Study Plan for PhD in Digitalisation and Society (2023–2026)

Study information

The PhD programme has a nominal length of three (3) years of full-time study including the required coursework.

The PhD programme Digitalisation and Society provides a solid interdisciplinary research environment where PhD candidates can examine, evaluate and develop in-depth research on the interplay between digitalisation and society. 

Digitalisation is complex and has become pivotal to our society. It involves how digital innovations influence societal development, but also how society increasingly demands better and more efficient tools for solving new tasks. 

The interplay between society and digital technologies is present in all aspects of society. Continuous and accelerating processes of digitalisation urge critical discussions and analyses of the opportunities, challenges and limitations brought on by digital transformations. It is for example important and necessary to critically analyse and produce further innovations within areas such as education, health, work and computing. Contributions to knowledge made by these disciplinary fields will affect how new technologies are developed, and thereby empower technological change. 

Digitalisation can be described using different concepts. Devices and Artefacts represent concrete digital technologies and materialised digital objects, whereas activities and practices represent the interaction with, and the use of these digital technologies. The organisational and social arrangements where digital technologies are used can be understood as the overarching contexts of digitalisation. These concepts are interrelated, and PhD projects may therefore aim at incorporating several of these perspectives, preferably within user and practice-centred approaches. Examples of PhD projects where such perspectives may be utilised are studies of the digital tools themselves, the practices and activities in which digital technologies are applied and /or the overarching organisational or societal arrangements in which digitalisation takes place. 

Research on digitalisation and society is crucial for the sustainable development of our society. This programme aims to produce highly qualified candidates that can pursue further careers in knowledge-intensive organisations, both nationally and internationally. 

The courses included in this PhD programme along with individual supervision will collectively provide candidates with the theoretical and methodological frameworks required to conduct independent research at the forefront of their academic field in accordance with recognised scientific and ethical standards. 

Finally, explorations of digitalisation and society are inherently interdisciplinary as societal processes of digitalisation reach across traditional disciplinary boundaries and contexts. The PhD programme’s interdisciplinary approach is ensured by grounding the programme in a broad academic environment representing three different faculties at Østfold University College (ØUC), the Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages, the Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation and the Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics. These faculties constitute the overarching research area of priority The Digital Society at ØUC.

What do you learn?

Degree/title obtained

Candidates who complete the programme are awarded a degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD).

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate

• is in the forefront of knowledge within his/her field of study in research on digitalisation and society, and related scientific theories and methods

• can assess the appropriateness and utilisation of different methods and processes in research and innovation relevant to their field of study within education, health, computing and/or work

• can contribute to the development of new knowledge, theories and methods within digitalisation and society

Skills

The candidate

• can develop and formulate research questions and is able to design and conduct research that explores critical issues relevant to digitalisation and society

• can conduct research at an advanced international level that extends and redefines knowledge about digitalisation and society

• can handle complex academic issues and identify knowledge gaps within their field of study in education, health, computing and/or work

• can challenge established theories and approaches in digitalisation and society

 

General competence

The candidate

• can identify and discuss relevant ethical issues and conduct research with high academic and professional integrity

• can manage complex interdisciplinary research tasks and projects concerning the interplay between digitalisation and society

• can convey and disseminate research results and innovation activities through national and international fora

• can participate in national and international academic and public discussions and debates within their field of study in education, health, computing and/or work

• can identify, initiate and pursue development processes related to their research

Admission

Admission to the PhD programme normally requires a master's degree of 120 credits with a grade B or better awarded for the master’s thesis, based on the Norwegian standard grading scale.

Admission will be based on an overall assessment with emphasis on

• the project proposal’s quality and relevance to the scope of the PhD programme

• the quality and relevance of the candidate’s previous academic achievements

The predefined application form is downloadable from our webpages and must be submitted with the required, formal documentation stated therein, including a PhD research proposal, a plan for the coursework and proof of funding.

Applications will be considered by the PhD Programme Committee on a continuous basis throughout the year. Admission must be approved by the Institutional PhD Board. A revised project description is submitted to the PhD coordinator three months after admission.

Structure and content

The structure and content of the programme

The normative length of the PhD programme is three years full-time study, with approximately 1500 to 1800 working hours annually.

The programme consists of a coursework component of 30 ECTS credits and an independent research training component of 150 ECTS credits, which culminate in a doctoral thesis for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). 

