MSCA European Joint Doctorate EJD Gijs Du Laing

MSCA – European Joint Doctorate (EJD) Gijs Du Laing Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry Ghent University MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

What? • ITN = international training network: education through research, courses and network-wide training events, exchange, and dissemination/outreach activities • MSCA-EJD = similar as MSCA-ETN but more focus on: • organisation of network-wide training (joint doctoral training programme) • awarding of joint/double Ph. D degrees to ESRs • joint application procedure and joint selection of doctoral candidates 15 per project) • mandatory joint governing structure • Su. PER-W = EJD on Sustainable Product, Energy and Resource Recovery from Wastewater MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants (max.

Why applied for MSCA EJD? • Erasmus Mundus IMETE – International Master of Science in Environmental Technology and Engineering • Many graduating international MSc students, but too little Ph. D scholarship opportunities for international students in Belgium/Flanders • Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate programme – last call in 2013 • Since 2014: joint doctorates integrated in MSCA programme MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Why applied for MSCA EJD? • • • Research: joint Ph. D = high potential to generate scientific output through (structured) international collaboration ESRs in MSCA ITN have significant budget to conduct research = important when lab work with advanced analytical equipment is involved! Less administrative overload and (financial) regulations compared to other H 2020 projects MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Surplus value of EJD • International (bilateral/multilateral) collaboration and student exchange (without need to use own budgets to cover associated research expenses) • Access to other expertise, analytical equipment and research infrastructure by being member of a network • Stimulation to collaborate, disseminate and valorise research (having also staff and budget to support this!) • Provide other, locally funded Ph. D projects/students access to doctoral training and dissemination/valorisation activities of the network MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Proposal - Excellence • Motivation – added value • Clearly motivate the need for new type of professionals, e. g. by illustrating societal/paradigm shifts (e. g. Su. PER-W: from wastewater treatment to product, energy and resource recovery) • Clearly emphasize/list the innovative and original elements for both research and training • Research programme • Multidisciplinary • Structure: for EJD, a list of individual Ph. D topics is allowed, but should fit into a wellstructured general framework �balanced distribution of topics over the framework MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Excellence • Suggestion: define challenges (technological and non-technological!) MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Excellence • Training programme • Multidisciplinary • Having several pillars, e. g. education through research, exchange with the nonacademic sector, structured training courses and through participation in public outreach activities • Good mix between network-wide training events and locally organised training activities and between technical courses and training on a variety of transferable skills • e. g. policy input formulation, creative problem-solving, modelling and analytical tools, impact assessment, business development, IP management, communication skills, … • Network-wide training should be relevant and diversified • Suggestion: include also training event for staff members and senior researchers MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Excellence • Supervision and evaluation of ESRs • • Joint supervision! Emphasize qualifications and experience of supervisors Supervision and evaluation approach should be comprehensive and relevant Evaluation methods for different programme components should be clear and transparent MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Excellence • Mobility • International: mandatory - respect mobility requirement! • Inter-organisational: advisable (involvement of the non-academic sector) • Role of the non-academic sector in the training, e. g. : • (Mandatory) internships • Clear involvement in network-wide training activities and workshops • Member of doctoral guidance committees • Contribution of visiting scientists and non-academic partners: be specific/concrete! MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Impact • Involvement of the non-academic sector • Clear plans and activities for communication, public engagement/outreach and dissemination �include relevant dissemination activities for different target groups �try to include an innovative feature �dedicate a specific WP to dissemination and outreach activities �substantiate exploitation of results with concrete plans (e. g. , involve ESRs in developing a dissemination/exploitation plan) MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Impact • Explain relevance of acquired skills for different career development paths • Explain linkages with different international (EU) knowledge and innovation platforms (e. g. , Knowledge Innovation Communities, European Innovation Partnerships, . . . ) and how these will be involved in dissemination �preferably involve ESRs in these networks MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Impact • Include some Ph. D projects aimed at assessing and increasing the societal/economic impact of the entire project, e. g. focused on: • identification and removal of bottlenecks for implementation of technology • assessment of stakeholder involvement, legislation, policy and policy input formulation MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Implementation • Consortium includes a mix of partners from academia, industry, government and network organizations • Clearly exploit complementarity within the consortium! • Work plan is coherent, efficient/effective and logical, broken down in work packages, which address the research, training, exchange, networking and dissemination, and project management • Involve all beneficiaries in selection of ESRs (joint procedure!), research and training • Clear description of WPs and related tasks, including clear allocation of responsibilities for beneficiaries and partner organizations MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Implementation • Clear management structure MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Implementation • Quality control and performance management (e. g. using KPIs), covering all aspects (research and training, exchange and management) • Involve an independent panel of experts, regularly evaluating project progress • Consider gender aspects at recruitment stage and during the project lifetime MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Implementation • Risk management and contingency plans: focused not only on research MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

General • Be concrete/specific • Revise and resubmit taking comments of reviewers into account if unsuccessful MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants

Questions? MSCA – European Joint Doctorate – Gijs Du Laing – Information session MSCA ITN grants