Doctoral studies in Didactic Innovation and Teacher Training

Presentation

The University of Jaen doctoral programme in Didactic Innovation and Teacher Training will allow you to develop your research interests in the field of Education under the supervision of highly-qualified researchers

This doctoral programme integrates both General and Specific Didactics, and obeys to the needs for improving the training and social recognition of teachers. It aims at fulfilling the social demands for training of teachers while at the same time ensuring the recognition of the University of Jaen for its excellence in this field.

The didactic, innovative, interdisciplinary and international features of this doctoral programme are supported by the broad experience of the research teams behind. The programme echoes the needs to strengthen the training quality of teachers and the importance to reinforce the role and collaboration of the teams involved. The Faculty includes specialists from areas covering different aspects of Didactic Sciences, and the research topics include pedagogic, generic and specific aspects as well as interdisciplinar, cross-cutting and multicultural sides of Education.

Internationalization is another key feature of this doctoral programme. This is the result of the relationships established by the participating research groups with many other foreign institutions. This allows teachers from other institutions to participate in the programme. Furthermore, the signed agreements facilitate the training and later employment of the doctoral students both in countries from the European Union and other regions of the world. It is worth to underline the collaboration in doctoral studies with countries from Latin America, as well as the international mentions achieved in the diploma by many of our former doctoral students.

Once enrolled in this programme, you may also take advantage of complementary training activities offered by the University of Jaen aimed at improving your personal and professional qualification. The quality seal awarded to the University of Jaen by the European Commission "HR Excellence in Research” identifies universities and institutions that generate and support the existence of a stimulating and encouraging research environment. The University of Jaen supports the Recommendations of the European Commission containing the “European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for Recruitment of Researchers” and has a Code of Good Research Practices and a Guide to good research practices for Doctoral Programmes.

The main goal of this doctoral programme is meeting the social demand in teacher training. For this, it is important to maintain a sustainable doctoral programme aimed at improving didactic knowledge and maintaining the excellence levels and recognition of the University of Jaen in this training topic.

You may check the complete list of competencies offered by this doctoral programme.

The ideal applicant profile is people like you, who are interested in developing research in education and are willing to take advantage of the opportunities offered in this field. Applicants should be motivated for making new discoveries through research, and have the capacity for critical thinking, comprehension, interpretation and application of research results, as well as basic skills in computer tools and English language.

General access requirements for Doctoral Programmes at the University of Jaen

In general, access to an official doctoral programme is available to persons in possession of a Spanish official bachelor's degree, or equivalent, and a university master's degree.

Access is also available to persons who meet one of the following conditions:

  1. Being in possession of an official Spanish university qualification, or one of another member country of the European Higher Education Area, which qualifies them for access to a master's degree in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of October 29, and having obtained a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in all official university studies, of which at least 60 must be at master's level.
  2. Being in possession of an official Spanish degree whose duration, according to the rules of Community law, is at least 300 ECTS credits. These graduates must attend the mandatory bridging courses referred to in Article 7.2 of these regulations, unless the curriculum of said degree includes research training credits equivalent in educational value to the research credits obtained in master’s degree courses.
  3. Being in possession of a university degree and, after obtaining a training place in the entrance test to specialized medical training, having obtained a positive evaluation in at least two years of training in a programme to obtain an official degree in one of the Health Science specialties.
  4. Being in possession of a degree obtained under a foreign education system, without need for official recognition, after the University has verified that said degree accredits a level of education equivalent to the Spanish official master´s degree and allows admission to doctoral studies in the country issuing the qualification. In no case shall this admission imply the official recognition of the original qualification held by the individual or its recognition for purposes other than access to doctoral studies. Regardless of this, the doctoral degree obtained will be officially valid in Spain.
  5. Being in possession of a Bachelor, Architect or Engineer degree and also having achieved the Diploma de Estudios Avanzados in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 778/1998, of April 30, or the research proficiency stipulated in the Royal Decree 185/1985, of January 23.
  6. Being in possession of another Spanish doctoral degree obtained under earlier university regulations.

Specific access requirements for Doctoral Studies in Didactic Innovation and Teacher Training

This doctoral programme is open to those applicants meeting general access requirements and being in possession of a degree in Infant and Primary Education (all mentions), Pedagogy, Social Education, and other degrees with a research focused on teaching, teacher training, and improvement of Education in general (psychologists, philologists, mathematicians, historians, biologists, physicists, chemists, artists, musicians, specialists in physical activity, journalists, anthropologists, physicians...). Applicants in possession of diplomas equivalent to a degree will also be admitted. Applicants having obtained a diploma abroad can also be admitted provided that the diploma has is equivalent to a degree in the Spanish education system.

