Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The intended learning outcomes of the course are divided in three parts. After the course, the participant has

(i) Knowledge:

Sufficient knowledge of the opportunities to learn and experience during doctoral studies. Not only research but networking, communication, teaching, thesis advising, project management, innovation design, etc. Additionally, they have understanding of the scientific publishing process, quality of journals, roles, and responsibilities of authors and collaborators, and the quality assessment of research

(ii) Skills:

They can define the potential impact of their work and consider different audiences and avenues. Further, the participant has sufficient understanding and skills to design their short-term and long-term career plans, and advanced and systematic skills in scientific writing, reading, and note-making systems.

(iii) Attitudes:

An active career-planning approach – the participant understands how the doctoral degree will benefit their career and know what to consider in the degree work. They have resilience to the non-linear process of doctoral studies; proactive attitude to ask for advice, to collaborate, and to help others; and courage and knowledge to start working and to avoid procrastination. Further, they have a desire for problem-solving and learning through research, in a comprehensive and critical manner.

To complete the course, the participant must attend all the lectures and at least two flow of working sessions.

Credits: 3

Schedule: 25.04.2024 - 06.06.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Risto Lahdelma, Maija Taka

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation): Responsible teacher Maija Taka (maija.taka@aalto.fi)

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  This course aims to provide all the must-know information, tips and tricks you will need in the process of growing into an academic and a highly competent expert. The course is based on research on previous doctoral students, their supervisors, and on international benchmarks, and it is tailored to your needs.

  Every session has a key note talk followed by a session where you advance your own learning and thesis work with the support of the teachers and peers. The key themes are

  • Doctoral thesis process (your learning, official guidelines and alumni stories)
  • Research excellence (research plan, project management, research ethics and integrity)
  • Impact-making (how, where, for what? Entrepreneurial ways of working)
  • Career planning (understanding of the options and own identity, tools for concrete steps)
  • Scientific practices (e.g. reading, writing, data management)
  • Scientific communication (oral and written)
  • Scientific writing (flow and joy of writing, the best techniques for you)

• applies in this implementation

  Thursdays at 9:00-11:45	Topic	Key notes	Intended learning outcomes
  25.4.	Research project	Seppo Junnila (VD of research); A panel of final-stretch doctoral researchers	Resilience to the non-linear process of doctoral studies. A desire for problem-solving and learning through research, in a comprehensive and critical manner
  2.5.	Learning and motivation	Jani Romanoff (VD of education); Heidy Tiits-Tikkanen and Karoliina Pakkanen (Learning Services)	Time and self-management approach. Sufficient knowledge of the opportunities to learn and experience during doctoral studies. Research, networking, communication, teaching, thesis advising, project management, innovation design, etc.
  8.5.	Impact with research, entrepreneurial mindset	Antti Peltokorpi (VD of impact); Aalto Ventures Program team	Defining the potential impact of work and consider different audiences and avenues; proactive attitude for entrepreneurial ways of working and collaboration
  16.5.	Generative AI etc. recent tech developments in tools to support doctoral research; Tools to handle procrastination	Mashrura Musharraf (Assistant Professor in Marine Technology); Study psychologist	Understanding about the potential of AI tools in own research practices; active career planning approach; Understanding about procrastination and intrinsic motivation; Ability to analyze themselves and to apply different tools to avoid procrastination.
  23.5.	Scientific communication: oral and written	Miina Rautiainen (Associate Professor in Remote Sensing); Panel of researchers	Understanding of the scientific publishing process, quality of journals, roles, and responsibilities of authors and collaborators, and the quality assessment of research
  30.5.	Scientific practices: reading and writing	Maija	Advanced and systematic skills in scientific writing, reading, and note-making systems. Using a referencing system
  6.6.	Final seminar	Group work presentations

  
  

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• applies in this implementation

  The course grading (pass / fail) is based on 

  i) pre-assignment submissions

  ii) lecture attendance (please contact Maija if you cannot attend all the lectures)

  iii) small-group work

  
  

Workload

• applies in this implementation

  Task	Hours total (per week)
  Pre-assignment	24 (4)
  Weekly reading	12 (2)
  Lectures	18 (3)
  Flow of work session (min 2)	6 (3)
  Small-group work	18 (3)
  Feedback	3
  Total	81

  
  

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Teaching Language : English

  Enrollment: Registration for Course on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi). A limited number of students will be accepted to the course, with preference given to doctoral researchers in the Doctoral Programme in Engineering.

• applies in this implementation

  Lectures at 9:00-11:45 on
  

  Thu 25 April (Room Q101, Väre building)

  Thu 2 May (Room 1571, Kide building, Konemiehentie 1)

  Wed 8 May (Room 1571, Kide building, Konemiehentie 1)

  Thu 16 May (Room 1571, Kide building, Konemiehentie 1)

  Thu 23 May (Room 1571, Kide building, Konemiehentie 1)

  Thu 30 May (Room 1571, Kide building, Konemiehentie 1)

  Thu 6 June (Room 1571, Kide building, Konemiehentie 1)

   

  Flow of work sessions (at least two attendances are compulsory) on Tuesdays at 9:00-11:30, always at the Top Lounge (U523, Otakaari 1) on:

  30 April

  7 May

  14 May

  21 May

  28 May

  4 June

  
  

Description