Martí i franquès doctoral programme plus
The Rovira i Virgili University (URV) is well positioned nationally and internationally due to the Excellence of its research and the commitment and internationally recognised staff. URV welcomes annually 11.200 undergraduate, 1.300 masters and 1.200 PhD students. In 2018, it was named World’s 78th Best Young University aged less than 50 years (by THE World University Rankings). At Spanish level, in 2017, URV was the 4th in publications by permanent teaching staff and 7th with Highly Cited Papers per each 100 permanent teaching staff. The URV endorsed the Charter and Code in 2008, obtaining, in April 2014, the HR Exellence in Research award by the EC, renewed in 2017. URV offers doctoral studies distributed in 24 programs in all areas of knowledge, and state of the art facilities in 
which the fellows can develop their research projects.
The URV was granted (and running with great success) a first MSCA-COFUND-DP in 2015 for the implementation of a programme of 50 doctoral positions, with a total value of 8 M€ (4 M€ funded by the EC). With this new COFUND project (MFP Plus), we will offer 50 PhD Positions in two calls (in 2020 and 2021), and we will expand on some critical aspects, the backbone of the doctoral education: diversity to foster innovation (thanks to the explicit support of 59 partner organisations, 21 of which are non-academic); better pportunities for candidates in difficulties; integration with the intelligent specialisation of the region, and improved training and support for the doctoral candidates.
Our MFP Plus meets all the necessary conditions to be the catalyst of a larger change in our university and region, starting the process of improving employment and working conditions for all the researchers and creating a real impact of our research and on the fellows’ future career. A highly trained, experienced and professional team, led by the Rector of our university herself, will guarantee a resounding success in the implementation of this project.