Memorandum of Understanding (Mou)

 CAIRN   PROFESSIONAL  DOCTORATE   &   FOUNDATION   SCHOOL :
defined under Nepal, EU, UK- and Canada Regulations for Doctoral School !

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I - BASIC PRINCIPLES

II- REGULATIONS

Section I
Scope
Art. 1 – Purpose
Art. 2 – Definitions

Section II
Doctoral Schools
Art. 3 – Objectives of the Doctoral School
Art. 4 – Minimum requirements
Art. 5 – Composition of the Doctoral School
Art. 6 – Constitution of  the Consortium
Art. 7 – Collaboration  Agreements
Art. 8 – Proposals for setting up of CAIRN Professional Doctoral School Units
Art. 9 – Upgrading of CAIRN / SXC Doctoral School Branches in KTM Np
Art. 10 – Continuation of current activities defined as per academic areas
Art. 11 – Sustainability and financial resources
Art. 12 – Compatibility
Art. 13 – Committees : (...)
Art. 14 – Regional Heads of the School
Art. 15 – Executive Board Delegation
Art. 16 – Annual evaluation .

Section III
Participation to Doctoral School Thesis of other universities
Art. 17 – Procedures for Participation
 

Section IV
Admission and attendance
Art. 18 – Short list selection Thesis proposals
Art. 19 – Requirements for admission to the Doctoral School
Art. 20 – Admissions policy
Art. 21 - Doctoral School Admissions Committee (as per Regional areas)
Art. 22 – Procedures for Admissions
Art. 23 - Procedures for Supervision of Cultural Immersion, Online and/or work in situ
Art. 24 - Procedures for Thesis defense and final evaluation
 

Section V
Doctoral title conferral
Art. 25 – Doctoral dissertation: terms and extension
Art. 26 – The Examination Committee for conferring the Doctoral title
Art. 27 – Final examination and Doctoral title conferral
 

Section VII
Final regulations
Art. 28 – Entry into force
Art. 29 – Abrogation

MoU Signatories

Art. 30 - List of Signatories, date: 25 December, 2006 (revised December 2008)

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EU University Regulations for Doctoral Schools
Art. 33 – Purpose These Regulations govern start up and running of Doctoral Schools
Art. 34 - Compliance with the Np national and EU regulations in effect.
Art. 35 - Specific topics
Art. 36 - Administrative objectives pursued together with the relevant Faculties.
Art. 37 – Constitution of CAIRN Consortium:


 

INTRODUCTION 

CAIRN Consortium Professional Doctorate & Postgraduate Options overall aims are to promote comparative research in traditional medicine,  applied (Tibetan) psychology, Quantum psychology (neuroscience), Tsa-rLung energo-therapy counselling and human development, focusing on the needs and priorities of the Himalayan region and Nepal, with special emphasis on delivering quality high education in the target-community youth of Bauddhanath Stupa and Kathmandu valley, in particular.

Its immediate purpose is on monitoring at grass-roots the current educational (e-learning), cultural and geo-political epistemological revolutions which are taking place, including the recent opening of traditional healing psychotherapy praxis and other meditation tools to modern science.

Focusing directly on joint- research and development conducted in selected European and Himalayan pilgrimage sites and power-places, CAIRN promotes the synthesis of traditional healing knowledge and hermeneutics, into one that integrates the diverse dimensions of Quantum Psychology with the Keltic Christendom, Shamanism and Tibetan Vajrayana Tsa-rLung heritages.

CAIRN NGO is dedicated to fostering a dialogue linking the opportunities and tools of modern science with the local grassroots healing and contemplative traditions, which are still alive and well in most of the Himalayan region.

It also shares with local community people a deep commitment to create more awareness in the Western world on prevailing strategic issues, and to find better ways for advancing Traditional Healing R&D to alleviate suffering.

Lately, CAIRN Consortium has taken the initiative to upgrade and consolidate its present structure for delivering a selection of EU Professional Doctorate Options linked with Foundation Courses in UK, EU and Canada.

Aiming to promote peace and understanding, Cairn Consortium has accordingly set five ambitious structural targets for integrating better its existing network strategic assets and quality resources allowing relevant field-work and quality analysis, in situ:

1- Development of a European study programme / curriculum at postgraduate level (cycle III) in strategic areas of Himalayan prospective  development, including the cultural and hermeneutics fields cited above.

2-  Development a professional doctorate, upon  completion of 180 ECTS credits, under CAIRN Supervision Board (or a PhD : 240 ECTS credits in cases of collaboration with established academic units for relevant projects).

3-  Development of the highest academic and professional level (“state of the art”) of supervision compatible with Cultural Immersion and e-Learning facilities. This modularised curriculum should enable graduates to meet the enormous expectations which the Nepal situation and Himalayan prospective are supposed to ask in such a dynamic and transforming multicultural society.

4- Development of a European learning environment for these studies by making provision of jointly offered quality assured modules in direct collaboration with St-Xavier's College / St-Xavier's Social Services KTM (SXC/SXSSC), NIHS, Sarnath CIHTS and other High Education and Counselling NGOs resources at the local and international level, as under the ERASMUS Intensive Programmes (IP) recommendations on student and staff mobility, and co-operative research activities in multi-nationally composed learning groups in an efficient virtual learning environment.

