The training programme will encompass the scientific areas consistent with the research activities planned within the network. Furthermore, the network should stimulate students and post-doctorates to visit relevant sites within the network as an integrated part of their training plan, similarly to the previous experience of several of the NoE partners in the so-called “sandwich” PhD, where students spend periods of time in a hosting institution. Such joint programme will allow for the training of hybrid researchers on the most up-to-date knowledge in the field and at the same time provide the students with a vast insight of the network. In this way, deeper and long lasting connections between partners, responsible for different tasks are accomplished, enhancing interactions, creating synergistic effects, and enhancing communication and collaboration at the training level. It should be noticed that training will not be restricted to academic partners, but also available to companies’ employees, since they are fundamental partners in this network for the generation of added value products. It is expected that industrial people will be trained in academia and the students and researchers from academic partners will be able to spend some time in industry.

• Supervisor should be from EXPERTISSUES NoE
• Student has to spend at least 6 months in a different partner/country
• Thesis in English (abstract in English and other European language)
• Always use logo and acknowledge EXPERTISSUES
• At least one external (EXPERTISSUES) examiner in the PhD defence
• Thesis available (certain rules to be defined) on the web-platform

• Students have to accumulate a minimum of credits per activity that they participated during their PhD
• Publications (typically a minimum of 3 research papers and a review paper for the introduction) must be accepted at the time of the thesis submission to obtain the EXPERTISSUES quality stamp (extra certificate stating that the PhD is an EXPERTISSUES Integrated European PhD)
• A number of credits will be awarded per each peer reviewed international publication (according to the IF) but at least one in the new EXPERTISSUES journal (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), John Wiley and Sons Ltd), conferences/courses (oral/poster presentations, attending courses).

Students with outstanding EXPERTISSUES PhD thesis will be awarded a prize for exploitation and dissemination of the research work in consonance with their supervisors and involved Institutions.

Among the activities that an EXPERTISSUES Integrated PhD student might participate to gather credits are the courses/workshops/conferences organized/sponsored by EXPERTISSUES. The priority was to organise a range of high quality postgraduate courses in tissue engineering and related subjects. Close cooperation with the Alea Jacta EST Marie Curie Early Stage Training project and with the Marie Curie Conferences series (InVents - An Integrated Series of Events for High-level Training on Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Controlled Drug Delivery and Related Emerging Fields) has helped considerably in supporting and organising these interdisciplinary courses.