Applicants must also be in possession of a master´s degree in a discipline related to their bachelor degree. Being in possession of a Master in teaching in secondary schools, vocational training and language centers will be considered a merit.

Admission criteria

The following criteria laid down in article 9.3.c of the Regulation of Doctoral Studies of the University of Jaen will apply for admission of applicants:

  1. The adequacy of the applicant background giving access to doctoral studies to the topic of the thesis. 1.0 point.
  2. The curriculum vitae of applicant. 2.5 points.
  3. The interest of the research line of the thesis for the Department, Research Centre and personnel involved in direction of the PhD thesis, as informed by the corresponding legal representative/scientific personnel involved. 1.5 points.
  4. Adequacy of the theme of the thesis to the research lines of the doctoral programme. 2.0 points.
  5. Applicant´s complementary training requirements and time availability for carrying out the thesis. 0.5 points.
  6. Availability of permanent research staff with accredited research experience at the corresponding research area solicited by applicant. 1.5 points.
  7. Available resources to carry out the research tasks proposed by applicant. 1.0 point.

In order to be admitted, the applicant must obtain a mark higher than 7 points. The applicant must also have written consent from a scientific researcher qualified according to University of Jaen rules who will act as the thesis supervisor.

Students may enroll in doctoral studies at full dedication, or part-time if duly justified. The maximum period of permanence in PhD studies will be 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time. Students may ask for an ordinary extension for one year if enrolled full-time or two years if enrolled part-time. After this, all students may ask for an extraordinary extension period of one year. Applications for the extensions provided for in current legislation are to be duly reasoned and will be resolved by the Academic Committee for the PhD programme. Students may also apply for a temporary leave for a maximum period of one year, and extendible to one further year. Students may be excluded from the programme if they do not renew enrolments or if they obtain two negative overall assessments consecutively in the training and research activities in which they are enrolled for that year.

Students with special needs may visit the University Special Education Needs Service. You may get more information on general issues related to doctoral studies at the University Academic Service and the Doctoral School.

According to the rules for enrolment of the University of Jaen, application for doctoral studies is open during the complete year. Application and enrolment in doctoral studies can be done through the University Servicio de Gestión Académica.

There are three periods for application and registration during the year. Places not covered in one period will be added to next period´s offer.

School Year 2023/2024

  • First cohort (application open until September 30, 2023; admission and registration during October, 2023)
    • Nº of places offered: 35
  • Second cohort (application open until January 31, 2024; admission and registration during February, 2024)
    • Nº of places offered: 0
  • Third cohort (application open until May 31, 2024; admission and registration during June, 2024)
    • Nº of places offered: 0

Send us your application, and you will receive a personalized response in due time.

Yearly demand for places

If you are willing to apply for grants, please check the University International Relations website.

  • Colaboraciones con convenio

Academic Information

This doctoral programme is based on research lines carried out by teaching and research staff that will be in charge of supervising your research work. The mentor (who may also be your supervisor or a different member of the PhD programme) will guide you through the training activities of the programme.

While the mentor must belong to the university´s permanent staff that participates in the doctoral programme, the thesis supervision can be assigned to any person participating in the programme who is in possession of a PhD degree and has a qualified research experience, either from inside or from outside of the university.

  1. Didactics of Mathematics
  2. Didactics of Experimental Sciences
  3. Didactics of Social Sciences
  4. Didactics of Spanish Language and Literature
  5. Didactics of Foreign Language and Literature (English and French)
  6. Didactics of Bodily (Physical Education and Sports) and Musical Expression
  7. Pedagogy: New challenges in Education research
  8. Education: Gender, feminism and citizenship

The different research topics covered by this doctoral programme are supported by its research teams. The teams have enough available resources to carry out the research and have established collaborations with other research staff from different institutions and research centers both at national and international levels. The University of Jaen offers different Services for doctoral students. The programme also benefits from specific agreements established between University of Jaen and other institutions. There is also a large number of foreign institutions and research centres related to the topic of this doctoral programme.

If you are willing to apply for this doctoral programme, you will need endorsement by a mentor from UJA.

