The Programme Board for the PhD programme (PFU) at the Faculty of Medicine

• Head of the Programme Board: Martha Enger (vice dean for the PhD programme)

• Head of Medical student research programme: Anne Berit Guttormsen (K1)

• Head of the committee for the basic course Ethics and health research (MEDMET901): Kristine Bærøe

• Head of the Research Schools: Stian Knappskog 

• Representatives for the scientific staff: Harald Barsnes and Stephanie Le Hellard 

• Deputy for the scientific staff: Kurt Hanevik    

• PhD candidate representative: Åshild Johansen 

• Medical student representative: Jens Nguyen 

• Obeserver from Helse Bergen: Kaia Nepstad 

• Secretary: Havjin Jacob 

The Programme Board for the PhD programme (PFU) was established by the Faculty of Medicine to ensure that faculty research training program is organised and implemented with high quality. PFU shall on behalf of the Faculty of Medicine ensure:

• that the training is conducted in accordance with the applicable course and  program descriptions.
• that there is a unity in the research training programs, in the individual courses offered to PhD candidates and between courses in the PhD programme.
• that the workload, teaching, and number of candidates has a scope that ensures good throughput for candidates who are admitted to the PhD programme.
• scientific coordination, continuous quality improvement and renewal of the PhD programme.

PFU is mainly an advisory and preparatory body on matters concerning the doctoral education at the Faculty, but may approve changes in the training/courses, as long as such changes are within the University's regulations, faculty guidelines and established budgetary constraints. Measures which entail changes in the resource framework for the PhD programme must be approved by the Faculty Board.

PFU may propose amendments and renewals of the PhD programme, including quality improvement, renewal of the PhD education plan, changes of course and programme descriptions (eg. Learning outcomes descriptions) and assessment. In such cases, the Programme Board will contribute to the preparation of the necessary cases presented.

PFU will consider proposals for changes in teaching and assessment methods, profile or scope coming from the course responsible institute, student organisations and other Faculty bodies.


The Programme Board is to:

• Follow national and international developments within the Faculty's different disciplines and through proposals to the dean / vice dean of research, take the initiatives considered necessary to promote and develop the Faculty's PhD programme.
• Promote and encourage international exchange of PhD candidates and supervisors, and propose measures to ensure such internationalisation.
• Act as main responsible for the coordination of the training component provided in doctoral education
• Act as main responsible for the Basic Course in Medical and Health Related Research (MEDMET1). The Faculty has appointed a committee which is responsible for the Basic Course in Medical and Health Related Research health research. The committee must report to the Programme Board once a year.
• Treat cases / questions referred to the Programme Board from the Dean / Vice Dean
• Prepare an annual report on the Programme Board’s work, including how the individual research training programs have been carried out in the previous year and plans for the following year. The report will be part of the Faculty's annual Doctoral Education Report

Organization

The Programme Board for the PhD Programme (PFU) shall have the following organization:

• Head of the Programme Board
• Head of the Medical Student Research Programme
• Head of the committee for Basic Course in Medical and Health Related Research
• Head of one Research School
• Two representatives for the academic staff
• Two PhD candidate representatives
• Two student representatives

The members are appointed by the Dean.

Head of the Programme Board

The Head of PFU is proposed by the Dean and approved by the Faculty Board. The Head of the Programme Board, along with the Secretary is responsible for preparing and present cases for PFU. The Head of the Programme Board is also authorized to treat urgent cases on behalf of PFU.

The Secretary

The Secretary, along with the Head of the Programme Board, prepares and presents cases to the PFU. The Secretary arrange convening meetings and dispatch of meeting agendas and case documents.

Meetings

PFU holds at least two meetings each semester. PFU has a quorum when at least half of its members are present.