Vrije Universiteit Brussel

for prospective
PHD students

• Central PhD Office
• What is a PhD?
• Admission requirements
• Funding
• Finding a subject and a supervisor
• Application & Enrolment

for Phd students

• Regulations and forms
• Progress Monitoring
• Joint PhD
• Defence
• Ombudsperson for PhD students
• Publication and Technology Transfer
• Newsletter for Junior Researchers

doctoral schools

• Doctoral Training Programme
• The 3 Doctoral Schools
• Workshops & Seminars

Ombudsperson for PhD students

• Ombudsperson for PhD students, academic year 2010-2011
• Scientific misconduct

 

Ombudsperson for PhD students, academic year 2010-2011

On October 5th 2010, the Board of Governors appointed the Ombudsperson for PhD students for the academic year 2010-2011, Prof. Dr. Ingrid Ponjaert-Kristoffersen. Substitute ombudsperson is Prof. Dr. Christiane Van den Branden.

PhD students' remarks and complaints relating to difficulties involving the supervisor(s) or the (Interdisciplinary) PhD Monitoring Commission during the preparation and the execution of their PhD research can be addressed to the Ombudsperson for PhD students.

At the request of the PhD student, the Ombudsperson for PhD students may operate as a mediator between the PhD student and the supervisor(s), chair person of the (Interdisciplinary) PhD Progress Monitoring commission, the Dean and members of the academic staff. The goal of the Ombudsperson is to arrive at a friendly settlement of complaints.

All remarks and complaints are recorded by the Ombudsperson for PhD students in a confidential file.

The Ombudsperson for PhD students decides, in consultation with the PhD student, how they will proceed after the first meeting initiated by the student. After the first meeting, the necessity of a further procedure will be considered. When a complaint is confirmed in writing, there will always be a written follow-up.

In the case of a written complaint, the Ombudsperson for PhD students will, within three weeks, propose a friendly settlement to the Dean, notwithstanding the possible application of article 26 of the Central Regulations concerning the Conferring of the Academic PhD Degree. The PhD student and the Ombudsperson are informed immediately, and in writing, of the solution proposed by the Dean.

The Ombudsperson for PhD students has the following rights that enable him/her to carry out his/her function:

• The right to participate in the meetings of the (Interdisciplinary) PhD Progress Monitoring Commission;
• The right to consult all documents.

The Ombudsperson for PhD students is bound to secrecy and discretion.

If the Ombudsperson for PhD students is a member of the same faculty as the PhD student who has made a remark or filed a complaint or if there is too close a tie between the Ombudsperson and the PhD student, it is the substitute Ombudsperson for PhD students who will take action.

More information on the Ombudsperson for PhD student can be found in the Central Regulations concerning the Conferring of the Academic PhD Degree.

 

Consultations:

• Prof. Dr. Jenneke Christiaens:

Campus Etterbeek, Building B, room 4B355,
appointments (T) 02/629 25 30 (E) Jenneke.Christiaens@vub.ac.be

• Prof. Dr.Karin Vanderkerken (substitute):

Jette Campus, building D, ground floor, room D033,
appointments (T) 02/477 44 18 (E) Karin.Vanderkerken@vub.ac.be

 

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Scientific misconduct

This document provides the guidelines for dealing with alleged scientific misconduct. The objective is not to lower the threshold for lodging complaints. But when allegations of scientific misconduct do occur, it is appropriate to have a mechanism in place capable of dealing with them.

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Last update: 23.12.2011 12:55