Research topic: Didactics of Mathematics

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Contreras de la Fuente, Ángel 0000-0001-7331-2062 UJA
Estepa Castro, Antonio 0000-0003-1013-8268 UJA
García García, Francisco J. 0000-0002-3711-8825 UJA

Research topic: Didactics of Experimental Sciences

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Quesada Armenteros, Antonio 0000-0003-1659-8118 UJA
Abril Gallego, AM 0000-0002-9160-711X UJA
Romero Ariza, Marta 0000-0002-2930-4089 UJA
Airado Rodríguez, Diego UJA

Research topic: Didactics of Social Sciences

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Díez Bedmar, Consuelo 0000-0002-5599-7624 UJA
Jaén Milla, Santiago 0000-0002-8913-8959 UJA
García Luque, Mª Antonia 0000-0002-9489-2163 UJA
Peinado Rodríguez, Matilde 0000-0002-3608-8724 UJA

Research topic: Didactics of Spanish Language and Literature

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Gutiérrez García, Francisco 0000-0002-1230-3135 UJA
Fabregat Barrios, Santiago 0000-0002-7503-1245 UJA
Pilar Jiménez Pérez, Elena del 0000-0002-6170-746X UJA
Moreno Ruiz, Mª de los Santos 0000-0002-2798-5386
UJA

Research topic: Didactics of Foreign Language and Literature (English and French)

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Medina Arjona, Encarnación 0000-0002-3482-3748 UJA
Olivares Merino, Julio Ángel 0000-0002-7850-2938 UJA

Research topic: Didactics of Bodily (Physical Education and Sports) and Musical Expression

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Aznar Laín, Susana 0000-0001-7054-436X UCLM
Cachón Zagalaz, Javier 0000-0001-5085-0423 UJA
González y González de Mesa, Carmina 0000-0001-8349-7494 UNIOVI
Díaz Suárez, Arturo 0000-0001-8865-5607 UM
Torres Luque, Gema 0000-0002-6212-9702 UJA
Zagalaz Sánchez, Mª Luisa 0000-0001-6044-8569 UJA
Zurita Ortega, Félix 0000-0002-1189-894X UGR
Martínez Patiño, Mª José 0000-0003-2721-9240 EXTERNO
Contreras Jordán, Onofre 0000-0002-8034-0245 UCLM
Gallardo Guerrero, Leonor 0000-0002-6296-6121 UCLM
García López, Luis Miguel 0000-0001-5393-0090 UCLM
Lara Sánchez, Amador 0000-0002-6590-9173 UJA
Latorre Román, Pedro Á. 0000-0002-0517-3627 UJA
Martínez López, Emilio José 0000-0001-6949-051X UJA
Valdivia Moral, Pedro A. 0000-0002-1905-3247 UGR
Pérez Turpin, José Antonio 0000-0002-3585-3340 UA
Párraga Montilla, Juan A 0000-0002-0250-0717 UJA
Ortega Toro, Enrique 0000-0002-9067-4337 UM
Morcillo Losa, José Alfonso 0000-0002-0288-4394 UJA
Ayala Herrera, Isabel Mª 0000-0003-1383-4795 UJA
Zagalaz Cachinero, Juan 0000-0002-8947-7125 UMA
Lorenzo Quiles, Oswaldo 0000-0002-1087-8138 UGR
Marín López, Javier 0000-0003-3337-5565 UJA
Sánchez López, Virginia 0000-0003-2619-7502 UJA
Díaz Mohedo, Mª Teresa
0000-0003-1719-6356
UGR

Research topic: Pedagogy: New challenges in Education research

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Cachón Zagalaz, Javier 0000-0001-5085-0423 UJA
Campoy Aranda, Tomás 0000-0002-1095-8955 EXTERNO
González y González de Mesa, Carmina 0000-0001-8349-7494 UNIOVI
Pino Juste, Margarita 0000-0002-2551-5903 UVIGO
Colmenero Ruiz, Mª Jesús 0000-0003-3559-2512 UJA
Molero López-Barajas, David 0000-0002-0392-4351 UJA
Medina Rivilla, Antonio 0000-0002-1483-0668 UNED
Ortega Tudela, Juana Mª 0000-0003-3649-3524 UJA
Martínez Moreno, Juan 0000-0002-3340-2781 UJA
Ortiz Colón, Ana 0000-0003-0440-6107 UJA
Torres González, José Antonio 0000-0001-6242-1191 UJA
Pantoja Vallejo, Antonio 0000-0001-5374-4378 UJA
Cámara Estrella, África 0000-0002-8150-9006 UJA
Díaz Pareja, Elena 0000-0001-5255-2761 UJA
Pérez Navío, Eufrasio 0000-0001-8688-9602 UJA
Zagalaz Sánchez, Mª Luisa 0000-0001-6044-8569 UJA
Zurita Ortega, Félix 0000-0002-1189-894X UGR
Lara Sánchez, Amador 0000-0002-6590-9173 UJA
Valdivia Moral, Pedro A. 0000-0002-1905-3247 UGR
Ayala Herrera, Isabel Mª 0000-0003-1383-4795 UJA
Zagalaz Cachinero, Juan 0000-0002-8947-7125 UMA
Lorenzo Quiles, Oswaldo 0000-0002-1087-8138 UGR
Sánchez López, Virginia 0000-0003-2619-7502 UJA
Rodríguez Moreno, Javier 0000-0002-5890-3654 UJA
Pegalajar Palomino, Mª del Carmen 0000-0002-2795-7502 UJA

