Responsibilities of the doctoral student, dissertation supervisor and follow-up group

Progressing with dissertation research and doctoral studies

• Register as attending or non-attending for each academic year.
• Progress with dissertation research and doctoral studies according to the plan and timetable agreed upon with the supervisors.
• Adhere to the principles of research integrity and open science, as well as the University of Jyväskylä’s guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence, the principles of publishing, research data management practices and ethical guidelines for studying.
• Participate responsibly in teaching and other learning activities included in the doctoral study plan. This includes, for example, ensuring that a course is appropriate for the current stage of doctoral studies and cancelling registration in good time if participation becomes impossible.
• Whenever possible, participate in national and international conferences, seminars and workshops in the relevant field, both at the University of Jyväskylä and elsewhere, and present personal research findings at these events.
• Complete the doctoral degree within 3–4 years if studying full-time, or within an equivalent period if studying part-time.

Keeping dissertation supervisors informed of progress

• Arrange and attend supervision meetings, submit agreed materials to supervisors in advance for review and take received feedback into account.
• Update the research plan and doctoral study plan with the supervisors when necessary.
• Submit articles intended for inclusion in an article-based dissertation to supervisors for review before they are sent to a publisher or submit sections of a monograph dissertation for review as agreed with the supervisors.
• Submit the dissertation manuscript to supervisors for review well in advance of the preliminary examination process.
• Discuss funding plans with supervisors and actively apply for funding from suitable sources.
• Inform supervisors of any challenges related to the implementation of the research plan or doctoral study plan.

Providing information on the progress of dissertation research and doctoral studies

• Create and annually update and submit the supervision document for confirmation by the supervisor-in-charge and update it whenever necessary.
• Convene follow-up group meetings, document them in the supervision document, prepare for the meetings and report to the doctoral programme where required by programme-specific instructions.
• Report publication information to the Open Science Centre.
• Create a project proposal in the Converis research information system when applying for a personal grant.
• Record research activities in the Converis research information system.

Supervising dissertation research and doctoral studies

• Meet the doctoral student regularly or provide supervision through other agreed means, review agreed materials and provide feedback.
• Guide dissertation research in a way that enables the doctoral student to complete a dissertation that fulfils the University's requirements and doctoral degree within the planned schedule.
• Ensure compliance with Adhere to the principles of research integrity and open science, as well as the University of Jyväskylä’s guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence, the principles of publishing, research data management practices and ethical guidelines for studying.
• Encourage initiative, responsibility and independent scholarly work.
• Ensure that the doctoral student’s own scientific contribution constitutes a sufficient part of the dissertation.
• Support the preparation and updating of the research plan and doctoral study plan.
• Ensure that articles included in an article-based dissertation are of publishable quality before submission to a publisher, or review sections of a monograph dissertation as agreed with the doctoral researcher.
• Whenever possible, participate in events where the doctoral student’s work is discussed and support preparation for such events.
• Follow good supervisory practices when providing feedback and assessing progress by ensuring that feedback is professional, constructive and encouraging.

Monitoring and supporting progress

• Regularly monitor and support progress during supervision meetings.
• Ensure that the supervision document is prepared and kept up to date.
• Assess whether doctoral studies and dissertation research are progressing sufficiently and, based on this assessment, approve the supervision document or initiate the process for deactivating the right to pursue doctoral studies.
• Participate in  follow-up group meetings when invited.
• Support the preparation and updating of a funding plan, provide guidance on funding applications and, where necessary, provide recommendations and statements.
• Where possible, take the funding needs of doctoral students into account in research funding proposals.

Supporting career planning and networking

• Discuss career plans and postdoctoral career opportunities during supervision meetings and follow-up group meetings.
• Encourage participation in events that support career planning and career development.
• Encourage the development of peer-support networks.
• Support integration into national and international research communities.

Maintaining and developing supervisory competence

• Familiarise yourself with the Guide for Dissertation Supervisors.
• Become acquainted with key doctoral education guidelines, including the Graduate School’s practices, the principles of high-quality supervision and guidance, the implementation plan for supervision and guidance and dissertation requirements.
• Follow communications intended for supervisors, such as the dissertation supervisors' Teams channel, and participate in events organised for supervisors.
• Continue to develop supervisory competence, when necessary, for example through staff training or self-study materials intended for supervisors.

Preventing and addressing challenges in supervision

• Ensure that regular supervision meetings and follow-up group meetings take place and promote an atmosphere of open discussion.
• Discuss issues related to well-being, work ability and study ability with the doctoral student where appropriate.
• Address any obstacles or challenges affecting the progress of dissertation research and studies when necessary.
• Raise potential needs for changes in supervisory arrangements or the composition of the follow-up group in good time, for example when approaching retirement.

The responsibilities described above apply to all University of Jyväskylä dissertation supervisors throughout the doctoral studies. In addition, the supervisor-in-charge has other responsibilities during the admission phase, the dissertation examination process and in situations that do not concern all doctoral students, such as the employment of a doctoral researcher, cross-faculty supervision, cotutelle agreements and the deactivation of the right to pursue doctoral studies. These responsibilities are described in the Guide for Dissertation Supervisors.

• Monitoring and supporting the progress of the doctoral student’s dissertation research and studies. 
• Supporting the doctoral student’s career planning and discussing postdoctoral employment opportunities. 
• Supporting the doctoral student’s wellbeing in their work and studies. 
• Informing the specialisation representative of any conflicts related to dissertation supervision. 
• Expressing an opinion on the progress of the doctoral student’s studies and research when the dissertation’s supervisor-in-charge has proposed deactivation of the doctoral study rights.