regulations in force. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which, where appropriate, must inform the Doctoral School. Doctoral candidates may also temporarily withdraw from the programme for up to one year, and this period may be extended for an additional year. Doctoral candidates who wish to interrupt their studies must submit a justified request to the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which will decide whether or not to approve the request. Each programme will establish conditions for readmission to doctoral studies.

Extension
If full-time doctoral candidates have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, the academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year. In exceptional circumstances, a further one-year extension may be granted, subject to the conditions established by the corresponding doctoral programme. In the case of part-time doctoral candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

Organization

• Alier Forment, Marc

• Alier Forment, Marc
• Almajano Pablos, Maria Pilar
• Bragos Bardia, Ramon
• Llorens Garcia, Ariadna
• Lopez Alvarez, David
• Sanchez Carracedo, Fermin

• Institute of Education Sciences (PROMOTORA)

Doctoral Unit - ICT North Campus Management and Support Unit (UTGCNTIC). C. Jordi Girona, 1-3. Building B4-003 (North Campus)

doctorat.eect@upc.edu

Access profile

The academic background required for admission to this doctoral programme has been defined based on the need for multidisciplinary approaches in science and engineering studies that integrate ideas from the social sciences and humanities, and by the need to integrate digital skills, computational thinking, design thinking and other specific competencies in other programmes of study. The time is ripe for this type of collaboration between humanism and technology, and engineering education is one of the areas where this pairing is most needed.

Applicants should have a background in engineering or science (such as mathematics, physics or chemistry) and have completed the master's degree in Secondary and Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Training and Foreign Language Teaching or an equivalent qualification. Applicants who have completed this master’s degree qualify for direct admission to the programme.

However, a master's degree in education is not essential; students who lack this qualification may complete bridging courses that provide a good foundation in education.

In addition to a suitable academic background, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics – namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative and perseverance in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Access requirements

Applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a Spanish master’s degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February)

In addition, the following may apply:

• Holders of an official degree awarded by a university in Spain or any other country in the European Higher Education Area, pursuant to the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, which establishes official university course regulations, who have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on official university degrees, of which at least 60 must be at the master's degree level.
• Holders of an official Spanish bachelor’s degree comprising at least 300 credits, as provided for by EU regulations. Holder of degrees of this kind must complete bridging courses unless the curriculum of the bachelor’s degree in question included research training credits equivalent in value to those which would be earned on a master's degree.
• Holders of an official university qualification who, having passed the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have completed at least two years of a training course leading to an official degree in a health-sciences specialisation.
• Holders of a degree issued under a foreign education system. In these cases, homologation is not required, but the UPC must verify that the degree certifies a level of training equivalent to an official Spanish master's degree and qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.
• Holders of a Spanish doctoral qualification issued under previous university regulations.

Note 1: Doctoral studies entrance regulations for holders of an undergraduate degree awarded before the introduction of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014)

Note 2: Governing Council Decision 64/2014, which approves the procedure and criteria for assessing the fulfilment of academic admission requirements for doctoral studies by holders of non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

Ideally, applicants to the doctoral programme in Engineering, Sciences and Technology Education should have a strong background in STEM and a master's degree in teacher training, education research or a related field.
Applicants must therefore have a degree in engineering, science or technology; for instance, any official Spanish bachelor’s or master's degree in engineering, architecture or science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.) or equivalent.

To be admitted directly to the doctoral programme, without the requirement to take any bridging courses, in addition to one of these qualifications, applicants must have completed the master's degree in Secondary and Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Training and Foreign Language Teaching or an equivalent qualification.

However, the admissions body may consider admitting students who do not hold this master's degree or an equivalent qualification. In such cases, the admissions body will specify the bridging courses that must be taken on a case-by-case basis, according to each applicant’s background. The additional training required must ensure that students develop the competencies in scientific fields related to education that they will need to undertake the doctoral programme.

Other requirements:
• Certify a level of proficiency in English that is sufficient to understand scientific literature and communicate research results by providing a certificate of level B2+/B2.2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (developed by the Council of Europe).

Criteria for assessment of merits and weighting
Students will be admitted to the programme in the admission periods specified on the academic calendar. Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the Academic Committee for the programme based on the general requirements for admission to doctoral programmes, the specific admission requirements for this programme, and the assessment criteria indicated below. If the number of applications exceeds the number of places offered, these criteria will be used to prioritise applications. In any case, applicants must obtain at least 60 out of 100 points to be admitted.

• Suitability of the applicant’s degree (up to 25 points), considering the competencies acquired in previous training.
• Covering letter and fit between the applicant's research interests and the research areas and interests that the programme focuses on (up to 20 points).
• Personal contact through questionnaires, interviews, etc. (up to 20 points).
• Academic record (up to 25 points).
• Research and/or professional experience (up to 10 points).

Training complements

Applicants who have completed the master's degree in Secondary and Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Training and Foreign Language Teaching or an equivalent qualification (a master’s degree in education research or a related field) qualify for direct admission to the programme and will not be required to take any bridging courses.

In the case of applicants who have not completed the recommended master's degree or an equivalent qualification, the admissions body may require the completion of subjects offered within the framework of the master's degree in Secondary and Upper Secondary Education, Vocational Training and Foreign Language Teaching. Requirements will be determined based on each student's background. The bridging courses required will be subjects that provide basic training in educational theory. In the current curriculum, these subjects would be as follows:

Specific:
• Know and apply innovative teaching practices in the area of the specialisation studied.
• Be familiar with theoretical and practical developments related to the teaching and learning of subjects.
• Be familiar with assessment strategies and techniques, and understand assessment as a tool for regulating and stimulating effort.
• Promote a climate that facilitates learning and in which student contributions are valued.
• Integrate training in audiovisual and multimedia communication into the teaching-learning process.
• Transform curricula into activity and work programmes.

