23
and establish contacts with entrepreneurs. This enables them to combine theoretical knowledge
gained at the university with practical experience in companies, and thus have the opportunity to
acquire knowledge and skills that are essential in their future professional work. Dual studies allow
students to learn about real problems and challenges that entrepreneurs face.
Another innovative solution is the double degree program, which allows students to obtain
two diplomas - one from AGH and another from a foreign university. Under the double degree
program, it is possible to study for a certain period of time at a foreign university with which AGH
has a cooperation agreement. After completing the required study program at the foreign university,
students receive diplomas from both universities - AGH and the foreign university. This allows
students to expand their knowledge and skills, gain new experiences, and gain valuable contacts on
the international stage. The double degree program allows students to study at foreign universities,
which often offer unique study programs and specializations. This program facilitates finding a job
on the international stage.
CO-TUTELLE PHD PROGRAM AS A MODERN WAY OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
ON DOCTORAL LEVEL
Azizbek Kamolov
1
, Zafar Turakulov
1
, Sarvar Rejabov
1
, Adham Norkobilov
2
Marcos Fallanza
Torices
3
Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology, Uzbekistan
1
Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology Shakhrisabz branch, Uzbekistan
2
University of Cantabria, Spain
3
E-mail:
azbkamolov@gmail.com
,
sarvar.rejabov7790@gmail.com
,
webdastur@gmail.com
,
fallanzam@unican.es
,
Adham.norkobilov@gmail.com
, +998 94 648 48 41)
Keywords:
PhD exchange, doctoral study, Erasmus+, Cotutelle agreement, research stay
Abstract:
Since the Erasmus+ international credit mobility (ICM) program is, in most cases,
popular enough among bachelor’s and master’s students, this paper mainly focuses on the exchange
of doctoral students and Erasmus+ ICM contribution to the students’ research careers.
Annotatsiya:
Ko'p hollarda Erasmus+ xalqaro kredit mobilligi (ICM) dasturi bakalavr hamda
magistratura talabalari o'rtasida mashhur bo'lganligi tufayli ushbu maqola asosan doktorant talabalar
almashinuvi va Erasmus+ ICM ning ularning ilmiy karyeralariga qo'shadigan hissalariga qaratilgan.
Аннотация:
Поскольку программа международной кредитной мобильности Erasmus+ ICM в
большинстве случаев достаточно популярна среди студентов бакалавриата и магистратуры,
данная статья в основном посвящена обмену докторантами и вкладу Erasmus+ ICM в
исследовательскую карьеру студентов.
Background
Erasmus+ ICM projects
facilitates the movement of employees and students from higher
education institutions internationally and supports their professional development in their studies
and workplace. Apart from that, participating individuals can take an advantage of a deeper
understanding of other cultures and education systems. Moreover, it allows to become more
competitive in the labour market. According to the Erasmus impact study, for instance, after five
years of graduation, the students who participated in Erasmus ICM accounted for a 23% lower
unemployment rate than those who were not involved in the programme.
Uzbekistan as a developing country has been actively taking part in the Erasmus+ ICM
programme exchanging its bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students.
One of the successful
participation in this project arose between the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology and the
university of Cantabria exchanging doctoral students.
Azizbek Kamolov and Zafar Turakulov
,
are studying under the jointly supervised PhD agreement, so-called “
Co-tutelle agreement”
.
24
According to the agreement, the students must be enrolled the doctoral study at both institutions and
the minimum stay periods in each of the two universities would be 6 months, in a single stay or in
stays longer than two months. In this case, Erasmus+ KA107 action scholarship would be the best
option for those students to fulfill one of the requirements of the Co-tutelle agreement.
Figure 1. From right to left.
The University of Cantabria and Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology.
Application, selection, and visa issuance procedure
The calls for applicants for Erasmus+ ICM were announced by the web pages of those two
institutions [2], [3] in September 2019 and October 2020 and all the requirements and selection
criteria were provided on these websites. The selection procedure, on the other hand, was carried
out by the admission committee at sending institution through face-to-face interviews and eligibility
assessment of each criteria. Then, the admission committee selected the following PhD students
(
Table 1
) by thoroughly examining whether they meet each requirement or not, and provided the
list of selected candidates to the host institution to make the final decision.
In terms of the visa issuance procedure, since there is no Spanish Consulate or accredited visa
center in Uzbekistan which is able to provide a visa for stays longer than 90 days, the students
obtained their visas from the Consulate in Moscow.
Table 1. List of selected doctoral students, their main field of study, and research topics.
N
Name & surname Field of research Research topics
1
Azizbek Kamolov Chemical
and
environmental
engineering
Implementation of de-carbonization
strategies
in
Turakurgan
(Uzbekistan)
natural
gas-fired
combined cycle power plant as a
case study
2
Zafar Turakulov
Chemical and
environmental
engineering
Moving towards a more sustainable
cement industry in Uzbekistan:
implementation of carbon capture,
storage and utilization in the case of
Jizakh cement plant
3
Sarvar Rejabov
Chemical and
environmental
engineering
Modelling
and
simulation
of
industrial waste utilization in
Uzbekistan
25
Figure 2. From right to left. Azizbek Kamolov, Zafar Turakulov, Sarvar Rejabov.
Main achievements of the doctoral stay
Under the supervision of
Dr. Marcos Fallanza Torices, Dr. Guillermo Diaz Sainz, and Dr.
Lucia Gomez Coma
, the students were involved in the “
Advanced separation technologies
”
research group and they were able to access all the necessary laboratories of the chemical and bio-
molecular engineering department. Apart from that, there are several deliverables of the research
stay that are listed as follows:
Research stay needed to be implemented at UC was completed meeting one of the
requirements of the Cotutelle agreement;
Weekly meetings were made with the supervisors consulting the state of the doctoral thesis
and its practical implementations;
Based on more than 200 research papers reviewed before the mobility, the manuscript of a
review paper was prepared and submitted to supervisors for revision;
Figure 2. Some photos from the laboratory and working office.
40 hours basic and 40 hours advanced transversal training course related to the different
competences has been completed which was mandatory for all doctoral students at UC;
CCUS process analysis was made in the laboratories dedicated to developing a membrane
material, CO
2
absorption, and adsorption, photochemical and electrochemical CO
2
utilization;
26
Process model and simulation of the Turakurgan thermal natural gas-fired combined cycle
(NGCC) power plant and Jizzakh cement plant were developed, validated with the real case
data, and improved in three stages using commercial software Aspen Plus® for CCUS
process;
Figure 3. Aspen Plus® models of Turakurgan NGCC power plant and Jizzakh cement plant
that were developed during the research stay.
Based on the results obtained, drafting a research paper started;
At the end of the stay, it was agreed to organize online scientific seminars and training for
doctoral students of TCTI;
Last but not least, European experience on CCUS process, Spanish language and culture
were learned throughout the stay having the opportunity to travel around Spain;
Conclusion
All in all, international doctoral exchange programs play a vital role in not only individual
development but also the development of science and society.
