Procedure for the defence of the doctoral thesis

Stage II. DEFENSE OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS BEFORE THE PUBLIC DEFENSE COMMITTEE

10. If the dissertation meets the regulatory requirements, the candidate for the academic degree must submit the following documents to the ASEM Doctoral School to initiate the public defense of the doctoral dissertation:
    • the candidate’s CV in Europass format
    • an extract from the minutes of the Scientific Council regarding the approval of the thesis topic, the doctoral advisor, and the members of the supervisory committee;
    • a copy of the certificate of completion of doctoral studies with the accumulated credits;
    • a list of scientific publications, corresponding to the titles of the scanned copies of those publications;
    • the opinion of the doctoral advisor(s) regarding the acceptance of the thesis;
    • the opinions of the members of the Advisory Committee and the Generalized Form for the Evaluation of the Doctoral Thesis;
    • the minutes and the positive opinion of the Advisory Committee regarding the preliminary defense of the doctoral thesis;
    • information regarding the consideration of suggestions from the members of the supervisory committee (in the form of a table);
    • implementation documents;
    • the similarity report following the verification of the thesis via Sistemantiplagiat.ro, along with the resolution regarding the absence of elements constituting plagiarism.
    • the list of PDC members with the scientific works published in the field by each PDC member;
    • the bound doctoral thesis;
    • the manuscript of the doctoral thesis abstract in Romanian and English (or Romanian, Russian, and English for Russian speakers).
11. The file containing the documents required to initiate the procedure for organizing the defense of the doctoral dissertation is submitted for review to the ASEM Doctoral School Coordinating and Quality Council and, subsequently, for approval to the ASEM Scientific Council.
12. Following the review of the file for the formation of the PDC, the ASEM Scientific Council may take one of the following decisions:
    • approval/rejection of the applicant’s file for the scientific degree;
    • approval of the formation of the PDC in the proposed composition;
    • approval of the formation of the PDC with modifications to the proposed composition;
    • rejection of the request to form the PDC.
13. Based on the positive decision of the Scientific Council, the ASEM Rector issues an order establishing the PDC for the defense of the doctoral dissertation.
14. The PDC is considered formed as of the date of issuance of the ASEM Rector’s Order. Its validity period is 6 months. If the candidate for the scientific degree is abroad and travel to the Republic of Moldova requires self-isolation in quarantine, the period for examination and organization of the thesis defense is automatically extended until these restrictions are lifted.
15. The public defense of the dissertation is preceded by its examination during a preliminary meeting of the PDC, at which the publication of the dissertation abstracts is authorized and the date, time, and location of the public defense of the doctoral dissertation are established.
16. At least 30 days prior to the defense, the candidate for the scientific degree shall send to the members of the PDC, the ASEM Scientific Library, and the ASEM Repository one identical copy of the thesis and the thesis abstracts, with the signature of the doctoral advisor and the author on the back of the cover. The submission of the thesis and its abstracts, in electronic format, for posting on the ANACEC website, shall be carried out by a person designated for this purpose within the doctoral school/institution. The request for posting on the ANACEC website shall be accompanied by the following documents:
    1. The application signed by the candidate for the academic degree, completed in accordance with the Application Form;
    2. The doctoral thesis and thesis abstracts, which comply with the established formatting requirements (PDF format), in the electronic version that has undergone plagiarism checking;
    3. The similarity report.
17. The public defense of the dissertation is preceded by its review by the official reviewers, who are required to submit their report to the PDC chair at least 12 days prior to the public defense. The opinion, 3–5 pages in length, must address the mandatory elements of a doctoral dissertation, including the alignment between the dissertation’s content and the candidate’s published works; it must contain general and analytical assessments; and it must identify any errors found in the dissertation. The official reviewer’s opinion must not include excerpts from the candidate’s dissertation. Ten days prior to the public defense of the thesis, the reviews of the official reviewers are made available to the candidate. The doctoral thesis may be submitted for defense even in the event of negative reviews from the official reviewers, provided the candidate for the academic degree does not withdraw the thesis.
18. At least 10 days prior to the public defense of the thesis, a notice is posted on the ASEM website informing specialists in the field of the date, time, and location of the public defense, the topic of the doctoral thesis and its author, the doctoral advisor(s), the main scientific results obtained, and the location where the full text of the thesis and its abstracts can be consulted.
19. At the PDC meeting, the candidate for the academic degree submits a dossier containing the following documents:
    • The candidate’s CV in Europass format;
    • the ASEM Rector’s order regarding the composition of the PDC;
