Quality Assurance
SGIC Doctoral Programmes - Faculty of Chemical Sciences
The Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering adopts the Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) for Official Degrees of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (https://www.ucm.es/sigc-f-cc-quimicas).
Information about it and the procedures that guarantee the quality of the Doctoral Programmes can be found in the SGIC for Doctoral Programmes at the following link: https://quimicas.ucm.es/file/sigc-programas-de-doctorado.
The following link, corresponding to the PDIQ, https://quimicas.ucm.es/doctorado-en-ingenieria-quimica, provides the following information:
- The Operating Regulations of the Bodies Responsible for the SGIC, a document establishing the organizational structure, functions and operating rules of the bodies responsible for monitoring and improving the quality of the SGIC of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences.
- The Regulations of the Committee for the Evaluation and Improvement of the Quality of Doctoral Programmes, the highest body responsible for the quality of doctoral programmes, setting out its composition, functions and operating guidelines.
- The Assessment of the Level of Satisfaction of the Groups Involved, results of the surveys prepared annually by the UCM, which assess the satisfaction of Students, teaching and research staff (PDI), administration and services staff (PTGAS), External Agents and Graduates with the doctoral programme.
- The Annual Follow-up Reports, which constitute the information system that systematically collects and analyses all the data necessary to monitor and evaluate the quality of the doctoral programme and its development, and which includes: public information on the degree, organization and operation of the Academic Commission, analysis of academic staff, operation of the complaints and suggestions system, outcome indicators, analysis of the employment integration of doctors and their satisfaction with the training received, identification and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the doctoral degree, and improvement proposals.
- The Annual Quality Follow-up Reports, issued by the UCM, which record the degree of compliance with the quality objectives established in the doctoral programme.
- The Self-Assessment Reports for requesting Renewal of Accreditation, accountability documents on the management and quality outcomes of the doctoral programme, according to the criteria defined by the competent External Quality Agency.
The Final Reports issued by the External Quality Agency detailing its overall assessment of each quality criterion evaluated and the strengths and good practices highlighted.
The follow-up of graduated doctors will be carried out in accordance with the procedure regulated in the UCM's Quality Assurance System for Doctoral Programmes.
The Quality Commission (CC) (https://quimicas.ucm.es/comites-de-evaluacion-y-mejora-de-la-calidad-de-los-titulos-impartidos) is the competent body on quality matters. It is involved in drafting follow-up reports on the improvements proposed for the Degrees and in adopting resolutions regarding complaints and suggestions submitted.
In addition to the Quality Commission, there is a Committee for the Evaluation and Improvement of the Quality of Master's and Doctoral degrees, whose mission is to identify, analyse and propose to the Quality Commission solutions to problems and inefficiencies detected in the development of teaching activity.
- Composition of the Quality Commission
- Composition of the Committee for the Evaluation and Improvement of the Quality of Master's and Doctoral degrees
- Quality Assurance System of the Doctoral Programmes
Procedure for data collection through satisfaction surveys managed by the Complutense Office for Quality (OpC-UCM)
Three years after graduating, surveys promoted by the University's Rectorate, with the participation of the OpC-UCM, will be carried out to determine the level of employability of doctors, as well as their satisfaction with the training received in the Doctoral Programme. Information will be gathered from research groups, Universities, Professional Colleges and Associations, and any other public or private Organization in which UCM doctors are employed.
To monitor the employability of doctors, the Committee for the Evaluation and Improvement of the Quality of Doctoral degrees will gather information each academic year through questionnaires sent to the aforementioned organizations.
The Committee for the Evaluation and Improvement of the Quality of Doctoral degrees will periodically assess and analyse all this information and will issue proposals for reviewing and improving the Doctoral Programme to the Quality Commission, which, after detailed study, will present them to the Faculty Board, which will adopt the necessary measures for their implementation, with the aim of achieving continuous improvement in the training and employment integration of doctoral candidates.
Procedure for data collection through satisfaction surveys developed in-house by the Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering
Additionally, the PDIQ's Academic Commission monitors graduates individually, carrying out its own surveys through Google Forms. In general, the results of these surveys indicate that PDIQ graduates mostly find work easily after completing their PhD, in many cases in areas related to teaching or research, within universities or research centres, linked to their doctoral training. In general, they are very satisfied with the training received at the time of completing their Doctoral Studies. Employment integration rates over the last 4 academic years were 80% for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, and 100% for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years. Regarding the adequacy rate of employment integration, it was 88% in the 2020-21 academic year and 100% in the remaining academic years (https://www.ucm.es/doctorado/phd_chemengineering/phd-career-insertion).
"Life after the PhD" Seminars
Likewise, the Academic Commission of the Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering invites the longest-graduated alumni to take part in seminars organized by the Commission itself, such as "Life after the PhD", with great willingness to participate and share their professional experience as PDIQ graduates with current PDIQ students.
The Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering adopts the Internal Quality Assurance System of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Information about it and the procedures to guarantee the quality of the degrees taught at this Faculty and, in particular, of the doctoral programmes, can be found at the following link:
https://quimicas.ucm.es/sistema-de-garantia-interna-de-calidad
Specifically, the document referring to the Postgraduate Quality System for doctoral programmes can be found at:
https://quimicas.ucm.es/doctorado-en-ingenieria-quimica
Information on the RUCT, verification and follow-up processes
The Doctoral Programme (registered in the Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees, code 5601086) is subject to a verification system, involving the preparation of follow-up reports that are evaluated by a committee. This information is available on the website of the Internal Quality Assurance System of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences (RUCT link).
ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS IMPLEMENTED
Every year the CAPD (Academic Commission of the Doctoral Programme) analyses the information obtained from the surveys, in order to detect strengths and weaknesses and propose corresponding improvement actions.
- Additional surveys carried out by the CAPD in Chemical Engineering on aspects related to Admission to the Doctoral Programme, Research Plan, Activity Record, Human and Material Resources of the Doctoral Programme, Research Results, Self-assessment, Complaints and Suggestions.
- Training activities, organized both by the programme and by the EDUCM or the FGUCM, in various webinars.
- Promoting the participation of graduates in the satisfaction surveys carried out by the PDIQ and the organization of seminars where they present their annual activity ("Life after the PhD").
- Assistance in choosing the research centre for research stays.
- Updating information relating to theses with international mention, scholarship programmes, etc. on the Doctoral Programme website.
Improvement actions implemented year by year:
Complaints and suggestions
The Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, within the framework of its Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC), provides its university community (students, professors and administration and services staff) with a complaints, claims and suggestions service, aimed at improving the degrees taught at the Faculty. The submission of complaints and suggestions by interested parties is important for the development of a Quality Assurance System, since, in addition to serving as a reference framework for assessing the correct functioning of the SGIC, it provides decisive information for a process of continuous improvement.
- The receipt of suggestions and complaints at the Faculty is the responsibility of the Quality Commission, through the established procedure, which will also be responsible for their processing and response where applicable, in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.
- Once its actions have concluded, the Quality Commission will notify its conclusions and proposals, within three months of the complaint being admitted, to the Faculty Board, together with any suggestions or recommendations it considers appropriate for remedying, where applicable, the deficiencies observed.
- The Quality Commission will guarantee the confidentiality of complaints or claims submitted.
- The Quality Commission will notify the interested parties, through the channel they have indicated for this purpose, within a maximum period of four months from receipt of the suggestion or complaint, of the resolutions of the Faculty Board.
Complaints and claims system. Complaints or suggestions may be submitted individually or collectively, by presenting a form at the Faculty registry or by email (E-mail: secretaria.calidad@quim.ucm.es).