Seven work packages have been created to achieve the goals of the project. Four of these work packages are central and involve activities that are required to generate the anticipated value, while the remaining three work packages have been established to manage, execute, and disseminate the project's outcomes. The work packages are assigned to the partners based on their experience and contribution level. Each work package is summarized below, along with a list of its activities:
The first work package is concerned with project management and coordination. Its related tasks aim to ensure the project's successful completion. It entails building the management system and running it for the duration of the project. Furthermore, through control reports and management periodic meetings, WP1 will ensure efficient financial and operational management, and will monitor the implementation of all other work packages through control reports and management periodic meetings.
Tasks:
- Setting up the Project Governance.
- Operative and financial management of the project.
- Preparation of the project management manual and risk mitigation plan.
- Preparation and implementation of the project kick-off meeting in Aachen (RWTH).
- Preparation and implementation of the first management meeting in Stockholm (KTH).
- Preparation and implementation of the second management meeting in Brussels (VUB).
- Preparation and implementation of the third management meeting in Palestine (AQU).
- Preparation and implementation of the fourth management meeting (Online Meeting).
- Preparation and implementation of project closing meeting in Palestine (AAUP).
Partners in WP2 will conduct extensive desk research to establish a best practice model for PhD program governance and management. This WP will create a self-diagnostic tool for partner universities to use in identifying gaps during the project's subsequent phases.
Tasks:
- Desk review and benchmarking of best practices.
- Identification of beneficiaries and stakeholders to the project.
- Preparation of the PhD Governance and development of the best practice manual.
- Design and preparation of the self-diagnostic tool.
- Development of the final preparation report (WP2 report).
WP3 aims to boost the capacity of partner universities (Palestinian Universities) in developing their practices and competencies in developing and running PhD programs. Training sessions and study visits will be conducted within the capacity-building activities. The training will cover academic quality for PhD programs topics such as identifying program goals and objectives, program learning outcomes (PLOs), curriculum structure and content, selection, admission and student enrolment policies, assessment policies, and PhD program quality management.
Tasks:
- Preparation of customized training materials and modules.
- Implementation of online training for universities in partner countries.
- Organization and implementation of in-person training in Brussels.
- Organization and implementation of study visits to program countries (EU partner universities).
- Organizing and conducting local capacity building at partner universities.
- Executing the self-evaluation, and preparation of remediation plans at partner universities.
- Prepare the WP3 report and conclusion of development 1.
In WP4, universities will begin developing their running PhD programs, bridging the gaps identified in the previous work packages for each PhD program. To underpin the research-oriented doctoral program approach, an industry-research partnership workshop will be held. Besides, the first PhD students' scientific conference and the launch of the PhD portal will facilitate collaboration and cooperation among PhD students from partnering universities.
Tasks:
- The first Workshop in Palestine for partners to share experiences at AQU.
- Establishing a PhD students' multi-purpose room.
- Establishing and launching the Palestinian PhD portal.
- Conduct the Industry-Research partnership workshop at AAUP.
- Development of current doctoral programs practices at the partner country.
- A second workshop in Palestine for partners to share their experience at PTUK.
- Establishing three research groups of students at common research topics.
- Conducting the first PhD students' conference at AAUP.
- Prepare the WP4 report and conclusion of development 2.
While WP4 is being implemented, the MoHESR will begin the development phase in parallel. The Ministry will improve the accreditation requirements for new programs and the quality assurance of ongoing PhD programs in this WP.
Tasks:
- Development of the national PhD framework for accreditation and quality assurance.
- Establishing the National Doctoral Council by the MoHESR.
- Establishing a Local Doctoral Council at each partner university.
- Implementing a national Workshop to introduce and discuss the developments in WP5.
- Identification of the national research priorities.
- Prepare the WP5 report and conclusion of development 3.
WP6 will include activities to ensure the quality of the project. Continuous assessment, evaluation, and improvement actions will be taken in this WP to ensure that the planned results are met, the short, mid, and long-term impact are realized, and the project is ultimately reaching the envisaged change.
Tasks:
- Forming the project’s quality assurance team.
- Creation of project quality assurance and monitoring plan.
- Ongoing project progress and quality self-evaluation.
- Preparation of the annual evaluation report.
- Hiring a formative evaluation expert.
- Final quality assurance and impact assessment report.
WP7 will ensure that the project's results are not only disseminated to the partners, but also to other indirect beneficiaries such as other universities, professors, students and other stakeholders.
Tasks:
- Forming the dissemination and exploitation team.
- Creation of the dissemination and results exploitation plan.
- Development of dissemination materials and social media platforms.
- Establishing the website and the cloud space for hosting the project’s documents.
- Managing project documents, media work, and training material on the project website.
- Disseminate project activities and outcomes at relevant events or similar projects.
- Disseminate project activities and outcomes to other Palestinian universities.
- Preparation and implementation of the Final Workshop to decision makers and key stakeholders.
- Prepare the WP7 final dissemination report.