About the MPS programme

a. Training Modules

Each year, the MPS doctoral programme organises a number of activities in the form of workshops, small conferences or practical courses. Training modules or other activities that are accessible to MPS-registered members are listed in a frequently updated Table. Training modules sponsored by MPS are mostly organized by academics who are affiliated to either the Universities of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne and Neuchâtel or to CUSO itself. These activities are nomally open to participants outside of the doctoral programme, although MPS-registered students do have priority.

b. Evaluations and ECTS Credits

In general, the MPS doctoral programme will not deliver ECTS credits. However, to ensure the integration of MPS activities within the framework of doctorate schools that exist in several of the contracting universities, certificates of participation will be delivered to students who request it and wish to obtain ECTS from their corresponding academy. At the end of the biennial retreat and for each of the training modules, the committee(s) and/or group leader(s) in charge of their organization will provide a short report that will be examined by the MPS executive board. Participating students will also be asked to evaluate, comment and/or criticize the training module(s) and/or the biennial retreat he/she participated to. At all times, affiliated students will be able to provide recommendations or suggestions to the director, coordinator or executive board of the MPS programme.

c. Biennial Retreat

To promote contacts and exchanges at both the scientific and social levels, up to 40 second to fourth year PhD students affiliated to MPS will attend a biennial retreat lasting two full days. This retreat will be organized by a committee of senior PhD students, under the responsibility of one to two group leaders. In addition to participating students and group leaders, one to two keynote speakers will be invited by the organizing committee. During the retreat, doctorate students will present their PhD work in the form of oral and poster presentations, both in English. To facilitate preparations of these presentations, training modules in communication skills and scientific English will be regularly offered to registered students also via the generic skills activities organized by CUSO. Group leaders and keynote speakers will stimulate scientific discussions as well as evaluate student’s presentations for clarity and format.

d. MPS Executive Board

Activities of the MPS doctoral programme are overseen by an Executive Board in which each of the five contracting Universities is represented by a group leader and one registered PhD student. Currently, MPS is directed by Prof. Yves POIRIER who is assisted in this capacity by Mrs. Debora ZOIA, both of them members of the University of Lausanne.