GENERAL INFORMATION

As described in the Training Activities section, two of the optional activities included in the Doctoral Programme involve mobility: attendance and participation in international conferences, symposia, colloquia or workshops, as well as research stays at national or international research institutions in research groups whose areas of expertise are closely related to the topic of the doctoral candidate’s doctoral thesis.

With regard to research stays, Royal Decree 99/2011 addresses, among other aspects, the duration of the stay required to obtain the International Doctorate distinction [Article 15.1(a)]. It states that “during the training period required to obtain the doctoral degree, the doctoral candidate must have completed a minimum stay of three months outside Spain at a prestigious higher education institution or research centre, undertaking studies or research activities.”

SUPERVISION AND MOBILITY CRITERIA

Research stays at other research institutions must be endorsed in advance by the thesis supervisor and authorised by the Academic Committee. The Academic Committee is responsible for approving research stays following an assessment of the information submitted by the doctoral candidate (host institution, duration, rationale for the stay, activities to be undertaken, supervisors at the host institution, etc.), which must be endorsed by both the thesis supervisor and the academic tutor. This procedure is duly recorded in the minutes of the Academic Committee meetings.

Upon completion of the stay, the doctoral candidate must submit a report on the research stay to the Academic Committee, documenting the achievement of the proposed objectives, for approval by the Committee. The stay must also be recorded in RAPI so that it is appropriately recognised as a training activity.

MOBILITY ACTIONS

Since doctoral programmes do not have their own dedicated funding to cover the costs associated with these activities, funding for such activities may be obtained through grants provided by the event organisers, predoctoral fellowship and employment programmes, or, subject to availability, through the internal funds of the doctoral candidate’s research team or host research group. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid also provides its own mobility opportunities and funding schemes.

In this regard, both the Academic Committee and the academic tutors, thesis supervisors and other teaching and research staff (PDI) involved in the Doctoral Programme are aware of the need to disseminate calls for applications for research-stay funding as effectively as possible. Information concerning mobility opportunities for doctoral candidates is therefore available through the following links:

•  Doctoral School: https://edoctorado.ucm.es/movilidad
•  Faculty of Chemical Sciences: https://quimicas.ucm.es/intercambio-y-movilidad
•  Research Office: https://www.ucm.es/informacion-contratos-predoctorales-investigacion
•  UCM International: https://www.ucm.es/movilidad-mobility

The following are some of the initiatives implemented to support and ensure the development of mobility programmes for doctoral candidates enrolled in the Doctoral Programme:

•  UCM offices and services supporting the development of mobility programmes and initiatives, either through the UCM International Relations Office or through the EDUCM mobility webpage.
•  Calls for applications under the UCM INTERNATIONAL ERASMUS PROJECT (Erasmus+ Programme | UCM), which enable Erasmus+ doctoral candidates to undertake research activities.
•  Erasmus+ Traineeships (information provided by the International Relations Office).
•  Calls for Grants for Conference Participation and Mobility of UCM Doctoral Candidates, administered through the EDUCM.
•  Grants for short research stays in Spain and abroad for recipients of UCM, FPU or FPI funding, which have been awarded to several doctoral candidates enrolled in our Doctoral Programme.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF MOBILITY PROGRAMMES

Mobility programmes are subject to monitoring and evaluation by the Committee for the Evaluation and Quality Improvement of Doctoral Degrees and by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Programme.

The Committee for the Evaluation and Quality Improvement of Doctoral Degrees (through the Academic Committees of the respective doctoral degrees) conducts an annual monitoring and evaluation process aimed at ensuring continuous improvement. The following indicators are used for this purpose:

•  Individual reports/questionnaires are requested from doctoral candidates participating in mobility programmes. These assess the following parameters: (a) the extent to which the activity undertaken corresponds to the opportunities and activities envisaged by the programme; (b) the level of satisfaction of doctoral candidates participating in incoming and outgoing mobility; and (c) the level of satisfaction with the programme’s management of the mobility activity.
•  Reports are requested from the coordinators or persons responsible for mobility programmes, addressing the following parameters: (a) the effectiveness rate of the mobility programmes (ratio of places offered to places filled); (b) the exchange rate with partner universities (ratio of incoming to outgoing students); (c) the degree of fulfilment of the activities planned under the mobility programmes; and (d) proposals for improving the activities implemented within the mobility programmes.

The Committee for the Evaluation and Quality Improvement of Master's and Doctoral Degrees periodically assesses and analyses all this information and formulates proposals for revision and improvement. These proposals are submitted to the Quality Committee, which, following its review, forwards them to the Faculty Board, which adopts the measures necessary for their implementation. The overall objective is to achieve continuous improvement in the quality of the mobility programmes.