Research topic: Education: Gender, feminism and citizenship

Name ORCID code Affiliation
Díez Bedmar, Consuelo 0000-0002-5599-7624 UJA
Medina Arjona, Encarnación 0000-0002-3482-3748 UJA
Jaén Milla, Santiago 0000-0002-8913-8959 UJA
García Luque, Mª Antonia 0000-0002-9489-2163 UJA
Peinado Rodríguez, Matilde 0000-0002-3608-8724 UJA
Aznar Laín, Susana 0000-0001-7054-436X UCLM
Cachón Zagalaz, Javier 0000-0001-5085-0423 UJA
González y González de Mesa, Carmina 0000-0001-8349-7494 UNIOVI
Díaz Suárez, Arturo 0000-0001-8865-5607 UM
Torres Luque, Gema 0000-0002-6212-9702 UJA
Zagalaz Sánchez, Mª Luisa 0000-0001-6044-8569 UJA
Zurita Ortega, Félix 0000-0002-1189-894X UGR
Martínez Patiño, Mª José 0000-0003-2721-9240 EXTERNO
Ayala Herrera, Isabel Mª 0000-0003-1383-4795 UJA
Campoy Aranda, Tomás 0000-0002-1095-8955 EXTERNO
Pino Juste, Margarita 0000-0002-2551-5903 UVIGO
Colmenero Ruiz, Mª Jesús 0000-0003-3559-2512 UJA
Molero López-Barajas, David 0000-0002-0392-4351 UJA
Hernández Fernández Antonio 0000-0002-7807-4363 UJA

During the course of your PhD thesis, you will be asked to take a set of training activities aimed at achieving the main competences that every PhD from the University of Jaen must develop by the end of doctoral studies:

Compulsory training activities

  • General: Framework of doctoral studies.
  • General: Framework of scientific research. Research policies.
  • General: Design and follow-up of research projects.
  • General: Knowledge transfer.
  • General: Dissemination of research results.
  • General: Employment and researcher career.
  • Specific: Relevant contribution from the PhD thesis.

In addition, the student may also get enrolled in other training activities (most of which are programme-specific), aimed at acquisition of specific competences of this doctoral programme.

Optional training activities:

  • General: Doctoral seminars.
  • Specific: Active participation in seminars, conferences, symposia, courses and workshops.
  • Specific: Short-term visit (minimum three months) to a foreign research institution (compulsory for students willing to achieve the International mention in their PhD degree).

You may check the calendar of training activities.

You can get more detailed information on the procedures for registration for the different activities and available grants.

All general training activities are in Spanish. Some specific training activities may be in English.

PhD students must pass a yearly evaluation of their activities. This includes general compulsory activities of doctoral studies and specific optional activities offered by the programme. After enrolment, you will receive a link for completion of your Student´s record of training activities and Research plan. All the student´s activities will be registered and certified according to an established procedure.

Each year, students must present proof of participation in at least two training activities. Nonetheless, the Academic commission may issue a positive evaluation for students with only one activity if this is duly justified.

The studies are duly completed with the presentation of the PhD thesis and the student´s public dissertation.

After completion of the Research Plan and Training activities, students may proceed to the public defense of their PhD thesis once the thesis has received initial approval from the PhD thesis supervisor(s) and the Academic Committee of the PhD programme as well as final approval from the Steering Committee of the Doctoral School. In order to receive this approval, the thesis must have achieved a relevant contribution signed by the PhD student as first author. The adequacy of the contribution will be determined according to the criteria established by the Comisión Nacional Evaluadora de la Actividad Investigadora (CNEAI) for the main areas of research and knowledge.

The doctoral thesis may be developed and defended in any of the languages commonly used for scientific communication in its field of research. If the thesis is written in a foreign language, it must include a document written in Spanish and signed by the thesis supervisor(s) containing the following information: title of the thesis, table of contents, introduction, a meaningful summary and conclusions.