Cross-disciplinary:
• Independent learning: identify gaps in one's own knowledge and overcome them through critical thinking and by choosing the best course of action to learn more about that area.
• Effective oral and written communication: communicate with others, orally and in writing, about learning outcomes and thought processes, and participate in discussions on educational issues.
• Teamwork: be able to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team and contribute to carrying out tasks and projects based on a pragmatic approach and a sense of responsibility.
• Effective use of information resources: manage the acquisition, structuring, analysis and use of various resources and information technologies (ICT) for teaching-learning. Apply ICT in teaching activity and transform information into knowledge (LKT) by designing activities or actions that have an impact on students.

2) Teaching Innovation and Introduction to Educational Research (8 ECTS credits), taught in face-to-face and blended learning format in the spring semester. The following competencies are developed in this subject:

Specific:
• Critically analyse teaching performance, good practices and approaches using quality indicators.
• Know and apply basic methodologies and techniques for educational research and assessment and be able to design and carry out research, innovation and assessment projects.
• Know and apply innovative teaching practices in the field of the specialisation studied.
• Detect problems related to the teaching and learning of subjects taught in the specialisation and propose alternatives and solutions.

Cross-disciplinary:
• Independent learning: identify gaps in one's own knowledge and overcome them through critical thinking and by choosing the best course of action to learn more about that area.
• Entrepreneurship and innovation: identify the elements that characterise the organisation of a school, relate the planning of teaching-learning to outcomes obtained, and make proposals for improvement.
• Sustainability and social commitment: recognise the complexity of the social phenomena that characterise the welfare society and be sensitive to the social reality (plural, diverse and multicultural) in order to facilitate the inclusion of all students and convey an ethical commitment that includes support for the right to be different.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

New doctoral students must enrol within the designated period following the acceptance of their application.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

First half of October.

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

• Activity: Preparation and initial defence of research plan.
• Hours: 20.
• Type: compulsory.

• Activity: Specific course on Research Methods and Techniques in Engineering, Science and Technology Education.
• Hours: 60.
• Type: compulsory.

• Activity: Programme-specific workshops.
• Hours: 30.
• Type: compulsory.

• Activity: Publications
• Hours: 240.
• Type: compulsory.

• Activity: Programme-specific courses and seminars.
• Hours: 30.
• Type: optional.

• Activity: Programme-specific workshops.
• Hours: 30.
• Type: optional.

• Activity: Mobility and conferences.
• Hours: 480.
• Type: optional.

• Activity: Cross-disciplinary activities.
• Hours: 30.
• Type: optional.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year for full-time doctoral candidates who have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, in the terms outlined in the Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. In the case of part-time candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

International Mention

The doctoral degree certificate may include International Doctorate mention. In this case, the doctoral candidate must meet the following requirements:

a) During the period of study leading to the award of the doctoral degree, the doctoral candidate must have spent at least three months at a respected higher education institution or research centre outside Spain to complete courses or do research work. The stays and activities carried out must be endorsed by the thesis supervisor and authorised by the academic committee of the programme. The candidate must provide a certifying document issued by the person responsible for the research group of the body or bodies where the stay or activity was completed. This information will be added to the doctoral student’s activity report.
b) Part of the thesis (at least the summary and conclusions) must be written and presented in one of the languages commonly used for science communication in the relevant field of knowledge, which must not be an official language of Spain. This rule does not apply to stays and reports in Spanish or to experts from Spanish-speaking countries.
c) At least two PhD-holding experts belonging to a higher education institution or research centre outside Spain must have issued officially certified reports on the thesis.
d) The thesis examination committee must have included at least one PhD-holding expert from a higher education or research institution outside Spain who was not responsible for the candidate’s stay abroad (point a) above).
e) The thesis defence must have taken place on UPC premises or, in the case of joint programmes, at the location specified in the collaboration agreement.

List of authorized thesis for defense

Last update: 27/09/2023 04:45:27.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 27/09/2023 04:30:23.

List of defended theses by year

No hi ha registres per mostrar.

Last update: 27/09/2023 05:01:46.

Research groups

• BCN SEER-Barcelona Science and Engineering Education Research Group

Teachers

• Alier Forment, Marc
• Almajano Pablos, Maria Pilar
• Alvarez Martinez, Carlos
• Amante Garcia, Beatriz
• Bragos Bardia, Ramon
• Calviño Tavares, Francisco
• Cardona Torradeflot, Genis
• Casañ Guerrero, Maria Jose
• Garcia Carrillo, Agueda
• Gomez Urgelles, Joan Vicenç
• Jimenez Gonzalez, Daniel
• Llorens Garcia, Ariadna
• Lopez Alvarez, David
• Martinez de Osés, Xavier
• Mayol Sarroca, Enric
• Olmedo Torre, Noelia
• Peña Carrera, Marta
• Salan Ballesteros, M. Núria
• Vidal Lopez, Eva

• Alsina Aubach, Montserrat
• Cabre Garcia, Jose M.
• Carrió Llach, Maria Mar
• Estela Carbonell, M. Rosa
• Franquesa Sanchez, Jordi
• Hernandez Fernandez, Antoni
• Martin Escofet, Carme
• Martinez Garcia, Herminio
• Martinez Sanchez, Joan
• Perez Poch, Antoni
• Pretel Sanchez, Maria del Carmen
• Puigvi Burniol, Maria Angeles
• Reig Puig, Lourdes
• Sureda Carbonell, Barbara
• Valero Garcia, Miguel