European Project Semester Programme description

The learning outcomes of the programme include knowledge at the forefront of research, complex skills, and a high level of general competence in the field of engineering science. This means that the working and teaching methods will be sufficiently varied and complex to support the student's learning process on the way to achieving the learning outcomes.

Training component

Lectures

The lectures will cover key topics in the courses and will disseminate current issues and new research findings.

Self-study

Achievement of the learning outcomes depends mainly on the degree to which the PhD student makes effective use of the instruction and supervision offered and accepts responsibility for working independently. Self-study entails student-initiated activities such as individual study and cooperation with fellow students. The starting point consists of theoretical and methodological issues and a knowledge base in engineering science.

Seminars

Organised group work requires students to discuss given research problems based on a topic covered in the course and on their respective academic backgrounds. This offers the students opportunities to reflect on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research problems. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions, providing students with training in both academic dissemination and peer review.

Practical application of methodology

Different methodologies are applied in practical exercises, such as research interviews, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and different types of software. This provides students with practical experience in addressing, for example, complex analyses.

Research component

Research work

The working methods for the thesis consist mostly of self-study and research activities. Selfstudy entails student-initiated activities such as individual study and cooperation with fellow students and researchers. Research activities involve planning and conducting the student¿s own research, processing the results, and designing the thesis. This part constitutes the most important contribution to the PhD student's research competence.

Supervision

Supervisors are appointed by the doctoral committee. The main supervisor shall have overall academic responsibility for the PhD student and shall normally be an employee of OsloMet or SimulaMet. As a general rule, the student shall also have a co-supervisor from OsloMet or from another institution. If an external main supervisor is appointed, an employee of OsloMet or SimulaMet shall be appointed as co-supervisor. Each PhD student is entitled to 210 hours of supervision, including preliminary and follow-up work during the course of the nominal length of study. A time schedule for tutorials and a work schedule must be agreed upon at the first tutorial in each semester. Supervision includes time spent on preparatory work, discussions with the PhD student, and follow-up work. Requirements regarding supervisors and rights and obligations are regulated in the PhD Regulations, sections 3-1 to 3-3. The PhD student and the supervisor(s) must independently submit annual progress reports for assessment and approval by the faculty's doctoral committee. Supervision of the thesis shall ensure that the project is in accordance with ethical guidelines and shall contribute to the design of research problems and the quality of the methods to be used.

Participation in research communities

The student¿s projects are linked to OsloMet¿s established research communities via the student¿s supervisors and the student¿s own involvement in research groups and other research activity. Active participation will provide students with insights into research management and experience in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research cooperation, and provide them with opportunities to discuss research problems and designs, challenge established knowledge and practice, and present their own projects. Students will have opportunities to establish and further develop cooperation with national and international research communities.

Research seminar and dissemination

Students must present their projects in seminars at the start of, midway, and near the end of the programme. This will take place at the faculty's regular research fellows forums. The midway presentation must ideally be conducted in English and be followed by a discussion on current progress between the PhD student, the supervisor(s), and the PhD Programme Director. Furthermore, students are encouraged to present their research at least once a year at an international academic conference. This gives students competence in participating in scientific discussions within their field of research in cooperation with national and international research communities. Students are also encouraged to disseminate their projects to broader audiences, such as giving lectures to users or through popular science channels.

Descriptions of the work and teaching methods for the individual courses are provided in the course plans.

The language of instruction in all the courses in the programme will be English, and all examinations, papers and projects will be conducted in English. Students are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester at a research institution outside Norway. Each student must prepare a plan for internationalisation as part of the application for admission to the programme.

Training

Together with the work on the thesis, the training component will provide the necessary academic breadth and specialisation. The content of the training component is worth 30 ECTS credits. When applying for substitution of an elective course, a specific template is used describing the content, level and scope in the same way as other course presentations on the faculty's website. The form of examination must be stated. The description of the syllabus must be approved by the doctoral committee before the examination is taken.

The faculty will only credit research courses and special syllabuses with a whole number of ECTS credits. For courses that do include compulsory coursework, this will consist of compulsory papers, oral presentations and practical exercises, depending on the chosen field of specialisation.

Assessment

Examination and grading systems

Assessment of examinations in the training component is conducted in accordance with the provisions regarding examinations and cheating in the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet; see the PhD Regulations, section 4-3. All examinations in the training component will be specified on the certificate.

The form of assessment for all courses is pass or fail. The reason for this is that all students should possess a sufficient level of knowledge, skills and general competence in their chosen modules to work well in cross-disciplinary cooperation. The forms of examination vary to allow for developing and testing different types of skills.

Written home exams enable students to write over some duration of time to mature their ideas and plan their work. Short written exams test students¿ ability to solve problems within a certain time limit. Oral exams serve to evaluate the students' ability to present and communicate their knowledge. Project work serves to assess how students are able to apply their knowledge, skills and general competence in a more complex context and to collaborate with fellow students and other partners. The written thesis followed by an oral presentation and defence gives the opportunity to assess the students ability to independently construct and present an engineering science project within a given time frame.

There is a progression in the forms of assessment, moving from structured assessment to more complex and individual assessment of the thesis. In some modules it is necessary to use several forms of assessment, such as both written and oral examinations.

The EPS semester is divided into two parts:

1. A multidisciplinary group project (20 ECTS) designed to develop students' initiative, project management skills, co-operation, communication skills, individual creativity and ability to apply their disciplinary knowledge in a broader context . Projects can be within the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design and/or in collaboration with external companies, partners and stakeholders.
2. Two Supporting Courses (Project Management and English and Academic Writing), which run throughout the semester, plus a series of guest lectures and workshops.

For more details, see course plans.

EPS project groups are composed of 3 to 5 students who work on a specific project for the duration of the semester.

In addition to the group project, students attend classes in Project Management English and Academic Writing, and specifically themed guest lectures. Teaching is a combination of lectures, seminars and individual and group assignments.

The forms of assessment used shall promote learning and document that the students¿ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcome.

A grading scale from A to E is used, where A denotes the highest grade, E denotes the lowest, and F denotes a fail. Grades are assigned according to the Assessment Criteria for Bachelor's Theses in Engineering set by the Norwegian Association for Higher Education Institutions.

Provisions governing examinations are laid down in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University. Please refer to OsloMet's website: www.oslomet.no

The purpose of the Quality Assurance System at OsloMet is to strengthen the student's learning outcome and development by increasing the quality throughout. OsloMet wants to cooperate with its students and their participation in the Quality Assurance System is crucial. Some of the overall goals of the Quality Assurance System are to ensure:

• the educational institution, including practical training, learning and study environment maintains a high standard
• relevance of the study programmes for the professional field
• continuous development and improvements in the quality of teaching and learning

Students will be required to complete an EPS Course Evaluation Form at the end of the semester.