Article 1
General Principles-Legal and Institutional framework
The Doctoral Studies of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Western Macedonia aim to promote Knowledge through original scientific research and lead to the acquisition of a Doctoral Degree. The Doctorate Diploma is an academic title, which certifies the preparation of original scientific research and the essential contribution of the holder to the development of science and knowledge in the respective scientific field.
The implementation of the Regulation is one of the necessary conditions for the smooth development and successful completion of a high-level doctoral research project. This Regulation reflects the structure and operating rules of the Doctoral Studies Program of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Western Macedonia, as established by the decision of the Department's Assembly (number /xx-x-2023).
The Doctoral Studies Program (P.D.S.) of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is organized and operates in accordance with the provisions of Law 4957/2022, the relevant provisions and decisions in force and the Regulation of Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Programs of U.O.W.M.(Government Gazette 4827 t. B΄/01-08-2023)
Article 2
Doctoral Studies Program
The Department provides P.D.S. in the English language.
The Ph.D. program includes a structured curriculum of courses and other educational and research activities, with learning outcomes specified at the program level. Completing the Ph.D. program requires 180 ECTS credits, distributed across the following activities:
Specifically, the required 24 ECTS credits can be earned from the following activities:
* The two (2) publications in international scientific journals, belonging to one of the Q1, Q2 or Q3 categories of SCIMAGO (SCOPUS), will only be accepted if:
a. The Ph.D. candidate is the first author.
b. The supervising professor is listed as a co-author.
c. The number of participants in the publication does not exceed five (5) people.
c1. In the event that the number of participants in the publication exceeds five (5) people, the PhD student should be the first name in at least four (4) publications, where the supervisor/supervising professor will also be found, with a topic originating from the D.D. in a prestigious, international journal belonging to one of SCIMAGO's Q1, Q2 or Q3 categories (SCOPUS).
d. The two (2) published scientific articles do not belong to the bibliographic review category ( survey / review articles ).
The organized P.D.S. with learning results and credit points concerns the Y.D. which will be registered in it after the approval and publication in the Government Gazette of this regulation.
Right to apply
Right to submit an application for the preparation of a D.D. in the P.D.S. have those who meet the following conditions:
2) They are holders of M.D.E. which has been granted by a Higher Educational Institution (HEI) of the country or abroad, or a graduate of an undergraduate study program (P.P.S.) of an HEI. for a minimum duration of five years corresponding to three hundred (300) credits of the European System of Transfer and Accumulation of Academic Credits ( ECTS ).
3) They hold a certification of good knowledge of the English language at B2 level.
4) In the case of graduates from P.P.S. FOREVER. for a minimum duration of five years corresponding to three hundred (300) credits of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ( ECTS ), the graduation grade must be at least six and a half (6.5) on the 0-10 scale. Alternatively, candidates in this category must (a) be documented to be in the top 50% of the degree ranking among graduates in the same year of enrollment in their Department of graduation, or (b) have at least one publication in subject related to the subject of the D.D., in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal or announcement at an international peer-reviewed scientific conference.
5) In the remaining cases, the weighted average of the graduation grade from the P.P.S. FOREVER. and the degree of M.D.E. must be at least a six and a half (6.5) on a scale of 0-10. The weighted average is calculated as follows:
where EP is the minimum number of semesters of study at the P.P.S., BP is the graduation grade from the P.P.S., EM is the minimum number of semesters of study at the M.D.E. curriculum. and BM is the degree of graduation from the study program of the M.D.E. Alternatively, the candidates of this category must (a) be documented in the upper 50% of the ranking based on the grade of the M.D.E. between of the graduates with the same year of enrollment in the M.D.E. curriculum, or (b) have at least one publication in a related subject to the subject of the D.D., in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal or an announcement in an international scientific journal conference with judges.
The selection of Y.D. is carried out by decision of the Assembly of the Department.