    • a copy of the doctoral degree certificate;
    • a list of scientific papers published on the thesis topic;
    • the minutes and the AC’s opinion regarding the defense of the doctoral thesis;
    • information regarding the consideration of suggestions from the members of the advisory committee (in the form of a table);
    • the opinion of the doctoral advisor;
    • information regarding the professional qualifications of the PDC members
    • the opinions of the official reviewers, signed by them;
    • opinions on the abstract of the doctoral thesis;
    • the similarity report with the resolution regarding the absence of elements constituting plagiarism;
    • certificate of submission of a printed copy of the thesis and the abstract to the Scientific Library collection and the ASEM Repository;
    • Minutes of the preliminary meeting of the PDC at which the publication of the scientific abstract was authorized and the date of the public defense of the thesis was set;
    • Identity document of the candidate for the scientific degree;
    • Documents implementing the research results;
    • The decision of the ASEM Scientific Council regarding the approval of the doctoral thesis topic, the scientific advisor, and the members of the Supervisory Committee;
    • The bound doctoral thesis;
    • Abstracts of the doctoral thesis in Romanian and English, and possibly in Russian.
20. The public defense of the thesis may take place in the presence of all members of the PDC or in the justified absence of only one of them, provided that the absent member has submitted a favorable review and a preliminarily completed voting form. The absent reviewer’s review shall be read in full during the thesis defense session. The presence of a foreign citizen acting as an official reviewer or member of the PDC may be ensured online.
21. The session proceeds as follows:
    • The PDC Chair introduces the candidate for the academic degree, the doctoral advisor, and the members of the PDC.
    • The Chair of the PDC reviews the documents submitted in the candidate’s file, verifies their compliance with current regulations, and answers any questions that may arise.
    • The candidate for the academic degree presents, over the course of approximately 30 minutes, the research methodology applied and the scientific results contained in the doctoral thesis.
    • The candidate for the academic title answers questions posed by PDC members or other individuals present at the defense.
    • The PDC Chair reads the Advisory Committee’s Opinion, and the candidate reports on the implementation of the suggestions made by this committee.
    • The official reviewers present their opinions on the thesis, with objections and suggestions being read from the prepared opinion.
    • The candidate for the scientific degree responds to the reviewers’ objections and suggestions.
    • If necessary, an open discussion takes place regarding the scientific and practical value of the thesis, involving all participants in the session.
    • The members of the PDC complete the Doctoral Thesis Evaluation Form, based on which a summary report is prepared.
    • Using a special form, the members of the PDC vote on the grading of the doctoral thesis and the conferral of the academic degree. If the evaluations of the doctoral thesis warrant one of the grades “Excellent,” “Very Good,” “Good,” or “Satisfactory,” the conferral of the doctoral degree is proposed. The decision is made by an open vote of at least two-thirds of the PDC members. If the grade “Unsatisfactory” is assigned, the PDC, based on the arguments presented by the committee members, specifies the content elements that need to be adjusted or supplemented in the doctoral thesis and determines the possibility of a repeat defense, but no sooner than 6 months from the date of the first thesis defense session. The second public defense of the thesis takes place before the same PDC. If the grade “Unsatisfactory” is also obtained at the second defense, the candidate for the doctoral degree is definitively denied the conferral of this title.
    • The Chair of the PDC reads aloud the PDC Decision regarding the degree of novelty and the scientific and practical value of the results obtained in the doctoral thesis, which the PDC members approve by open vote.
    • The candidate for the scientific degree is given the floor for closing remarks, and the Chair declares the PDC session closed.
22. Within 5 days of the public defense of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate is required to submit a copy of the dissertation to the collection of the National Library of the Republic of Moldova, along with the corresponding certificate.
23. In extraordinary circumstances (pandemic), online examination of doctoral dissertations within the PDC is approved under the following conditions:
    1. examination of the thesis in the physical presence of the candidate, the chair, and the doctoral advisor;
    2. online participation of the other members of the PDC and of persons wishing to attend the thesis examination session, using online communication tools;
    3. the link to the online thesis examination must be posted in advance on the ASEM website and forwarded to ANACEC.
    4. the attendance list for the PDC members’ meeting must be replaced with an electronic audio-video recording of the meeting or with other evidence of the members’ online participation in the thesis examination.
24. The candidate for the academic title prepares the File for Validation of the Awarded Title, submits this file to the ASEM Senate for confirmation, and subsequently to ANACEC for expert review and validation of the academic title awarded by the PDC.