5- Development of a European Professional Doctorate Research Center and related virtual knowledge centre, covering the areas of CAIRN Supervision Board Members existing expertises, namely in : Applied Psychology, Quantum Psychology, Health Anthropology, Ethnomedicine, Development Studies, Tibetan Traditional Medicine Psychotherapy (Tsa-rLung Healing), Education Counselling, Vocational Counselling, Detoxification and Rehabilitation Counselling, Arts&Therapy (Musicotherapy), Human Resources Management, Crisis Management and Counselling, the ICT-/ECDL credits open menu and other potential areas related of the comparative study of modern and traditional healing praxis and its hermeneutic.

CAIRN realizes its mission through a range of further inter-related activities:

A- KTM-based strategic-sites Applied Psychology & Counselling services,
Collaboration with relevant high-education institutions (HEIs) and NGOs involved in social/health and organization HRD/HRM training of trainers (TOT), for new Curriculum Development in Tibetan Applied Psychology Counselling inclusive of Tsa-rLung Research Certification Options based in Nepal,

B- Collaboration with the SXC/SXSSC (Freedom Center) Drug- (ab)Use Acupuncture Detoxification, Rehabilitation and Counselling Services, for Tibetan Applied Psychology (Tsa-rLung) R&D initiatives comparable to current Pranayama Yoga detoxification & cleansing in Benares/India, and other Arts&Therapy Dharma contemplative tools healing application,

C- Extended meeting on Tsa-rLung research synthesis with recognized Lamas Teachers and Healers from contemplative traditions, with most of them actually being situated in or around the target-site Bauddha KTM, Public conferences, interviews and e-learning multimedia promotion to stimulate interest of the local youth, community and religious leaders in the potential benefits of scientific dialogues for the local community, healing/social services and high education opportunity,

D- Accessible new ICT- Portal for better dissemination, through online publications, books, meetings and/or (video) conferences, to share the power and potential of these collaborative exchanges internationally,

E- Collaborative curriculum development research with SXC focused on designing operational training modalities, allowing scientists, scholars and practitioners of contemplative healing practices, to draw synthesis,

F- Educational programs based on research findings that teach people proven, effective techniques to enhance human development and alleviate suffering in a country and youth population in crisis.

G- Networking with appropriate Tibetan Gompas (Shechen Gp, Dudjom Gp, Bonpo Swayambu Gp, Chokyi Nyima Gp, Orgyen Tulku, and others...), as well as with relevant Tibetan Medicine Clinics and Retreat Centers (Parping),

H- Training of local Monks and Youth in the above disciplines, in a strictly culturally appropriate stepwise international certification approach,

I- Organization of Tsa-rlung R&D Seminars and Workshops in S-France.


 

Introduction to European Professional Doctorate Options 

Cairn Professional Doctorate Options are ECTS/ECDL modular  postgraduate (D) level Cultural Immersion and Teaching programmes which have been designed to meet the needs of a range of health anthropology, development studies and psychology professionals who are interested in developing genuine Himalayan expertise in direct contact in situ with local practitioners and researchers engaged in daily practice.

Participants in such programme will develop from field-work experiential  their critical thinking about concepts, theory and practice in community social / health service, human resource management, education counselling, rehabilitation, psychotherapy and traditional healing delivery, in a holistic and integrated way.

This programme offers the flexibility to enable participants to build their knowledge and skills in designing and conducting programmes of research and to develop in parallel their individual research ideas, culminating in the completion of a piece of novel, independent research which is peer reviewed and submitted for examination at the Doctoral level.

For all students, two research conferences (with option video-conference online) are held per year, which are face to face with their Supervisors and held at the best location of mutual convenience, and normally take place over three days. The conferences will be the only face to face components of the course until the thesis defense at the end of Phase Three. In the first year there will also be a compulsory online induction event.

The programme has the following underpinning principles:

• Using and contributing to evidence at the forefront of practice,

• Developing critical thinking and high level analytical skills,

• Emphasising personal development planning for continuing professional development,

• Grounding experience on Cultural Immersion,

• Allowing Consensual Evaluation,

Components

The CAIRN curriculum for a European Professional Doctorate is divided into the following three basic components:

• EU, Canada or UK- based foundation modules, partly online or in situ,
• Cultural Immersion Experiential Research modules, in Nepal (Asia) and,
• research work on the thesis itself (120 ECTS credits)

Students will define, in close coordination with CAIRN Supervision Board, what are the best options based upon their curriculum, for being instrumental in the knowledge building and professional experience deemed necessary for their Thesis. Upon successful completion of the above  requirements a European Professional Doctorate Degree may be obtained after the positive assessment and public defense of a thesis to be organized under CAIRN supervision and local experts panel consensual evaluation.

I - BASIC  PRINCIPLES

A- Cultural Immersion Strategic Coaching (Nepal)

CAIRN  Professional Doctorate School  is a cultural immersion e-learning and communication gateway for traditional healing practitioners experiential training, development studies academic research, and postgraduate and doctorate student exchange, based in KTM Nepal.

It offers selected online courses and field-research resources focused on the Himalayan region current development priorities, as well as specializes into curriculum development in selected research niches, through practical and theoretical knowledge in building : Applied Psychology to Counselling, HRD/HRM Capacity Building, Humanitarian Intervention, Clinical Anthropology, Prospective Health Anthropology and Tibetan Traditional Healing Psychotherapy.

All Options, from Postgraduate Foundation Courses up to Doctorate Thesis are certified as ECTS/ECDL personal research projects, defined within a  flexible menu. Cairn options are organized from highly selected academic and NGO resources, based in Nepal,  India, Tibet TAR China, Canada, USA, UK and EU.

