Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR)

The application for enrolment may only be submitted in the same academic yearwith a single institution. Candidates who have already been registered for this diploma at another institution are required to report this.

The application for registration is examined by the President of the University of Avignon, which decides on the proposal of the Research Commission sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research.

As provided for in the Order of 23 November 1988, as amended, the candidate may choose a " research director "without this provision be mandatory, however. This research supervisor may be chosen from among the personnel entitled to direct research in public higher education establishments or establishments of a scientific and technological nature, working within or outside the University of Avignon.

In order to initiate the application process, the HDR candidate must contact Mrs Robert at jennifer.robert@univ-avignon.fr to find out about the internal process specific to the institution leading from the application to the final stage of the defence and to be clearly informed of the administrative formalities to be completed and deadlines to be respected.

It is up to the HDR candidate to choose, in conjunction with his/her "research supervisor", if he/she so chooses, a "rapporteur". external "The latter is responsible for submitting a report based on a summary of his or her scientific activity. The latter is responsible for submitting a report based on a summary of his or her scientific activity, which will notably detail his or her achievements in terms of research activities, publications, research leadership, teaching and administrative involvement. For applicants from a non-academic background, the last two items are replaced by a description of the professional experience acquired. The " research director The "external rapporteur", if there is one, also draws up a report justifying the application for registration. Both the "external" rapporteur and the "research supervisor" must be qualified to conduct research.

At the initial stage of the application process, the candidate sends Mrs Robert the summary of his/her scientific activity (in electronic form) and the application form (downloaded online). It is then up to the applicant to transmit the summary of his/her scientific activity to the "external" rapporteur and, if necessary, to the "research supervisor", to obtain from them reasoned report(s) giving an opinion on the registration authorisation and to communicate them to jennifer.robert@univ-avignon.fr.

The complete file (CV, appendix A and reports) is then examined by the Scientific Council sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research. The various elements of this file must be sent to Mrs Robert by the candidate at least fifteen days before the Scientific Council meeting. The Vice-President of the Research Commission appoints an "internal" rapporteur who summarises the dossier before the Research Commission (sitting in restricted formation), which gives an opinion on the request for authorisation to register to the President of Avignon University. In no case, the "research director" can be the "internal" rapporteur to the Research Commission sitting in restricted formation.

Once the authorisation to enrol has been obtained, the candidate must apply to the Education and Training Department the necessary steps to register for the diploma.

The application file includes either one or more published or typed works, or a portfolio of work, accompanied by a summary of the candidate's scientific activity, showing his or her experience in conducting research.

Authorisation to appear before the jury is granted by the President of the Université d'Avignon on the proposal of the research commission sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research. To do this, the president entrusts the examination of the candidate's work to three "scientific" rapporteurs chosen for their competence, including at least two must be qualified to conduct research. Two of these rapporteurs must not belong to the the teaching staff of the institution in which the applicant has applied. The 'external' rapporteur initially appointed to report on the application can also be a "scientific" rapporteur.

The Research Committee, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research, appoints these three "scientific" rapporteurs from a list of three proposals established by the applicant, in conjunction with his/her supervisor if any (HDR Annex B). This proposal for rapporteurs may be presented to the Research Committee, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research, at the application stage, particularly when the application file is very well developed.

The process leading to the authorisation to defend will not be able to start when Mrs Robert is in possession of appendices A and B, duly completed and signed by the President of the University of Avignon, a copy of the school certificate as well as the final application file (transmitted in electronic form). Once these conditions have been met, Mrs Robert will be in charge of to request the 3 rapporteurs and to send them the application file. The latter will make known, within 3 weeks of receiving the files, their opinion on the authorisation of the defence by written and motivated reports.

The Research Committee, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research, will decide on the application for a defence on the basis of the scientific reports and the summary report to be drawn up by the internal rapporteur to the Research Committee. In all cases, a 2-month waiting period will be respected between the examination by the Research Commission of the application for registration and the application for defence. These reports will be communicated to the candidate by Mrs Robert and may be consulted by any person authorised to direct research.

After a favourable opinion from the President of the University of Avignon, the candidate's work is presented orally before a jury composed of at least five membersThe members of the Board are chosen from among the teaching staff entitled to direct research in public higher education establishments and from among the directors and research officers of scientific and technological establishments. At least half of the juryThe jury must be composed of professors or equivalent; the jury may include foreign personalities.

The jury is appointed by the President of the Université d'Avignon, on the proposal of the Research Commission, sitting in a formation restricted to persons qualified to direct research. To do this, a list of members drawn up by the candidate, in conjunction with his/her "research director" if he/she has chosen one (HDR Appendix C), is proposed to the Research Commission. This proposal can be presented to the Research Committee at the stage of examination of the "scientific" rapporteurs or later.

The notice of presentation of the work is posted on the premises of the institution before the oral presentation to the jury. As far as possible, this oral presentation is held in the premises of the University of Avignon. Mrs Robert is in charge of the material organisation of the oral examination (reservation of the room, audiovisual equipment, etc.). An incompressible delay of 31 days will be respected between the favourable opinion of the president of the University of Avignon and the oral defense in front of the jury.

At the end of the oral presentation of the work, it is up to the president of the jury to give Mrs Robert the final report (appendix D).

The candidate carries out the necessary procedures for the delivery of the diploma with the University of Avignon's Studies and Schooling Department.