Student engagement

International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste (Italy)

Developing knowledge

A dynamic international research environment

performing cutting-edge scientific researchwith an educational programme designedwith the aim of scientific capacity building

in developing countries.

ICGEB PhD Course: the Aims • Provides students with the means to

understand and pursue scientific research• Develops independent thought and criticalappraisal• Promotes personal responsibility and decision making

• Encourages collaboration and ability to work in a team environment

• Training for a scientific career

The core activity is experimental laboratory bench work

ICGED PhD Course: Records (Dec. 2014)

Total number of PhD awarded from 1988

167

Open University UK 60Scuola Normale Superiore , Pisa, Italy 24

SISSA Trieste, Italy 64University of Trieste, Italy 7

University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia 12University of Ferrara 0

PhD students on board 2014 41On ICGEB fellowships 27

On funding from external bodies 14

Total number of papers published429Papers/PhD student 2.7

First author papers148First author paper/PhD student 0.9

Student engagement Priority for the ICGEB educational

strategyA PhD course is promoting the

development of scientific thought and appraisal

inte

llect

ual

behavioral

emotional assessmentcultural

social

Enhanced learning of the student

publis

hPhD

th

esi

sOU

SISSA

UNG

experimentsresults

reproducibility

report

funds

ICGEB PhD Course: Management

Research Degree Committee (RDC)

PhD Course Committee

Student Representatives

• Selected by the students among 2nd-3rd year students

• The attend the PhD Course and RDC Committee meetings

• Term of office: 1 year re-eligible

• Runs the PhD course activities and holdsbi-annual meeting with the student representatives

• Oversees the PhD. Programme

• This committee comprise all 15 group leaders based at the Trieste Component

ICGEB PhD Course: student representatives

Role and Responsibilities• Identifying student needs and issues• Communicating information about student rights• Explaining rights to students and how they can

pursue a formal complaint• Raise issues that students encounter about PhD

course activities, access to equipment and facilities with the right person

• Attend internal meetings that have an impact on the PhD course and be prepared to represent the students’ best interest

• Provide inputs on the ICGEB Quality Assurance Process

• Report back to the PhD Course Committee any issue raised by the students.

ICGEB PhD Course: the structureResearch Activity

Training

3 years experimental bench work is the core activity of the ICGEB PhD Course

Introductory course1 week/8 hours of lectures per day complemented by recommended reading and further personalized tutorials according to project/student’s need, managed by the Supervisor

Scientific training activitiesParticipation in at least 24 seminars + 10 journal clubs + participation in 1 ICGEB course per year selected from the annual courses

Full supervised access to state-of-the-art facilities

ICGEB PhD Course:Guarantee Quality & Monitoring

Internal actions

We are Open to students:• Student representatives who report to the Ph.D

Committee and have a say at the Committee• Personal Tutors

We guarantee quality and monitoring processes:• Student feedback mechanisms• Questionnaire after introductory course• Appraisal forms after seminars and journal clubs

We provide sound scientific research training in a stimulating international environment with equal opportunities for personal development

Introductory course - feedback gathered from 12 students

Introductory course - feedback gathered from 12 students

JC and Seminar feedback forms

PhD course questionnaire - feedback gathered from 12 students

ICGEB PhD Course: supervisor and tutorEach student has: • 1 to 3 supervisors depending on the University

of registration

Keeping a line of communication open with supervisors avoids going into the wrong direction

• a tutor selected among ICGEB senior staff or experiences researchers by the student within 6 months from commencement

To support students and provide a dispassionate view if problems ariseCan be changed by the student if confidentiality is perceived as an issue

☞

☞

1st Year

Assessors: Two ICGEB staff members from outside the PhD student’s research group selected by the PhD course coordinator✏ Student submits a written report one week in advance (same format as submitted to OU for completion of Probationary Period)

- mini viva in September/October

2nd YearSame panel with emphasis in last 6 months and progress on any remedial action if requested

- follow up to mini viva in April/May

- PhD thesis introduction in July

3rd Year - Presentation at ICGEB Symposium in June (open to 2nd year students also)

- 1 hr presentation + mock viva in September (evaluation performed by 6 group leaders)*

Having regular appraisal and performance evaluation is essential

ICGEB PhD Course: appraisal and assessment

Cultural & social engagement

ICGEB PhD Students Geographical distribution

Member States (63)Signatory Countries (85)

41 on board

22 Europe14 Asia 2 Africa3 America

167 Ph.D. and 3 M.Phil. degrees awarded

114 Europe29 Asia 3 Africa24 America

ICGEB PhD Students by Gender

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

PhD on-board PhD graduated Total PhD students

Female

Male

PhD degree: years of registration

(167 degrees awarded from 1988 to date)

68%

15%

5%

11%

1%

Academia

Editorial

Industry

Left science

n/a

Yes

No

n/a

13%

10%

3%

55%

17%1%

1%

Academic PI

Company consultant

Company employee

Company manager

Post-doc/researcher

Scientific editor

n/a

In home country

Position held

Asia

Australia

Europe

North America

South America

n/a

Global distribution

Currently employed

Back to home country

What happens to our students

11%

5%

15%

1% 68%

55%

1%

17% 13%1%

3%

10%

29%

63%

8%

20%

65%

3%7% 4% 1%

Thank You

Prof. Francisco Baralle Dr. Lawrence BanksDr. Oscar Burrone

Ms. Barbara Argenti

ICGEB http://www.icgeb.org