Candidate selection procedure
The application is accompanied by a detailed CV of the candidate, as well as the following documents/justifications:
1) Detailed CV. 2) Degrees. 3) Certificates of parity and correspondence from D.O.A.T.A.P., where required. 4) Certificate of Analytical Score of undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies. 5) Proof of knowledge of foreign languages, including proof of good knowledge of the English language at level B2. 6) At least two letters of recommendation. 7) Two-page proposal for preparing D.D. The proposal includes the title of the thesis, a general presentation of the research object and a representative bibliography. 8) Any other element that contributes to a more complete evaluation of the candidates (e.g. evidence of research activity, distinctions, evidence of previous service, etc. ).
The Assembly of the Department, after taking into account the submitted applications, categorizes them based on the relevance of the research object and appoints three-member committees per application category, consisting of D.E.P. Members. of the Department. The committees examine all the documents submitted with the application and invite the candidate to an interview. Subsequently, the committees draw up a detailed memorandum, in which the reasons why each candidate meets or does not meet the conditions in order to be accepted are written and they submit it to the Assembly. If the candidate does not propose a supervising professor in his/her application , the competent committee undertakes to propose the appropriate one and submits it for approval by the Assembly.
The Department Assembly considers the committee's memorandum with the opinion of the proposed supervisor and approves or rejects the candidate's application with reasons.
In the same decision, the conditions may be defined, such as the parallel attendance of courses, obligations related to scientific research, etc.
Publication of admissions
After the appointment by the Department's Assembly of the Three-member Advisory Committee, the names of the Directors are posted on the Department's website. and the members of the Three-member Advisory Committee, the title and a brief summary of the D.D. Also, all the titles of the publications of the Department are posted on the website of the Department. in scientific journals and conferences throughout the D.D. his her.
Language of Doctoral Dissertation
The writing language of D.D. is English, which the PhD Student is certified to know.
Change title/subject
Change of the title/knowledge object of the D.D. can be done after a documented recommendation of the Three-member Advisory Committee and approval by the Department's Assembly.
Time duration of preparing a Doctoral Dissertation
The duration for the preparation of the D.D. may not be less than three (3) full calendar years from the date of appointment of the Three-member Advisory Committee. As the maximum duration of completion of the D.D. six (6) calendar years are defined.
Obligations and rights of doctoral candidates/ρισσών
During the preparation of the D.D. and before its support, Y.D. have the following obligations:
1) To cooperate with the supervisor and the members of the Three-Member Advisory Committee to support the preparation of their D.D. .
2) To submit in writing a detailed memorandum of progress of the D.D. them on an annual basis to the Three-member Advisory Committee and to present orally its progress.
3) To provide auxiliary teaching work according to the needs of the First and Second Cycle Programs of the Department, upon the suggestion of the supervisor , as well as auxiliary administrative work in the Department, e.g. surveillances.
4) Submit to the Secretariat before the start of the D.D. support process. a responsible statement that their work has been prepared by them and does not contain elements of plagiarism.
5) To respect and abide by the decisions of the bodies of the Department and the P.D.M.
The non-compliance with all of the above without a serious and documented justification, as well as a) the violation of the written provisions regarding the treatment of disciplinary offenses by the competent disciplinary bodies and b) offenses that fall under the law on intellectual property (law 2121/1993) during the writing of the D.D., they constitute grounds for deleting the D.D. from the Third Cycle of Studies.
During the preparation of the D.D. and before its support , PhD candidates have the rights of P.M.S students and any other right defined by the Doctoral Studies Regulations . The Y.D. may participate in research projects/programmes of A.E.I. and receive scholarships in the context of co-financed, self-financed or other projects/programs for the financial support of their doctoral research.
Article 10
Award of scholarships/reciprocal scholarships - Criteria
The University of Western Macedonia (P.D.M.) may provide scholarships to Y.D. with criteria of excellence and the purpose of rewarding them, as well as remunerative scholarships for project provision or for participation in research and development projects.