Cairn Professional Doctorate is a personalized development research program only and is always offered one-on-one by appointment.

CAIRN also promotes non-credits cultural immersion tours cum  experientials field-studies in clinical anthropology, ethno-medicine and counselling intervention research organized for EU scholars and professionals in Nepal, India and the Himalayan region. 

CAIRN(Nepal) Cultural Immersion and Field-studies for EU scholars  being interested in the Himalayan region, S-Asia and Nepal equation, may focus on current Euro-Asian geo-political issues, including the history, hermeneutics and representations prevailing upon local paradigm. Finally, CAIRN(Nepal) also provides resources online and consultancy to local schools, NGOs and SMEs (Small and Medium Entreprises).
 
 

B- Key Features

C- Combining teaching and research to the highest standard

The ‘taught' component of the Professional Doctorate will comprise a broad research training, taught at Masters level, to enable participants to employ different research design and implementation techniques in their chosen area of professional interest. There will be a further online ‘taught' component (assessed at the Doctoral-level), which reviews issues of professional relevance and interest to all high level practitioners. During this time preparatory work will commence for the research component (which will also be at the D-level). The research component will enable the participant to work individually, on a research topic (or cluster of related topics) of relevance to their professional role.

D- Flexible delivery for professionals

The programme is designed to support individual learning, driven by a learning needs analysis and personal development plan (PDP), with the learner identifying learning needs and satisfying these needs through a variety of different resources.

The programme will be delivered in a flexible way to reflect the learning needs of practicing professionals who will be studying on a part time basis and who will be conducting a significant proportion of the work contributing to this degree in their work environment. Typically the ‘taught ' units will delivered by a combination of work-based learning (drawing on the latest available practice-based evidence), web based distance learning with online discussion and support, and research ‘conferences' either face to face, or via an e-learning discussion board. The ‘ research and thesis ' element of the programme will be supervised by a panel of specialists comprising an academic member of staff of the University (to ensure that the work is of a sufficient standard to attain the award of PD) and one or a number of practice-based specialists will co-supervise this work.

In addition, previous learning experience and credits obtained from elsewhere will be recognised and accredited, in line with the University's current practice, as part of the admissions criteria for the programme.

E- Who can apply?

Cairn Professional Doctorate is open to a wide range of  professionals, who have an active interest in practice based research and professional practice issues. International students looking for a taught doctorate experience in health may also apply.

F- Admissions procedure and criteria

Applicants are asked to submit an application form, and supporting documents, available to download.

The application process will reopen on 02 January 2007 for the September 2007 cohort. You are welcome to make informal inquiries to Cairn members.

G- Entrance requirements

Year 1

Entry is highly competitive. Applicants are normally required to have a MA/MSc honours degree (or equiv), or a BA/BSc completed with similar professional experience accreditation, to have participated in counselling, anthropology or HRD management skills training, to have the capacity to undertake research at doctoral level and have a relevant working experience with Asian cross-cultural issues, including target-groups or development organizations. Foreign students from nepal or Asia may get Foundation Courses Accreditations (APL) ECTS/ECDL in either UK, Canada or the EU.

On successful completion of Year 1, students are awarded credits and are eligible to proceed to Year 2 of the programme.

Years 2 and 3

Candidates seeking to enter at year 2 must have successfully completed year 1 of the programme (or equivalent) and hold postgraduate credits.

Across Years 2 and 3, students continue with their personal and professional development and client work and undertake modules in a range of practice-related issues.

From year one, students are allocated a research supervisor and begin to undertake a doctorate level research project. On successful completion of Year 2, students are eligible to proceed to Year 3 and will continue to work on their research projects throughout the year.

On successful completion of Year 3, students are awarded a Professional Doctorate in either Anthropology, Counselling Psychology or Tibetan Medicine Tsa-rLung Healing, and may be eligible for Chartered status in EU countries.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) criteria may apply to those applicants who have previous learning experience and academic credits. APL claims are considered on a case by case basis. Please contact us for further details.

H- How long does the Professional Doctorate take to complete?

Students will be able to complete the Professional Doctorate in three years integrated study. However, there is flexibility to enable professionals to fit their study around their busy working lives. Previous learning experience and credits gained from academic awards may be taken into account to reduce the length of time required to complete the Doctorate.

I- What are the fees?

The fees for European Thesis in 2006/07 are as follows:

6150 Euros (equiv. 8000 USD)* for Home/EU students

9685 Euros (equiv. 12700 USD) * for Overseas students

Please note these are subject to change for the September 2007 intake.

(*) - EU fees are similar to CAIRN Postgraduate Exchange Programme

(**) - other cheaper conditions however may prevail for Nepal TOT. 

J- Locations

CAIRN has set up potential Options of Branches, either any specific status that may be agreeable with each local partners based in the EU, Canada, UK (UKPS London), FR and Nepal as coordinate Administrative seats for CAIRN Doctoral School together with other HEI and INGOs organizations, ie: SXC, UCL/ANSO/LAAP, ISI-CNV, etc...

The partner organizations will undertake to observe these regulations within the TOR of a renewed MoU2007. The relationships between partner organizations are to be re-defined by the MoU agreement. More specifically, the agreement does not only set out the organizational and educational commitment of each partner and the methods for distributing the promotion, supervision and the related administrative financial management among the relevant parties, it can also require that the Doctoral Degree is issued jointly with the other participating universities, as based upon clients requests and partners abilities thereupon.

