The structure of the initiative is based on three committees and a coordination (composed of representatives of the three committees and, initially, the installation committee). The committees have full autonomy to plan and execute initiatives and events within their scope, with the support of the coordination. Doctoral students join the committees voluntarily, with the exception of the PubHD committee, which has special autonomy. The three committees are:
UC Doctoral Student Support Office (GADUC)
The UC Doctoral Student Support Office (GADUC) aims to provide support to any UC doctoral student, not only in their relationship with the University, but also with society in general.
GADUC is not intended to replace the UC's existing bodies, but to complement them, guiding doctoral students to the right structures according to the problems they face.
In practice, GADUC will be able to provide support in a wide range of areas, from liaison with UC bodies to academic issues, social support, accommodation for displaced students (national and international), industrial property and even pedagogical support.
Within this scope, a close relationship is foreseen with the University of Coimbra, especially with the Rectory, UO's, UC Student Ombudsman, DITS, CMC, as well as student representation structures, such as AAC and the representatives in the Faculty Assemblies and General Council.
Committee for Interdisciplinary Education
It will be up to the IFC to propose initiatives and events, of an interdisciplinary nature, that complement the doctoral student's training at the UC. In practice, these activities will consist of conferences, workshops and other types of training, with a special focus on skills useful in the academic and professional environment. The initiatives and events will have to add value to the current offer, and the necessary partnerships and invitations should be promoted. The CFI should also seek synergies with the PosDoc@UC initiative, in order to optimize good initiatives that are already underway.
The creation of the UC doctoral student's day - PhDay - should come from this committee and should be transversal enough in the various areas of knowledge. Sub-committees may also be created for more delimited interdisciplinary areas that foster research and teaching in them, as long as there is no overlap with the UC's current offer.
The promotion of scientific publication, internal and external mobility of doctoral students, as well as the financing of interdisciplinary projects may be one of the ways in which the IFC may act.
PubHD Committee
This committee is responsible for organizing, promoting and stimulating the PubHd Coimbra initiative. PubHd originated in Nottingham, in 2014, and is an event that challenges doctoral students to explain their research work in an informal setting of a bar. Founded in October 2017, PubHd Coimbra already has 8 editions, which monthly brings together three PhD students from different areas of the UC, to informally communicate their projects to a heterogeneous audience, in the bar Aqui Base Tango.