The scholarships can be covered either by the reserves of the Special Research Funds Account or by resources of self-financed programs of the P.D.M., or by funding of research and/or development programs (which are financed by private, international and own resources of article 230 of Law 4957/2022, as well as co-financed projects of the Corporate Agreement for the Development Framework (E.S.P.A.), either from sponsorships, or from donations of legal and natural persons, or from resources of the Departments.
After an invitation, Y.D. who meet the terms and conditions, submit an application with the necessary supporting documents for the grant of a scholarship.
Depending on the funding source of the scholarships, the bodies responsible for the scholarship selection process are defined (e.g. Special Research Funds Account (SRA), Departmental Assembly, etc.).
a) Excellence Scholarships
The selection criteria for the Excellence Scholarships are:
b) Reciprocal scholarships
The academic scholar must:
In the event that behavior incompatible with the status of an academic scholarship is found, the relevant bodies immediately terminate the scholarship.
Administration process
The scholarship is paid in installments to the beneficiary, after a written confirmation stating the exact number of hours of attendance.
The certificate is signed by the Dean of the School or the President of the Department where the scholarship holder is studying and sealed by the Secretariat of the School or Department.
Selection criteria for return scholarships:
The maximum amount of remunerative scholarships amounts to €650 for 80 hours.
By decision of the Department's Assembly, assistant teaching staff may be assigned an hourly remuneration in First and Second Cycle Study Programs.
Auxiliary teaching work is defined as assisting the Members of the Teaching Research Staff (D.E.P.) in carrying out their teaching work, conducting tutorials, laboratory exercises, supervising exams and correcting exercises.
The upper limit of hourly remuneration, which is borne exclusively by private, own and international resources of the Foundation, is €8.12/hour.
Article 11
Procedure for assigning an auxiliary teaching project to PhD candidates/ reses of the U.O.W.M.and hourly wage cap
Οι Υ.Δ. συμμετέχουν στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία με την παροχή επικουρικού έργου, υποστηρίζοντας φοιτητές/τριες του Π.Π.Σ. και των Π.Μ.Σ. του Τμήματος, ειδικότερα:
The supervision of the examinations of each examination period according to the program drawn up by the Assembly of the Department is mandatory. Y.D. is obliged to be informed on his/her own responsibility about the supervision program by the Department Secretariat in each examination period. In the event of an obstacle, he must find a replacement and inform the responsible member of the D.E.P. for the name of his/her replacement.
By decision of the Senate it is possible to be paid up to three Y.D. per Department for the auxiliary work they provide with remunerative scholarships. The auxiliary project with compensation is announced by the Department and the selection of the Y.D. who provide it is done by decision of the Department's Assembly. The criteria on the basis of which the candidates will be selected are stated in the announcement. The criteria are decided by the Assembly and must be academic or social. The announcement is made by the Assembly of the Department. The names of the Y.D. that provide auxiliary work are listed in the Course Schedule. In the event that the auxiliary teaching project has been decided by the Department that it will be provided through a remunerative scholarship, the remuneration and the maximum employment limit of the PhDs/ Rissas for this project is set at 12 euros per hour and 20 hours per week respectively.
In any case, this overall employment must not, under the responsibility of the supervising professor , distract the candidates from their basic obligations.
Article 12
Conditions for the possibility of suspension and resumption of studies
By decision of the Assembly of the Department, the maximum duration of preparation of the D.D. may be extended, at the request of the D.D. and with the consent of the three-member advisory committee for an important reason. The maximum duration of the extension is set at three (3) years, upon justification.
Y.D. may, as long as he has not exceeded the maximum duration of studies, request, with a sufficiently justified application, suspension of studies for up to two (2) years in total.
Supervision of doctoral theses
Right to supervise D.D. they have:
a) The members of D.E.P. first grade, deputy and assistant of the relevant or other A.E.I.
b) Level A, B or C researchers from research centers of Article 13A of Law 4310/2014 and the provisions of Article 39.1 of Law 4485/2017, including the research centers of the Academy of Athens and the Medical Biological Research Foundation of Academy of Athens.
c) Emeritus Professors and retired members of the D.E.P.