K- European  Synthesis

Entry requirements

There is some consistency in entry requirements for Professional Doctorate programmes. These usually include specific performance in a Masters degree and professional practice ‘at an appropriate level’ as determined by the institution offering the programme. For entry to some programmes, professional practice may not be required but can be taken into account. The academic qualifications required vary from 2^nd class honours to masters. In the case of Doctorates in Clinical Psychology however, the typical entry requirement is a second class honours primary degree and not a Masters. In exceptional cases, candidates who have not met all the relevant criteria may be accepted onto some programmes. 
 

Assessment

A Professional Doctorate is usually made on the basis of successful achievement of a portfolio (e.g. comprising projects, reports, essays, case studies and thesis) involving a broader range of assessment methods than the traditional PhD. The doctorate is awarded on the basis of successful completion of a number of programme elements including a thesis. Details regarding assessment methods and who is responsible for assessment are not stated in all of the programme material. There appears to be consistency in assessment methods for similar programmes e.g. in clinical psychology, candidates are assessed on placement performance, essays/reports and thesis (additional assessments may be part of some programmes).  
 

Credit rating

There are a number of differences with respect to credit. Firstly, not all programmes are modularised and therefore are not credit-based. Secondly, where credit-ratings are specified, they differ between institutions (from 120 – 270 credit points for the award) and do not generally indicate whether all the credit is at doctoral level. CAIRN itself has chosen ECTS value: 180 credits.

Key features of the Professional Doctorate: 
 

1. A focus on professional work
2. A focus on the development of the individual in relation to their professional work
3. A significant taught element
4. The specification of learning outcomes
5. Cohort-based pedagogies (in general, UK CGE 2004 survey finds this is not universal)³¹
6. A shorter length of thesis than that for the PhD, but with the same requirement for originality
7. The Professional Doctorate is closely related to the development of practice within the profession concerned and may be accredited by a professional body and result in a professional qualification.
8. reference to profession or professional is usually made in the title of the Professional Doctorate award

Rem: a number of new PhD programmes share some of these features. 
 

L- Memorandum of Undertand (MoU) Protocole

The present  MoU must define the following for each Doctoral School Branch:
a) the field of study and respective disciplines studied;
b) the specific research topics studied in the proposed cycle and programme;
c) the objectives and the methods of implementing the Doctorate, including internships at public bodies or private organizations and study abroad programmes;
d) the duration of the Doctorate;
e) the personnel or consultants involved in teaching and managing the Doctorate;
f) the methods of implementation and the selection criteria, as per Branches;

 
REM:
After setting up the New CAIRN Doctoral School, any modifications to the Regulations of the Doctoral School described in the previous paragraph must be approved by the CAIRN Consortium Executive Board to which the Doctorate School belongs.

 

II - CONTENTS

Section I - Scope

Art. 1 – Purpose

These Regulations govern the running of the CAIRN Professional Doctoral School, based upon the existence of CAIRN Consortium university network, in compliance with the EU, Nepal, India, China (Tibet), UK, Canada and other international regulations in effect.

Art. 2 – Definitions

For the purposes of these Regulations, the terms used herein have the following meanings:

Doctoral School means a Doctoral School lasting at least three years concerning one or more disciplines, which areas of study and supervision are defined here,  without prejudice to the fact that these areas of research can involve more specific topics;

Administrative seat means the application of responsibility under LEGAL STATUS OF CONSORTIUM, as being defined by the EC-/EU-, which runs CAIRN Doctoral School;

Partner(S) means the scholars, experts, consultants and their organizations, including university unit, research centers, NGOs, or private organizations (SMEs) that takes part in the Doctoral School Network, some being active in another HEI or university;

International Doctoral School means a Doctoral School that includes agreements with other international bodies and private organizations which possess the prerequisites of high cultural and scientific qualification and which demonstrate the characteristics indicated in Art. 7, paragraph 3, below;

Regulations of the Doctoral School means the set of rules adopted by each Partners for the CAIRN Doctoral School that lays down the detailed standards for running and managing the Research Doctorate; it also includes objectives, internal organisation and rules of conduct for the Doctoral students attending the Research Doctorate;

Teaching Programme means a document approved every year by the Doctoral School Committee, that includes the educational activities and the calendar for each Branch of CAIRN Doctoral School.


 

Section II - Doctoral Schools
 

Art. 3 – Aims & Objectives of the Doctoral School

a) - Cairn Professional Doctorate School Aims & Objectives are to initiate, organize and promote International  Studies which will improve the Asian and European students' ability to work in an increasingly globalized environment, both in the Western world and emerging economies of Asia. The goal is to prepare students and trainees for international tasks, promote interactive and communicative skills and encourage an receptive attitude towards cross-cultural awareness through professional immersion experiential modules. Cairn Euro-Asian Network aims to increase opportunities for internships, field-research and online studies within an international dimension and within selected international expertise. 

b) - Foundation Courses of the Research Doctoral student aims at giving the necessary skills in order to carry out highly qualified research work at universities, public bodies, and private organizations; developing the philosophical, scientific and technological progress needed; and contributing to the creation of high level Euro-Asian professional bodies background and a corresponding international approach.

c) - These objectives are pursued through the network coordination of integrated research with high-level teaching activities, as defined by each partners expertise and resources existing in the relevant Faculty, HEI or NGO.

