An exceptional cotutelle agreement – an important step in the internationalization of doctoral education at the Medical University of Lodz

The Medical University of Lodz has signed an agreement on joint doctoral supervision (cotutelle) with Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid (Spain). This agreement represents an important and distinctive stage in the development of the University’s international cooperation, strengthening its presence and activity on the European map of research and education.

The international doctorate carried out under the cotutelle scheme is supervised by Tomasz Boczek, PhD, DSc on behalf of the Medical University of Lodz and Prof. Raquel Abalo Delgado on the Spanish side. The research and training program has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of both partner universities. The procedure for awarding the doctoral degree will conclude with a joint public defense of the doctoral dissertation, scheduled to take place in Spain. As a result, the doctoral candidate will be awarded two equivalent diplomas – from the Medical University of Lodz and Rey Juan Carlos University.

The implementation of an international doctorate in the cotutelle format is of particular importance for the development of young researchers. It enables them to function within two academic systems, gain experience in an international research environment, and build lasting relationships and networks of scientific cooperation. Such arrangements enhance the quality of research, increase its visibility, and strengthen the scientific mobility of doctoral candidates and supervisors.

The signing of this cotutelle agreement is an important step toward further internationalization of the Medical University of Lodz. It confirms the University’s openness to strategic foreign partnerships and modern forms of education within doctoral schools. It also reflects the consistent implementation of efforts aimed at deeper integration of Polish science into the European and global research landscape.