Diarmuid Kennan Mar 10, 2016:

Agneta - I just realized I misread your comment - I thought you wrote "It IS a document..."

Diarmuid Kennan Mar 10, 2016:

This appears to be the source http://www.ufn.gu.se/digitalAssets/1384/1384674_policy_semin...

Daniel Löfström Mar 10, 2016:

The same word (opponent) has been used on the undergraduate level in Sweden, as well. The question is whether this rather clumsy neologism (diskutant) has come to be. Either it is meant to replace "opponent" (maybe the word is perceived to be too aggressive these days) or it is supposed to have another meaning (to differentiate from "opponent").

Diarmuid Kennan Mar 10, 2016:

When I was in university, we used the Danish word "opponent" to describe this role. The opponent was another student at the same level and their (our) role was to provide constructive criticism.

Daniel Löfström Mar 10, 2016:

I believe it to be a separate role. This document from KTH outlines the process towards the doctoral thesis. It appears that the "opponent" role is reserved for the final examination, whereas "diskutant" is used for a similar role in the setting of a preparatory seminar. On the other hand, terminology might vary between universities. https://www.kth.se/polopoly_fs/1.467347!/Prestationsgrad_dok...

Thomas Johansson Mar 10, 2016:

In case it's a separate role, I would suggest "reviewer".

Daniel Löfström Mar 10, 2016:

Vad är kontexten? Rör det sig om själva disputationen? I så fall kan det ju stämma, som Diarmuid föreslår, att "diskutant" skulle vara ett nytt ord för det som annars kallas opponent på svenska. Eller handlar det om ett seminarium?