Art. 4 – Minimum administrative requirements

Persuant to the legal status definition of an International  Academic Consortium, which includes the purposes of upgrading the CAIRN Doctoral School Supervision Board, the Evaluation Commission, the Advisory Board and Scientific Research Pannel, the MoU  defines the following minimum administrative requirements:

a) - appointment of a Executive Board responsible for the main organization and planning; which is made of at least three tenured or emeritus professors in European, Nepal and/or Canada academic units, as well as of an Advisory Board Committee, made up of at least eight lecturers and researchers of the relevant university or training centers, and at least of one representative of each regional branches (in EU, Canada, UK and Asia) of the CAIRN Doctorate School, being either professor, lecturer, researcher or expert consultants for each discipline in the Doctoral School curriculum option; and finally tutors in a number proportionate to foresaid areas and the number of students, all members having to have been productive in the last five years of reference, in the specific areas of the Research. 

b) - availability of sufficient financial resources and specific operating and scientific structures for the Professional Doctorate and for the students' study and research activities;

c) - opportunity to set up more relevant partnerships with other academic units, NGOs, donors foreign administrations and private organizations, that can give the students experience in a high level working context;

d) - definition of a pannel of Fondation Courses Mixed-mode Options, oriented toward carrying out highly qualified research activities,

e) - implementation of a consensual evaluation system regarding the continuity of the requirements mentioned in this article and to judge whether the Doctorate School meets the above main objectives, in relation to the professional prospects and to the level of training of the students;

f) - high level coordination with supporting Head of HEIs Units and other relevant bodies, as required by policy prerequisites and credibility in Nepal and at the international level.

Art. 5 – Composition of the Doctoral School

The Doctoral School will deal with a sufficiently broad curriculum theme and options, so as that reference to the level of excellence and expertise in specific disciplines of the CAIRN Doctorate School may be assessed internally  and externally, as well as so as to promote collaboration with other Units and aggregation of several disciplines. The Doctoral School Executive and Advisory Boards will examine these areas, as defined by Article 13 below.

 

Art. 6 – Constitution of  the Consortium


Persuant to the EC- Regulations presiding over the creation and management of  an EU- based International Academic Consortium, the signatories hereby agree upon the present MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) & Regulations for the set up of an Administrative seat, defined as a Professional Doctoral School, based upon the existing collaboration  with their formal academic units, NGOs and non-profit training organizations. The partners and organizations hereunder listed undertake to observe the present MoU regulations. The relationships between partners, unit and their organizations are defined by the present agreement. More specifically, the MoU agreement does not only set out the organizational and educational commitment for each partner, as per his/her expertise, but also requires that the Professional Doctoral Degree be promoted jointly with their participating units.



 

Art. 7 – (MoU) Collaboration  Agreements
 

A  - The CAIRN Consortium, with the aim of promoting international cooperation, promotes signing agreements that envisage:

a) - reciprocal recognition of the teaching and research activities carried out in another Doctoral School;

b) - achievement of dual degrees, issued individually by the partner universities;

B -  These agreements, where they regulate international university partnership agreements, can also govern specific methods of appointment and composition of the Committee for the admission to the  Professional Doctorate Thesis and appointment and composition of the Examination Committee.
 

C -  If the CAIRN Consortium enters into agreements with other NGO units or universities, the Doctoral School can be defined as international if:

a) - there is a suitable number of foreign professors in the Doctoral School Committees;

b) - a second official language is indicated for the course: English or the language of the partner university;

c) - the announcement of collaboration is published on the CAIRN website;

d) - committees designated to confer the degree are made up of members belonging to established and recognized foreign academic institutions, which in case needed may be completed by regional experts or practitioners in the specific areas being studied, this as defined in the Pedagogic Contract relating to the Supervision Board of the Thesis;

e) - there is a suitable number of potential Doctoral students to mandate the initiative.

Art. 8 – Proposals for setting up CAIRN Professional Doctoral School Units

A - To be conceived and implemented in a stepwise manner, each of the Signatories hereunder listed, will examine personally and eventually submit to its academic unit or organization,  no later  than the 30th of November of each year, a proposal to set up or continue the CAIRN Doctoral School Units with the required Administrative seat and logistics at the concerned university unit, NGO or organization.

B - The proposal must cite the following MoU Items for each Doctoral School Unit:

a) the field of study and respective disciplines studied for the Professional Doctorate;

b) the specific research topics studied in the proposed cycle and programme;

c) the objectives and the methods of implementing the Professional Doctorate, including cultural immersion in Asia (or elsewhere), as well as internships at NGOs, public bodies or private organizations and/or study abroad programme organizations;

d) the geographical location and duration of the Professional Doctorate research;

e) the potential number and profile of potential graduates who may be reached and accepted to the CAIRN Doctoral School, based upon the existing structures and the available experts or personnel to be involved in teaching and managing the Doctorate;

f) the methods of implementation, consensual evaluation and the selection criteria;

g) the methods for promoting the access to students of  the subsequent year;

h) the exact names, units denominations and contact persons of the universities, NGOs, public bodies and private organizations participating in the Research Doctorate and their respective structural, logistic, database or eventual financial commitments;

i) the formal abiding to the Rules & Regulations, hereby defined, for the international nature of the CAIRN Consortium Professional Doctoral School collaboration; this beside any restrictions which may be politically or institutionally inherited by local context (Nepal). 

j) the composition of the CAIRN Doctoral School Committee(s); in this specific setting, including definition of the Executive Board, Advisory Board, Experts Panel and Alumni.

k) any potential sources of external financing, ie: the EC- Asia Link, Erasmus Mundis,


C - The Regulations of the Doctoral School must be examined, explained, assessed and attached to any foreseen proposal to set up a CAIRN Professional Doctoral School Unit, and regulate the activity of the CAIRN Professional Doctorate Unit, in particular, thus clarifying the objectives, the internal organization, responsibilities and the rules of conduct for the students attending it.

