Information about the survey

The survey of the pilot project for quality assurance of PhD supervision takes place each year in the Fall Semester (October/November). The period is approximately two to three weeks. All doctoral candidates at UZH are invited by Graduate Campus to participate by email. The survey is conducted online using the survey and evaluation tool evasys and is supported by the Educational Development Office's Quality Portal for Studies and Teaching (QM Portal).

Participation is voluntary and anonymous.

The survey consists of two standardized questionnaires.

Questionnaire 1: Personal feedback on supervision and research framework

• Overall satisfaction with doctoral supervision
• Doctoral agreement and expectation management
• Exchange with and feedback from supervisors
• Free research time
• Duty of care 
• Social climate

Further:

1. The questions are related to specific supervisors and are answered.
2. At the end of «Questionnaire 1», there is an opportunity to provide further or more detailed feedback in a free text field.
3. The Dr. med. and Dr. med. vet. candidates answer a shortened version of the questionnaire.

Questionnaire 2: General questions about the social environment at UZH 

This second questionnaire addresses the topics below, which also include forms of serious misconduct:

• Practiced culture of diversity and equal opportunity
• Experience of discrimination or sexual harassment
• Research ethics and scientific integrity 
• Scientific misconduct
• Open Science

The survey on the quality assurance of PhD supervision at UZH is unbiased and fair. It serves internal quality processes and is intended to make existing good practices as well as development potential visible and utilize them.

Reference to relevant information and contact points
The survey also serves as a source of information and helps to inform doctoral candidates about their rights and obligations concerning:

• Doctoral agreement
• Annual career discussion 
• Conditions of employment for doctoral candidates and assistants (incl. free research time)
• Dealing with conflicts

Doctoral candidates also find out which contact and advice centers they can turn to if necessary (see further information).