Orientation day for doctoral candidates (1cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

After successful completion of this course, the doctoral researcher will be able to:
- interpret how to get started successfully with the research project in her/his particular situation
- perceive key characteristics, expectations and stakeholders in the system of carrying out doctoral studies at the University of Lapland.

Execution methods

The doctoral researcher participates actively in the discussion, including a brief pre-task on Moodle. After the orientation day the doctoral researcher updates her/his doctoral study plan and gets an approval for the plan from the supervisor, autonomously informing the course organiser about the approval. Reading literature referred to is voluntary yet recommended, but it will be beneficial for the doctoral researcher before the orientation day and also later.

Accomplishment methods

Active participation in the orientation, (voluntary) reading of literature, updated doctoral study plan (in English: ulapland.fi/dsp, in Finnish: ulapland.fi/jops) approved by the doctoral researcher’s supervisor.

Content

The orientation day is designed to provide an overview of the core issues of becoming a doctoral researcher. Doctoral researchers from all fields can benefit from the orientation as it encourages the participants to think about realistic ways of conducting and making progress in doctoral studies, to perceive what belonging to the research community at the University of Lapland means, and to become connected with key stakeholders.

Materials

Literature (voluntary):

Dunleavy, Patrick. 2003. Authoring a PhD. How to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation. London: Palgrave.

Kiriakos, Carol; Svinhufvud, Kimmo. 2015. Tohtoritakuu: Kirjoittamisen opas jatko-opiskelijalle ja tutkijalle. Helsinki: Art House.

Phillips, Estelle M.; Pugh, Derek S. 2015. How To Get a PhD: A Handbook for Students and
their Supervisors. Maidenhead, Berkshire: Open University Press.

Stubb, Jenni. 2012. Becoming a scholar: The dynamic interaction between the doctoral student and the scholarly community (Doctoral dissertation). University of Helsinki.

Vekkaila (née Tuomainen), Jenna. 2014. Doctoral student engagement – The dynamic interplay between students and scholarly communities. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Helsinki.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Pass/fail

Qualifications

The doctoral researcher must be enrolled in a doctoral programme (thematic or field-specific). The orientation is open to all new and newish doctoral researchers at the University of Lapland.

Further information

We have designed this online orientation flexibly to enable that you can take the orientation also in your own pace. How to take the orientation independently:

• First, make sure you have an ulapland username and password. If you don’t, please contact
Helpdesk to get them (helpdesk@ulapland.fi)
• Go to Moodle at https://moodle.eoppimispalvelut.fi/
• On Moodle, search for: Orientation for doctoral candidates, autumn 2021
• Enter the Moodle classroom with this key: orientation
• Study the information given in the slides and videos
• Kindly also give feedback (available at the bottom of the course page)
• Update your doctoral study plan and send it to your supervisor for approval
• Send the approval of your doctoral study plan to the course organiser
• You will be granted 1 study credit for TUKO1243 Orientation day for doctoral candidates. This
course will be part of the 20-credit block Philosophy of research and researcher’s skills in
your degree.