Coursework

The coursework component of 30 ECTS credits includes compulsory course attendance and coursework submission and is made up of a combination of compulsory and elective courses. Students may apply for the inclusion of ECTS credits from courses offered by other institutions in the coursework component, and thereby pursue opportunities to further specialise in topic areas or methods relevant for their specific PhD projects. Other training elements such as conference presentations or scientific courses may provide ECTS credits to the coursework component upon the programme committee's approval and adherence to the programme regulations.

The coursework component must be completed and approved before the thesis can be submitted for assessment.
Compulsory courses

Students are required to attend three compulsory courses providing a total of 15 ECTS, which are aimed at giving students a solid foundation for further research training within the context of this PhD programme.

The compulsory course Digitalisation and Society will provide a common ground for all students to understand how digitalisation develops, shapes and is shaped by society in different settings and contexts. Basic knowledge about different enabling technologies is emphasised, and applied examples from different disciplines are given. The students will also have the opportunity to focus on the digital technologies relevant for their individual PhD project, which altogether will provide both a broad overview and in-depth understanding of the processes of digitalisation in society.

The compulsory course Philosophy of Science and Research Ethics will provide the students with skills and knowledge in order to position their research projects within a wider theoretical and ethical context. Discussions of different understandings of what research is and may be, ethical reflections, as well as practical applications of legislation and guidelines in research are included. Emphasis will be placed on discussions related to digital technologies and society in various contexts. 

The compulsory course Research Methods: Methodology Matters encourages the students to reflect upon the choice of methods in their own research project, as well as provide training in critically evaluating the research methods used by others. The shape that a method takes is the result of methodological, theoretical, and ethical considerations. Therefore, the students will be exploring the traditional division of methodologies and their associated methods into broad categories of quantitative, qualitative, mixed and multiple methods research. 

Elective courses – 15 ECTS credits

Students are required to attend elective courses totalling 15 ECTS credits. Student may choose from the elective courses offered in this PhD programme, as listed in the table below and described in further detail in the course descriptions, or choose courses offered from other institutions.

The portfolio of elective courses offered in this PhD programme is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge within their own field of specialisation, as well as the opportunity to gain insight into other relevant topics and contexts related to digitalisation and society. All the elective courses take an interdisciplinary approach and are as such aimed at a broad community of students.

The Thesis
The Thesis is the central part of the PhD programme and represents an independent research project carried out under individual academic supervision. The independent research work consists of designing, carrying out and writing up an original research study addressing existing knowledge gaps within digitalisation and society, and should be executed to a high international standard.

The Thesis is usually composed of a summary of the scientific work, as well as the scientific articles published or submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals. The summary should include an introduction to the research field, the research questions and goals, an explanation of the selection and use of methods, a summary of the results and a discussion that positions the work within the state-of-the-art research field. The scientific work comprising the thesis must be placed into one context in the thesis summary.
Programme courses
The individual course descriptions provide further information.

Teaching, learning methods and forms of assessment

Teaching and learning methods

Different forms of teaching are provided within this programme such as lectures, seminars, group discussions and one-to-one supervision. In the compulsory and elective courses teaching is often based on a combination of lectures, seminars, discussions and practical work in smaller groups. Students will normally give oral presentations and/or write essays or papers. Learning outcomes will be achieved by participating in the teaching activities, writing and presenting individual work and self-studies.

The students will also attend national and international research workshops and conferences.
PhD students admitted to this programme are included in the institutional PhD Forum, which is organised by PhD students themselves. This forum will host activities where matters related to the PhD students research, training and work environment is discussed and will enable students to share their research and experiences, as well as acquire knowledge, through presentations and discussions with their peers.
PhD students may also be invited to present their work in the context of faculty seminars and research group discussions.
Workload

Courses that provide 5 ECTS credits have a workload of approximately 130 hours. This includes preparation, self-study, learning activities as well as coursework requirements and exams. The total workload for the study programme is estimated to approximately 1500 to 1800 hours annually.

Supervision
The PhD students are entitled to a minimum of 210 hours supervision during the study period. This includes the supervisors’ preparation.

Supervision is designed to allow students to develop skills in conducting independent research work, academic writing and ensure progression in the research process and the writing of the thesis. Supervision also includes guidance on defining the scope and delimitations of the project, formulating hypotheses and research questions, choosing and developing methods and analysing results.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the project is carried out with high scientific integrity in accordance with established ethical norms, and that students are given appropriate training and guidance accordingly.

