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Twin Curriculum: Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Leadership Studies, 

plus the PhD Degree in Leadership (and Mastery of Change) programmes

Twin Curriculum: after the Postgraduate Diploma, the PhD - Research, Thesis, Orientation.    

Upon the successful completion of the PGD part of the Twin Curriculum the participant is awarded the School's Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Leadership Studies. Thereafter, if it is the student's wish to do do so, he/she undertakes the steps for completing the additional requirements (research,...) towards earning a doctorate degree (Ph.D.).

In terms of the curriculum's end-goal, the thesis, the academic procedures somewhat vary, in accordance with the criteria of the institution/country where the doctorate thesis will be presented and defended. 

In general the process of defining the precise subject and scope/depth of the practice-oriented thesis (doctorate dissertation) is initiated during the second or third year of the PGD part of the Twin Curriculum. Extensive personal guidance will be provided by the PGD e-coach(es) (possibly being the future thesis mentor or advisor). The Comprehensive Essay, or Final Paper, which is the last component in the preceding PGD part of the Twin Curriculum, often is a major steppingstone towards the subsequent PhD research and thesis.

Actual PhD Thesis defence ('viva') -- see also: Paths

When the thesis' oral defence takes place at our institution,  there is a general guideline. It is subject to adjustments, in accordance with protocol and procedures of the degree-granting partner-institution. This  is equally the case when the entire research and defence stages take place at another institution. 

When undertaken at our school, the procedure for the viva (viva voce, or "soutenance à vive voix"), being the thesis' oral defence, takes place in the presence of (in front) an examining committee (jury) of which the thesis supervisor is a member.  The one-hour viva starts with a short exposé by the candidate of his/her thesis, followed by a series of questions and comments by the jury members. In some cases the defence is a two-stages one: the private defence, with jury, possibly by videoconferencing, on the basis of the thesis manuscript; and at a later stage the actual public defence. 

When undertaken at another educational institution, for instance in the candidate's home country, or country of residence, or at an educational institution in yet another country, the procedure follows the stipulations of the academic tutelage (tutelle or co-tutelle), or co-endorsement of the thesis. An inter-collegiate agreement and process guidelines will be organised beforehand, between the institution where the viva will take place, and ours, and in some cases also with government-educational authorities. When the thesis supervisor (promoter) had been selected from our faculty, the member travels to the location where the public defence takes place.  

In all cases pre-doctorate guidance will be provided to the candidate. 

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