D -  After setting up the Doctoral School Unit, any modifications to the Regulations of the Doctoral School described in the previous paragraph must be approved by the CAIRN Executive and Advisory Committee Members, hereby MoU signatories, to which the Doctorate belongs.
 

Art. 9 – Upgrading of  CAIRN / SXC Professional Doctoral School  Units KTM Np
 

Persuant to the earlier MoU signed with the SXC/SXSSC (St- Xavier's KTM Np) since early 1997, the present MoU signatories agree to the upgrading and consolidation of the CAIRN Professional Doctorate School and Postgraduate Foundation Courses based in KTM, Nepal, this in close collaboration with the SXC/SXSSC (Director: Fr. Robins SJ), for the maintenance and promotion of the Professional Doctorate Supervision, Nepalese Student Exchange and Education Counselling Services, in the two offices (Bauddha and SXC) for a minimum duration three years and to be evaluated annually by CAIRN and local partners.                             

C -  The present MoU will be submitted by Fr. Robins SJ  to the SXC/SXSSC's concerned authorities, for advice, suggestions and approval, which will ensure a stepwise institutional process as well as consistency that the prerequisites of eligibility laid down in the CAIRN International Academic Consortium Statutes, and its present MoU Regulations are legal, relevant and flexible enough to survive and cope with the evolution of situation in Nepal.

D -  Once the opinion of the SXC/SXSC on these matters  are assessed, the Executive Board will decide, in a joint meeting, the planning of CAIRN Doctoral School in Nepal. The same consultation will enfold with all the foreseen partners units, within the next 3 months, in such a way as to promote transparency, efficacy and respect of each geographical Unit, including their assets, potentials, specificities and limits in their natural context.

E -  The present MoU Agreement with each Unit is valid for three consecutive cycles, except for the matters laid down in Art. 10 paragraph 2 of these Regulations.

Art. 10 – Repartition of activities as per each unit expertise areas
 

The list of signatories proposed hereunder defines each unit expertise areas. Kindly go to Partnership template hereunder...

Art. 11 – Self-sustainability and financial resources

A - Marketing studies projection focusing on the emerging economic area of India, China, which status include prominent influence upon the cultural and education trends in both Nepal and Tibet TAR, show a dramatic increase expectations in suitable Asian students target groups, both at the under-, post- and doctorate studies level. This in the long run, is not without counting upon the major growing exodus of youth and manpower from Nepal since the beginning of the insurgency. Without getting into details, one may assume that both at the quantitative level first, and above all in specific qualitative market-niches in traditional medicine psychotherapy and cross-cultural coaching training, there are some rationale to believe in growing sustainability trends.   

B - Some of the CAIRN Consortium Partners are in position to provide financial support to the design, promotion and maintenance of Doctoral School Thesis under their expertise, while some others are only in position to provide willingly their competence and logistics. The present MoU will address each situation specifically.

C - Some Members of CAIRN Doctoral School will offer their expertise, logistics and efforts in exchange of Consultancy Fees, in compliance with possible local specifications.

D - Some academic established Doctoral School Partners may can decide to search for and allocate grants for research activities to be given to students who have been admitted to the Doctoral School after having passed the related competitive selection.

E - The established University Unit and Specialized Training NGOs will also investigate the avenue to offer some financial support to the CAIRN Counselling Center in KTM NP.




Art. 12 – Compatibility

Each partner hereby agrees to verify at the national and international the compatibility of the present MoU Regulations with the status, structures, legal framework of its activities.
 

Art. 13 – Committees

In order to fully abide to the legal framework and prior-conditions for :

- Nepalese NGOs,

- EU- NGOs International Academic Consortium,

- Belgium Asbl,

- France Asbl (Loi1901) Formation Professionnelle,

- UK- Non Profit Org,

- Canada Non Profit Org,

etc...,

the CAIRN Doctoral School is constituted of   five different Committees,  namely :
 

1 - the Executive Board,  which is made up of a minimum of  five Academic Members  being  three associate or emeritus professors (tenured and possibly representing each of the CAIRN Doctorate main disciplines, ie : Anthropology, Psychology and Development Studies) of the Doctorate; added to whom is one researcher, acting as the General Secretary / Coordinator (ie: RWL) and one  formal representative of the Nepal- based HEI main academic administration acting in the EXE. Board (Fr. B. Robins SJ SXC).

2 - the Advisory Board,  consituted of  a minimum of eight Members, representing some of the main other High Education Institutions (HEIs), NGOs, Asbls, and/or specialized health/social and research bodies, who are being part of the Founding Members or are active as Specialized Research Supervision Units (ie: Tibetan Medicine, Paramedical, Psychotherapy, etc...), Advisors or Experts.

3 - the  Honorary  Board

4 - the  Experts  Pannel

5 - the  Alumni
 

Once the Doctoral School is set up, meetings of the Doctoral School Executive Board and Advisory Board will be called by the General Secretary / Coordinator, in consensus or at a give date requested by a participating Member, Department or Research Centre. Reports will be addressed to all concerned no later than thirty days after the meeting called.



