WHAT IS A DTP?WHEN SHOULD IT BE WRITTEN?

WHAT IS IT USED FOR?HOW DO I WRITE IT?

Doctoral training plan clinic

A JOB WELL-PLANNED IS A JOB HALF DONE

What is a doctoral training plan?

The DTP is your personal roadmap

By definition, research is a journey into the unknown.

The planned route may, or not, need to be revised after each stage.

Define and plan each stage of the journey as well as it is possible to do so.

Explore the possibility of alternative routes (you may need to take them).

The DTP is a living document that needs continual updating.

Evaluate risks, but don’t waste time trying to predict the unpredictable !

Your DTP describes the most efficient way to get from the point of departure to your destination with the information and resources currently

available.

Content of the DTP

General information

You, the degree, overall schedule, supervision, follow-up and funding – updated whenever changes occur.

Career development plan

What do you want to do later? What are you doing, and planning to do, in order to achieve the goal ? – updated as the plans become clearer.

Research plan

Describes the doctoral research work to be undertaken– updated as the research progresses

Study plan

Complements the research and career development plans – updated every year

Progress reports

Describe the progress of the research and studies, and summarize the plans for the upcoming year. At the end of the training, the progress reports should reflect the final version of the plans - updated at least once every year.

The components of the DTP complement each other

The two most important elements of the DTP are: The research – it can help define and shape your career goals; Your career goals – they can influence the direction of the

research.

The study plan should: reinforce your research work and knowledge of the field; contribute to the development of the skills required for your career.

The progress reports: put the completed work in its correct context and, thus, keep track of the overall progress of the doctoral training relative

to the goals announced in the plan; help to identify and prioritize the tasks that remain to be done.

When should the DTP be written ?

The first version of the DTP should be written as early as possible during the training: at the latest, the first viable version must be submitted within one year after the start of the training.

It ensures that the researcher fully understands:

The idea behind the research;

The context and goals of the research;

The nature, scope and schedule of the work to be undertaken;

The approach and methods to be used to get the research moving towards the goals;

The importance of the work in the context of his/her career development.

What is the DTP used for ?

The DTP can be one of the most useful tools for keeping you and your training on track.

It is written for you, your supervisory team and your follow-up group.

The research plan section is a simplified version of an application for research funding from the Academy of Finland; simple editing of a well-written plan can rapidly make it suitable for other funding agencies.

Remember also: the acceptance of the DTP by UniOGS is not only an obligatory requirement for the doctoral degree, but it is also the principal condition for the salary level 1 – level 2 transition (+ 200 €/month).

Importance of the DTP

To make competitive applications for funding, you must be able to convince the funder that you have the best project that has the best chances of succeeding.

To get more funding from the same funder, you have to convince the funder that you have done exactly what you promised to do in the previous application (even if you didn’t reach all the goals).

The preparation of the DTP and the annual progress reports provides a perfect training opportunity for this – exploit it !!!!

In the real world, only the best plans producing the best results will get

funding.

Excellent projects are often rejected due to poor communication skills

How to write the DTP

Family name Sukunimi First name(s)

Etunimet

     Student numberOpiskelijanumero   E-mail 

Sähköposti  

         Date of submissionToimittamispäivä Version number

Version numero

This document has been read and approved by my Principal Supervisor (Yes/No): Yes

The front page

The template for the DTP can be found on the UniOGS web pages

Guidelines for what should be included in the plan can be found on the UniOGS web pages

Part I: General information

1. Doctoral training and degree / Tohtorikoulutus ja tutkinto

Doctoral Training Committee/ Tohtorikoulutustoimikunta  Faculty/ 

Tiedekunta   

Doctoral Programme/ Tohtoriohjelma 

Institute,  department/ 

Instituutti, laitos  

Doctoral degree/ Tohtorintutkinto 

Field, Major/ Oppiaine, Pääaine 

 

Study rights start date/ Opinto-oikeuden alkamispäivä 

Dissertation date/ Valmistuminen

 

Full-time or  or part-time/ Koko- vai osa-aikainen (%) 

Reason for part-time status/ Jos

osa-aikaisena, miksi? 

 

 

  Title/ Arvo Name/ NimiDepartment/Institution/University/Country 

(if not Finland)Laitos/instituutti/yliopisto/maa (jos ei Suomi)

Principal supervisor/ Pääohjaaja

   

E-mail Sähköposti  

Co-supervisors/Muut ohjaajat

   

   

Degree supervisor/ Tutkinnonvalvoja(if relevant/ jos on)

   

2. Supervision / Ohjaus

Part I: General information

Part I: General information

  Title/ Arvo Name/ Nimi Department/Institution/University/Country (if not Finland)Laitos/instituutti/yliopisto/maa (jos ei Suomi)

Chairperson/ Puheenjohtaja  

 

E-mail Sähköposti  

Other members/ Muut jäsenet

   

   

   

   

3. Doctoral training follow-up group / Seurantaryhmä

Part I: General information

1. Funding plan for studies / Opintojen rahoitussuunnitelma

a. Salary and grant / Palkka ja apuraha

Add more rows if required/suomeksi

Period Aika

Full-/part-time Koko-/ osa-aikainen

(%)

Type of funding (own grant/salary)/

Rahoituslähde (oma apuraha/palkka)

Source of funding/ Rahoittaja

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

b. Other costs related to your doctoral research project (services, consumables, travel …)/ Muut kustannukset

-- 

c. Comments about your funding / Lisätietoja rahoitukstasi

-- 

4

Part II: Career development plan

1. Career goals / Uratavoitteet--

2. Career development plan / Urakehityssuunnitelma--

Part III: Research plan

You may: Either use the template provided Or make your own document

In all cases, you should make sure that all relevant information is provided and is up to date.

Guidelines for what should be included in the plan can be found on the UniOGS web pages

Part IV: Study plan

The study plan is made in Oodi

Oodi-PSP / Oodi-HOPS

This should be the easiest part, because the study requirements have already been defined for you.

Unfortunately, it is the part where most of you will be very frustrated, confused and …

encounter problems;

No courses

Validity of course levels

Confusion over ”field-specific” & ”General & transferable skills”

A word about the annual reports

The report summarizes the story of your progress towards your goals.

The progress (main results of the research and milestones reached) and its significance to the announced goals should be clear without having to refer to documents.

It is not sufficient to write:

”Progressing according to plan”, or ”The results are published in…”.

The evaluator might be too ”busy” to search through your plan and publication, and he/she controls the access to the funds you need !!