Normally two supervisors are assigned to each PhD candidate, one defined as the main supervisor and the other as the co-supervisor. The main supervisor should preferably be employed at Østfold University College in a permanent position and have the primary academic responsibility for the candidate. If the main supervisor is not employed at ØUC, the co-supervisor must be employed at ØUC. Supervisors employed at ØUC are responsible for including the PhD candidate in an active research environment at the institution.

Requirements for supervisors, supervision obligations and rights are regulated by and further described in the PhD Regulations.

Assessment and exams

Assessments related to the coursework component are conducted in accordance with the regulations governing Examinations, Admission to Study and Degrees at Østfold University College.

Various forms of assessment are used and these are described in the specific course descriptions. All courses in the programme are graded pass/fail.

Annual progress reports

The PhD student and their main supervisor must submit an annual report detailing progress on the coursework and the research project. The annual progress reports will be assessed within a given time frame after submission and follow-up procedures are initiated if needed according to Østfold University College’s Quality Assurance System.

According to the regulations for research degrees at Østfold University College, failure to submit a report or reporting deemed unsatisfactory may result in the termination of the PhD agreement before the appointment period expires.

Midterm evaluation

Approximately halfway through the PhD programme, a midterm evaluation will take place. The midterm evaluation is compulsory for all candidates.

The purpose of the midterm evaluation is to assess the progress and scientific quality of the work done so far, and to provide feedback and advice which can aid candidates in successfully completing their PhD projects.

The evaluation is conducted by a panel of at least two experts appointed by the Programme Committee. Discussions are to be made with both the candidate and the supervisor(s). The candidate provides a presentation of the research and coursework achieved thus far, as well as a condensed plan and timeline for further work.

Completion of the PhD studies

The coursework component of the PhD programme must be approved by the Programme Committee before the candidate can apply for assessment of the thesis. Assessment is carried out in accordance with the regulations for the PhD programme.

The thesis assessment report should be completed within three months of the submission of the thesis, and the public defence should take place within two months after completion of the thesis assessment report.

The PhD in Digitalisation and Society is awarded based on:

• a successful coursework component

• an approved thesis

• a trial lecture on a specified and given topic

• an approved public defence of the thesis

The diploma will specify the title of the thesis and contain information about the coursework conducted as part of the training components.

Internationalisation

All courses are offered in English and are open to PhD students from other countries.

The research environment responsible for this programme has extensive international experience and collaborations within the areas of research represented in the programme. Furthermore, international researchers are invited to Østfold University College on a regular basis to give lectures and discuss current research in areas that are relevant for the PhD students.

In order to attain an international academic level, it is crucial that PhD students are exposed to and take part in international research communities. PhD students are therefore encouraged to visit a research environment abroad during their doctoral study. International PhD students are also encouraged to visit Østfold University College.

Programme evaluation

In order to offer relevant PhD teaching of high quality, we are reliant on feedback from candidates who have attended the programme.

Each individual academic environment is responsible for adopting appropriate evaluation methods and procedures at course level, as stated in Østfold University College’s Quality Assurance System.

In addition to course evaluations, Østfold University College conduct periodic evaluations of the PhD programme, as a whole.

Reading list

See the individual course description.

Studies abroad

Prior to undertaking a PhD student exchange, an individual agreement must be made between the two institutions to ensure that the student will participate in an active research community at the host institution, and that they are provided with the necessary infrastructure to do so.

In order to ensure such opportunities, Østfold University College have established collaborations with international academic partners, with relevant research initiatives, where PhD student exchange is encouraged.

Students are expected to present their research at an international scientific meeting, workshop and/or conference at least once during their time as research students.

Work and future studies

Upon successful completion of the PhD programme candidates will qualify for employment that requires highly trained personnel with the competence to assess, initiate and develop projects relevant for digitalisation and society within their field of study. This includes research activities in academia, but also positions in public, private and civil society organisations that require advanced research competence.

Within the public sector candidates can for example pursue career opportunities and leading positions within health and social care, education and administration. Furthermore, the doctoral degree is suited to positions involving applied computer science, in private companies and civil society organisations both nationally and internationally, either as consultants or in relation to development work.

The study plan is approved and revised

The study plan is approved

Approved by The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) December 12th 2022. The programme description was last approved by the PhD Programme Comittee, May 23 2023.

The study plan applies to

The programme description applies to the period 2023-2026.

Programme Coordinator

Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics.
The PhD Programme Committee