In any case, a PhD is required. Each member of D.E.P. may supervise a total of ten (10) DDs, either with supervision or with co-supervision . In the case of co-supervision , a Special Cooperation Protocol is drawn up between the cooperating Departments.
Three-member Advisory Committee
a) The Assembly of the Department entrusts the proposed supervisor with the supervision of the D.D. and appoints a three-member Advisory Committee, which is responsible for framing and supporting the preparation and writing of the D.D.
b) The members of the Three-member Advisory Committee have either the same or a related subject, or the same or a related scientific project with the D.D. to be prepared. The supervisor and the members of the Three-Member Advisory Committee are not entitled to remuneration or other compensation for supporting the preparation of the D.D.
c) The members of the Three-member Advisory Committee may, in accordance with article 94, par. 1 of Law 4957/2022, be members of D.E.P. of each level of the Department or other Departments of the same or another A.E.I., Emeritus Professors and retired members of the Faculty of Education, members of Teaching Research Staff at Higher Military Educational Institutions and Higher Ecclesiastical Academies, or Professors of institutions recognized as cognate abroad who hold a doctoral degree, researchers of grades A, B or C from research centers of article 94.1 of Law 4957 /2022, including the research centers of the Academy of Athens and the Medical Biological Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, as well as the scientific staff of the Hellenic Geological and Mineral Research Authority (E.A.G.M.E.) of article 25 of Law 4602 /2019 (A' 45), as long as he has a doctoral degree and research activity relevant to the subject of the D.D., or from recognized research centers or institutes abroad and have the same or related subject matter as the D.D. in question.
d) At least one (1) D.E.P. member participates in the Three-Member Advisory Committee. from the first three levels of the relevant Department. The number of non-serving D.E.P. Members who participate as members in the three-member advisory committee may not exceed one (1).
Replacement of supervisor or members of the Three-Member Advisory Committee
Evaluation – Awarding of the doctoral degree
The Assembly of the Department, after examining the written positive recommendation of the Three-Member Advisory Committee, by its decision appoints a Seven-Member Examining Committee for the judgment and evaluation of the D.D. The members of the Three-member Advisory Committee and four (4) more members, who are designated by the relevant Law and have a documented research project, as evidenced by published works on the SCOPUS database, in the subject of the D. D. First and second degree relatives of Y.D. they cannot be members of the Seven-member Committee. At least four (4) of the seven (7) members of the Examining Committee must be Members of the D.E.P. of the University of Western Macedonia. Up to two (2) D.E.P. Members may participate in the seven-member committee. from abroad, who may be members of the Three-member Advisory Committee.
Article 15
Proclamation of Ph.Ds
The Assembly announces and acknowledges Y.D. at a public Meeting of the Department, in the presence of the Director The President of the Department brings to the attention of the Board the Minutes certifying the successful completion of the oral presentation and evaluation process of the D.D. and the announcement and confirmation of the candidate follows. The Rector or the Vice-Rector is present at the Meeting, while the Dean may also be present.
The announcement and recognition ceremony and the type of Doctoral Degree of the Doctor follow the Standards of relevant Decisions of the Senate of the University of Western Macedonia.
Y.D. before his/her announcement and recognition by the Department Assembly, he/she may request the granting of a Certificate of Successful Completion.
The Doctor is granted a Copy of Doctoral Diploma. The Doctoral Diploma (membrane), is signed by the Rector, the President and the Head of the Department's Secretariat and bears the seal of the University of Western Macedonia.
Article 16
Reasons for Deletion
The Assembly of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, after a recommendation by the Three-member Advisory Committee, can decide to delete a Doctoral Candidate. The reasons for deletion are documented in the decision.
In particular, insufficient progress of the PhD candidate is documented with at least two (2) negative Progress Reports. Failure to submit a progress report is tantamount to a negative recommendation.
The doctoral candidate is removed automatically upon his/her request.
EN 
EL