The self-evaluation

Self-evaluation

• Max 30 pages
• In English
• Should be understandable without referring to appendices

Report content

Profile of the department

• A description of the department’s recent history and organizational development (preferably during approx. five years)
• A description of the department’s assignment portfolio, including a description of the assignments of Faculty and research staff
• A description of how the department chose to follow-up on the last research evaluation
• A description of the department’s overall research profile
• A description of each of the department’s groups, sections and centres, which should include:

1. the scientific field
2. an assessment of strengths
3. an assessment of areas of potential future development
4. key challenges and opportunities for development in the scientific field in the next decade
5. research plan (in brief)
6. special factors that should be noted

PhD school (max 3 pages) 

According to the Danish University Act, all Danish universities are required to evaluate their PhD Schools. Because of this legal requirement, the department’s self-evaluation report and the final evaluation results concerning the PhD School are public and not confidential (see Annex G for further explanation of PhD education). 

Please include the following sentences: “According to the PhD Act issued by the Ministry the PhD education in Denmark is rated at 180 ECTS points equivalent to 3 years of full time study. Nearly all PhD students are employed by the university. “

Evaluation criteria 

The self-evaluation of the departments PhD Schools are organized around three main parts: 

1. PhD graduates and outcomes
2. PhD educational processes 
3. PhD School development

Themes and guiding questions are provided below each of the three parts. 

Please describe the following areas related to the PhD School: 

PhD graduates and outcomes

Statistics

Please comment on the data provided (Annexes A and C) 

Quality of outcomes

• Evaluate the quality of the students’ theses, publications, conference contributions and other dissemination activities, as well as international awards obtained by students.

Recruitment of PhD students

• How does the PhD School ensure recruitment of the best-qualified candidates (announcement platforms/methods of PhD positions, specific tools applied during the recruitment process, etc.)? What are current challenges in improving this?
• What is the diversity of the recruited PhD students? (Gender balance, percentage of international/national recruiting, and internal/external recruiting). How does this affect the quality of the training environment?

Participation in research environments

Please evaluate how:
• the PhD School and supervisors ensure that PhD students are integrated in relevant research groups both within the department, DTU, nationally and internationally
• the PhD school ensures that all PhD students obtain international experience and complete the requirements of the external research stay.

PhD educational processes 
PhD supervision

Please evaluate how:
• the PhD School works with PhD supervisor competence development (specific competence development activities, description of supervision responsibilities, etc.)
• the PhD School ensures an evaluation of the PhD supervisors and the quality of supervision
• the PhD School ensures a match of expectations between the supervisor and the PhD student
• the PhD school supports a positive working environment for PhD students.

Quality assurance during the PhD programme and matching of expectations

Please evaluate how:
• the PhD School ensures that PhD students are aware of the requirements of the PhD programme (framework of the programme, supervision, work/life balance, good scientific practice, etc.) 
• the half-year reports and study plans ensure the quality of the PhD programme.

PhD School development

Please provide an overview of the PhD School’s plans for developing and supporting the quality of the PhD training and supervision quality.

Facilities

A description of the research facilities at the department which are regarded as outstanding by international standards . The description should reflect thoughts on: 

1. Facilities standard compared to state of the arts
2. Remaining lifetime of the facility
3. The expert user support of the facility
4. Accessibility for users  
5. Degree of use today and future possibilities

Conclusion

A coherent conclusion, including the department’s summary of its development plan and research strategy (UMV)
A brief analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) at department level

Annexes

Annexes with more detailed information on the department are to include:

1. Activity chart from the department’s Annual report 2018
2. Department’s finances
3. Overview of sections
4. Bibliometric analysis
5. CV's
6. Organisation of PhD studies at DTU
7. DTU in profile
8. Optional appendixes from the department – in moderation
9. Programme for the site visit
10. Map of campus sites

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