STAGE III. VALIDATION OF THE ACADEMIC DEGREE BY ANACEC

25. The application for validation of the awarded academic degree is submitted to the ANACEC office and must include:
    • ASEM’s request for confirmation of the academic degree of Doctor of Economic Sciences;
    • The decision of the ASEM Senate to confer the academic title, signed by the ASEM rector;
    • The doctoral dissertation;
    • The abstract of the dissertation in Romanian and in a language of international circulation;
    • The minutes of the public defense of the doctoral dissertation, signed by the chair of the PDC;
    • Statement signed by the candidate and the doctoral advisor regarding the assumption of responsibility for ensuring the originality of the thesis’s content, as well as compliance with quality standards and professional ethics;
    • List of publications related to the doctoral thesis topic and an appendix with scanned copies of the publications;
    • The candidate’s curriculum vitae (Europass format);
    • Information regarding the professional qualifications of the PDC members;
    • Copies of the reports/reviews/opinions of the official reviewers, who are members of the PDC;
    • Opinions on the abstract of the doctoral thesis;
    • A brief similarity report and the resolution regarding the absence of elements constituting plagiarism;
    • A video recording of the public defense of the thesis in electronic format;
    • Copy of the applicant’s identity document;
    • Other documents, at the discretion of ASEM:
      • Decision of the ASEM Scientific Council regarding the approval of the doctoral thesis topic, the academic advisor, and the members of the Advising Committee;
      • Copy of the certificate of completion of doctoral studies with accumulated credits;
      • Minutes and Opinion of the Advising Committee regarding the preliminary defense of the doctoral thesis;
      • Opinions of the members of the Advising Committee and the doctoral supervisor(s);
      • Thesis evaluation form within the Advising Committee;
      • The ASEM Rector’s Order approving the PDC of the doctoral thesis;
      • The attendance list of the PDC members for the doctoral thesis and the list of invited experts;
      • The evaluation form for the doctoral thesis completed by the PDC members;
      • The minutes regarding the voting results of the PDC members;
      • Certificates confirming the submission of the thesis and its abstracts to the collections of the National Library and the ASEM Scientific Library, as well as in electronic format to the ASEM Repository (irek.ase.md);
      • Certificates/Documents regarding the implementation of the research results.

The President of the PDC and the candidate for the academic title are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the documents included in the certification file and for their compliance with the relevant regulations.

26. The certification file registered at ANACEC is forwarded to the Research and Innovation Evaluation Directorate, which, after an initial review, forwards it to the Expert Committee. This committee reviews the doctoral dissertation in accordance with established criteria, the abstracts and the certification file, the resolution regarding the absence of elements constituting plagiarism, and the publications related to the dissertation topic, and formulates conclusions regarding their compliance with quality standards.
27. The Governing Board of ANACEC, based on its own assessment, the proposals of the relevant sections, the expert committees, and independent experts, makes a decision on the application. If the file is found to contain falsifications or activities incompatible with scientific ethics, the Board rejects the file and imposes the appropriate sanctions on the PDC that submitted it. The review period for files at ANACEC is up to 4 months.
28. ANACEC confirms or rejects the decision of the PDC and the ASEM Senate regarding the conferral of the doctoral degree. The date of the public defense of the doctoral dissertation before the PDC is considered the date of conferral of the doctoral degree.
29. Based on ANACEC’s validation of the doctoral degree awarded by the PDC, ASEM issues the doctoral degree in science. The doctoral diploma shall bear the grade obtained and a Latin notation, as follows: Summa cum laude for the grade “Excellent”; Magna cum laude for the grade “Very Good”; and Cum laude for the grade “Good”.
30. If ANACEC rejects the decision to confer the academic degree based on the defense of the doctoral dissertation, ASEM receives a written justification for the rejection from ANACEC. The revised doctoral dissertation may be resubmitted to ANACEC within one year of the date of the initial rejection. If the doctoral dissertation is not submitted within one year or is rejected a second time, the doctoral degree will not be conferred.