The duties of the Executive Board are:

a) - to review, decide and organize in consensus the Consortium policy, the main planning, the research and courses options, and all other activities of the Doctoral School which may represent or defines the Doctoral programme at the international level;

b) - to propose a short-list, examine and accept new Committee Members;

c) - to approves the collaboration and participation of new entities (NGOs, HEIs);

d) - to propose inputs, examine references and organizes yearly the redaction of the various Options of CAIRN Programme, including all the research and public relation activities, as well as the agenda.

e) - to examine Thesis projects, decide upon prior conditions and delegate or assume their supervisions, on a case-by-case basis for each Doctoral student, in order to ensure that each benefits of the best quality services, as well as the ECTS/ECDL credits inputs in specific methodology and scientific data required by supervision;

f) - to approve the individual syllabus of the students at the start of each academic year, establishing the times and methods for submission and verification of any intermediate reports;

g) - to appoints a advisors, tutors, experts and facilitators, internal or external to the Doctoral School Executive Board or the Advisory Board, as may be needed for the benefit of for each student research;

h) - to facilitate and organize Cultural Immersion Options in Asia/Nepal for students to go abroad for field-research, internship or training periods of more than six months;

i) - to approve the participation of the students in internships organized at NGOs, HEIs, SMEs  and/or foreign public bodies;

l) - to authorize students to conduct educational, ancillary or supplementary activities and extra-curricular research activities;

m) - at the end of each academic year, to approve admission of students to the following year;

n) - to submit the opinion on the activities conducted by each student from the concerned Supervision Board Members, acting as Examination Committee, to the Executive Board for the conferral the Doctoral degree;

o) - to approve the annual report drawn up by various Committees concerned and sanctioned by the Executive Board for publication, as foreseen by the national ad international regulations concerned;

p) - to promotes relationships with other universities, NGOs, HEIs, SMEs,  public bodies and private organizations in order to improve the credibility, visibility and research options;

q) - to declares whether the Doctorate School Research Options, as being organized abroad, are suitable for the purpose of the target-groups benefit, local social/health or educational development, policy coherence and cross-cultural awareness;

r) - to define the detailed roles and duties of local Admission, Supervision and Examination Committees.

...




Art. 14 – Regional  Heads of the School


In order to comply with the local and international regulations presiding over the status and activities of International Academic Consortium, selected Professors and Researchers being appointed as Members of the Executive and Advisory Board committees, will be chosen amongst their members in order to act as Representatives or Regional Heads of the Doctorate School,

Their main duties will be to verify that CAIRN Executive Board is fully aware and governed by the local or international regulations envisaged for the Doctoral Schools in their regional context, this without prejudice to the possibility to require a detailed set of rules as part of the local Supervision Team Regulations, and  to be added at a later stage as required.



Art. 15 – Executive Board Delegation

In order to facilitate the role and duties of its Members, the Executive Board can delegate some of the work of the Doctoral School Executive Board to the General Secretary, the local Heads of School and local Coordinators, in order to assist the CAIRN Consortium to accomplish its various tasks with the required transparency, credibility and awareness, as mentioned hereabove.





 

Art. 16 – Annual evaluation
 

As legally required, at the end of each academic year, the  Doctoral School  Executive Board will submit a detailed report to all other Commitees and Boards, as well as to the participating university units and other interested or required bodies.

Section III  -
Participation to Doctoral School Thesis with other universities

Art. 17 – Procedures for Participation
 

A) -  After consultation of the Members or Faculties involved, the Executive Board in agreement with the selected local advisors thereupon may submit a proposal for collaboration in Doctorate Thesis with other established units, HEIs or universities.

B) -  The proposal must indicate:

a) - the research area and the relative disciplines of the Doctorate;

b) - the specific topics of research of the proposed cycle;

c) - the length, the purposes and the methods for implementing the Doctorate;

d) - the universities, public bodies and private organizations participating in the Doctorate;

e) - the composition of the Doctoral School Committees in such collaborations;

g) - any charges to be met by each bodies of the concerned collaboration.

C) - on decision of the Executive Board, the Secretary will publish the decisions taken.


 

Section IV -  Admission and attendance

Art. 18 – Short list selection Thesis proposals

Each announcement of selection for admission to the Doctoral School Thesis will be issued by the Secretary after Executive Board decision and published online.

Art. 19 – Requirements for admission to the Doctoral School

The requirements will be duly published online. Please refer to the MoU draft above!

Art. 20 – Admissions policy

Admission to the Doctoral School is offered through a selective procedure, which aims at certifying the eligibility of the candidate and his or her aptitude for research, as presented in the Admission Prerequisites in the MoU, hereabove.

Art. 21 - Doctoral School Admissions Committee (as per Regional areas)
 

CAIRN Doctorate School Executive Board, upon the advice of the Doctoral School Regional Heads and Experts Committees, will appoint in situ an Admission Committee for Unit of the  Doctoral School.

Art. 22 – Procedures for Admissions

Procedure for admissions, as per the requirements of the regional context of each Unit and he international regulations for Doctorate School, will be decided by the Executive Board, Heads of Units and local Experts Panel, in consensus accordingly.

Art. 23 - Procedures for Supervision of Cultural Immersion, Online and/or Fieldwork in situ
 

Cultural Immersion Supervision modalities will be examined and decided in consensus wit all concerned (ie: as per the subject, topics, field-research duration, technical modalities, visa legal requirements, supervision requirements and other operational conditions in situ), and a Pedagogic Contract thereupon will be discuss and agreed upon with the researcher and the concerned Supervision Board, then submitted for approval to the Executive  Advisory Boards accordingly. Depending upon the topic, regional context, duration of research and visa regulation, these modalities may vary deeply.