At the time of finishing your thesis you may need to check the rules that apply for anti-plagiarism policies, deposit and thesis defense. The following link provides detailed information on the different processes related to the doctoral thesis.

Broadening your experience in other universities now becomes essential in a scenario where information, enterprise and society are globalized. Short-term visits (of at least 3 months) to a foreing institution allow doctoral students to achieve the International mention in their diploma. In addition, the option of Joint Supervision allows you to achieve a PhD degree issued simultaneously by University of Jaen and by a foreign university. Under this modality of study, you will be assigned a thesis supervisor in each of the participating universities under the conditions laid down in the corresponding cotutelle agreement.

PhD students may also spend part or most of their training period in a company. The mention of Industrial Doctorate can be obtained provided that the topic of the thesis is embedded in the research strategy of a company to which the doctoral student is bound by a contractual agreement.

There are different sources of short-term mobility grants for doctoral students: FPU, FPI, PAIDI, Plan Operativo de Apoyo a la Investigación from the University of Jaen, Doctoral School, Erasmus mobility grants, and the Campuses of International Excellence.

Complementary Study Programs

The University of Jaén is committed to an integral training of its students. On this page you will find complementary training activities that will allow you to configure a comprehensive curriculum that favors your employability and your professional and personal development. Check this page regularly because the information is continuously updated.

There are no programs of complementary studies that match the specified filter criteria.

Career Guidance

Internship Training in Companies

The University of Jaen is aware that internships in companies can be essential to your professional career. For that reason, it offers a range of options for you to get enrolled in extracurricular internships, including the University programmes for entrepreneurial activities and Icaro programme. The calls from University of Jaen´s Plan de Apoyo a la Transferencia del Conocimiento, el Emprendimiento y la Empleabilidad may offer you multiple options to facilitate your incorporation to the world of work.

Career Prospects

  • University teacher, both in Spain and abroad (mainly in South America).
  • Research career.
  • Jobs related to innovation at different teaching levels.
  • Creation of companies related to Physical activity and/or others.
  • Teacher training in different fields (Science, Language, Literature, Music, Arts, Physical Education).
  • Gender.
  • Management.
  • Patent development in the field of education.

Coordination and Quality

The academic coordination commission is the collegiate body in charge of direction and academic management of the title. It interacts directly with the students and is in charge of programming the academic activities offered to the students, preparing the calendar, as well as other academic aspects necessary for an optimal development of the title. It will also be in charge of introducing the modifications included in the improvement process proposed by the title´s Quality Assurance System.

Composition

  • Mª Luisa Zagalaz Sánchez (Coordinator)
  • Antonio Estepa Castro
  • Consuelo Díaz Bédmar
  • Amador Lara Sánchez
  • Gema Torres Luque
  • Juana Mª Ortega Tudela
  • Ana Mª Ortiz Colón

Minutes (opens in new window)

The Internal Quality Assurance Commission of the Doctoral programme performs the function of promoting and facilitating the continued improvement of the different activities (teaching, research, transfer of results, administrative issues) concerning the title. It also analyses the academic results and the level of satisfaction the title and prepares the improvement plan that the Academic commission will then put in practice.

Composition

  • María Luisa Zagalaz Sánchez
  • Eufrasio Pérez Navío
  • Isabel Mª Ayala Herrera
  • Encarnación Medina Arjona
  • Javier Cachón Zagalaz
  • Hanrriette Carrasco Venturelli (Personal Investigador en formación del Programa)

Minutes (opens in new window)

The quality assurance system of Jaen University has a two-tiered structure of responsibility. On one side, the corresponding Vice-Rectorate coordinates the quality evaluation process for the different titles, departments and university services and, on the other, the Academic Centre in charge of the title, which applies its Quality Assurance System. The Internal Quality Assurance System of this doctoral programme is available at the following link: Quality Assurance System of the Doctoral School.

All official titles given by Jaen University undergo different evaluation processes by the Directorate of Evaluation and Accreditation (DEVA) of the Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento. The different evaluation reports of this title (verification, modification, follow-up and renewal of accreditation) are available through the following link: Evaluation Reports of University Degrees.

The relevant information for this title concerning number of new enrolments, academic results and student´s level of satisfaction with the title is available at the University Statistical Yearbook under the headings “Estudiantes” and “Satisfacción de los grupos de interés”.

You may also check the dropout rates for the titles given by Jaen University.

Employability is one of the most important elements of the quality of the title. You can take a look at the University report on employability where you will find the most common professional careers of people who took this doctorate before you.