About the programme
The programme encompasses research into information systems, i.e. design, development and use of information technologies, as well as development tools, programming languages and knowledge representation. The focus is on user orientation and participation. Design and management are understood in a broad sense. Differences from and similarities with other design disciplines such as architecture are explored, the focus being on participation and democratic dialogues. These aspects give the programme a Scandinavian profile with the notion of participation, uniting the design and management aspects of IT. As regards programming languages, tools and knowledge representations the emphasis is on high-level, user-oriented formalisms and development techniques, based on declarative representations and component-based architectures.

Main research areas
Research is organized in two research groups, PLIS and UDI. The PLIS group (Programming, Logic and Intelligent Systems) investigates foundations, tools and languages for the development of adaptable, reliable, human-oriented computer systems. The group's research covers theoretical foundations,languages, tools and semantic models together with application areas. The main research topics are:

· Knowledge-based systems and intelligent interaction with systems
· Logic and knowledge representation
· Programming languages and tools.

The UDI group (User Driven it Innovation) focuses on how organizations manage, design, implement, and use IT to support users' needs and business strategies. The goals of the research are to achieve more successful IT projects and greater benefits of using IT. Main research topics are:

· Evaluation and effects-driven IT development
· Computer-mediated communication and coordination in complex organizational contexts
· Software process improvement
· Diffusion and adoption of IT.

Goals and activities
The purpose of this programme is to provide PhD education in information technology and computer science at a high, internationally recognised level, some objectives being:

· to maintain a stimulating research environment at Roskilde University able to attract students and researchers from all parts of the world,
· to provide highly competent supervision of PhD students, many of whom are attached to major research projects,
· to organise and conduct courses, workshops and seminars in the areas covered by the programme,
· to establish a network of international relations as a basis for short and long student visits to or stays at foreign universities.

The programme organises its own advanced PhD courses in design and management, aspects of computational linguistics and computational logic, etc, and students can attend a wide range of postgraduate courses given at the universities in the Greater Copenhagen area. Students are also encouraged to attend PhD schools or consortia in relation to international conferences or workshops. The annual European Summer School on Logic, Language and Information is highly recommended to students with an interest in those areas.

The PhD programme is affiliated with two cross-institutional programs, FIRST and DaRSIS

Further information:
Keld Bødker, associate professor, PhD
Computer Science
Building 43.2
Roskilde University
PO Box 260
DK-4000 Roskilde
Tel: +45 4674 3850
Fax: +45 4674 3072
Email: keldb(at)ruc.dk

Administrator of PhD
Signe Berri
+45 46 74 26 92
E-mail: berri@ruc.dk