Art. 24 - Procedures for Thesis defense and final evaluation
 

In a similar manner, the Thesis defense modalities will be defined in the Pedagogic Contract, as per abiding to the local and international requirements hereunder..

Section V  - Professional Doctoral title conferral

Art. 25 – Doctoral dissertation: terms and extension

A) - The Professional Doctoral title is granted, in the subject being studied, when students pass the final examination, which can be repeated. 

B) -  By the end of the Doctorate research, the students enrolled in the last year submit the application to the Doctoral School Executive Board and local Supervision Committee for the final examination.

C) - The Doctoral School Executive Board then requests a written recommendation of the local Supervision Team as regards the student's dissertation and decides whether the candidate will be admitted to the final exam, formulating a detailed opinion on the candidate's work during the Doctorate.

D) - The degree candidate is admitted to sit the final examination after the Doctoral School  positively evaluates the dissertation.

E) - For justified reasons, the Doctoral School Committee, can grant an extension for admission to the final exam to the following academic year. To obtain an extension the candidate must submit a justified request and the favourable opinion of the  Doctoral School Committee no later than 31st of October of the final year of the Doctoral School.

F) -  Authorisation to extend the term for submission of the dissertation does not automatically entitle the candidate to more grant allocations, in cases applying.

G) -  The Doctoral School Heads and Supervision Team of every Unit may provide further justification and explanation in favor of those students who have to extend their research or to further pursue the accomplishment any activity particular to the Thesis final draft.

Art. 26 – The Examination Committee for conferring the Doctoral title



A) - No later than 31 of October, the Doctoral School Executive Board will designate the members of the final exams committees.

B) - The Examination Committee is appointed consensual by both the Executive Board and the Regional Head presiding over the Supervision of the particular thesis, based on the advice of the Doctoral School Advisory and Experts Panel of the region in which the student has proceeded with the field-work research is enrolled, no later than ninety days after the conclusion of the Doctoral School Boards on the admission to Thesis defense. The Examination Committee must complete its tasks in the subsequent ninety days, in full agreement with the researchers, the local Regional Heads and Supervision Teams..

C) - The Examination Committee consists of three members chosen among university tenured professors and researchers.

D) - At least two members must belong to the CAIRN Executive Board and one member must be from the foreign universities or Unit under which Supervision the Thesis research was implemented. They cannot be members of the Doctoral School local Supervision Team, per se.

E) - The Committee can be enlarged by a maximum of two foreign experts selected from the universities, NGOs, public and private research centres covering the discipline or the geographical expertise concerned.

F) - The Chairman of the Examination Committee is appointed in consensus, based upon the above criteria.

G) -  If a member of the Examination Committee resigns from the position, the Secretary, upon the advice of the Regional Head and Executive Board, will appoint another member with similar qualifications as the resigning member. Candidates wll be duly informed of the new composition of the Examination Committee.

F) -  In the case of Doctoral Thesis pursuant international inter-university partnership arrangements, the Examination Committee is defined in accordance with the matters in these agreements.




Art. 27 – Final examination and Doctoral title conferral


A) -  The exam will be given before the Examination Committee and consists in the public discussion of the dissertation. The Professional Doctoral title will be conferred after passing the final examination.

B) - The Regulations of the Doctoral School requires that the Professional Doctoral title will include the respective denomination of its discipline or specialty.

C) - The Secretary notifies the candidates of the members of the Examination Committee, informing them of the place, date and time of the final exam. This notice is sent by registered letter with advice of receipt at least ninety days prior to the date set for the examination.

D) - The candidates must provide each member of the Examination Committee with a copy of the dissertation, complete with the report by the Doctoral School Committee and presentation by the supervisor. Candidates must also submit three copies of the final dissertation to the Secretary Doctoral Studies, which will be filed at CAIRN HQs.

E) -  The student may ask the Regional Head to consider special circumstances (illness, accidents, force majeure) that have prevented him or her from sitting the final examination. If the Regional Head considers the absence justified for the aforementioned circumstances, he or she will give written communication thereof to the person involved and to the Chairman of the Examination Committee, inviting the latter to set a new date prior to the date schedule for the exams of the successive cycle.

F) -  The Examination Committee formulates an opinion for each candidate. The opinions constitute an essential part of the report of the final examination of the Doctorate.

G) - International inter-university partnership agreements can include more specific and further procedures for awarding the Professional Doctorate title, as per local laws and regulations.


 

Section VII  - Final regulations

Art. 28 – Entry into force
 

These MoU Regulations are issued online and taking effect as of the date of signatures, from which they are hereby published online for all to see.

Art. 29 – Abrogation

At the date these Regulations will take effect, the Executive Board and all other committees are enacted, with subsequent amendments to be pursued as per rules above, and considered abrogated.

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MoU   Signatories

Art. 30 – List of Signatories

The short list of intended MoU signatories hereunder is indicative of most Partners Country location, Partner Organization Status, Members interested in Consultancy, Areas of potential expertise reviewed, etc...

This short list includes the location and organization status of all Members, defined as namely : FO: Founding Member, EXE: Executive Board, ADV: Advisory Board, AC: Actually Active Supervision Board, CO: Active as Specific Technical Area Consultant, TB: On Stand By,
 

Partnerships template (MoUs)

Further details on each member precise areas of expertise and methodology are provided upon request. Status in Boards will be published after current consultations upon MoU...
Some further persons are not listed here, but are well known as potential consultants. More...