ECTN Working GroupECTN Working Group

European DimensionEuropean Dimension

in 2in 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd cycle studies cycle studies

ECTN WORKING GROUP: EUROPEAN ECTN WORKING GROUP: EUROPEAN DIMENSION IN 2nd AND 3rd CYCLE STUDIESDIMENSION IN 2nd AND 3rd CYCLE STUDIES

Aim of the group / RationaleAim of the group / Rationale: To provide the : To provide the common vision of the Master and PhD in chemistrycommon vision of the Master and PhD in chemistry

During the first year of activity the WG discussed Master During the first year of activity the WG discussed Master studies whereas the second year has been devoted to studies whereas the second year has been devoted to doctoral studiesdoctoral studies

MeetingsMeetings: Kraków (Poland), 1 - 2 of April 2005 : Kraków (Poland), 1 - 2 of April 2005

Thessaloniki (Greece), 4 – 7 of May 2005Thessaloniki (Greece), 4 – 7 of May 2005 Helsinki* (Finland), 24 – 25 of February 2006 Helsinki* (Finland), 24 – 25 of February 2006

Vienna (Austria), 19 Vienna (Austria), 19thth of April 2006 of April 2006* * Helsinki meeting was organized together with TUNING Chemistry Helsinki meeting was organized together with TUNING Chemistry

Subject Area GroupSubject Area Group

Third cycle studiesThird cycle studies

Some important points discussed:Some important points discussed: What is PhD for?What is PhD for?

to train students to be independent to train students to be independent researches researches

to produce new scientific knowledgeto produce new scientific knowledge to maintain succession of research chemists to maintain succession of research chemists

Some important points discussedSome important points discussed

Are PhD candidates students or employees? Are PhD candidates students or employees? Budapest descriptors Budapest descriptors Duration of 3Duration of 3rdrd cycle (3 – 5 years) and cycle (3 – 5 years) and

ECTS credits for coursework (15 – 60)ECTS credits for coursework (15 – 60) Graduate student teachingGraduate student teaching PhD supervisionPhD supervision Assessment of PhD candidatesAssessment of PhD candidates Ownership of researchOwnership of research

RecommendationsRecommendations:: Maintaining records of student’s skill Maintaining records of student’s skill

developmentdevelopment Joint degrees supporting mobilityJoint degrees supporting mobility CourseworkCoursework

Skills Supporting Skills Supporting

including coursesincluding courses

language language ThesisThesis

researchresearch

ParticipationParticipation

andand

awarenessawareness

RecommendationsRecommendations

Purpose of PhD examination/defence of thesis Purpose of PhD examination/defence of thesis - to evaluate: - to evaluate: Quality and quantity of research presented in thesisQuality and quantity of research presented in thesis Student’s understanding of his/her researchStudent’s understanding of his/her research Student’s awareness of the significance of his/her Student’s awareness of the significance of his/her

work to the development of the disciplinework to the development of the discipline

A component of teaching included in PhD A component of teaching included in PhD programmes, useful to a graduate’s personal programmes, useful to a graduate’s personal developmentdevelopment

Training for supervisors of PhD encouragedTraining for supervisors of PhD encouraged

RecommendationsRecommendations

Direct transfer from 1Direct transfer from 1stst cycle to 3 cycle to 3rdrd cycle for cycle for high fliershigh fliers

CyclesCycles

Special item:Special item:

A proposed database for Master courses in A proposed database for Master courses in Europe Author: Michael Gagan Europe Author: Michael Gagan

A draft introductory letter to Departments A draft introductory letter to Departments and draft questionnaire available on and draft questionnaire available on request:request:

jmg@tutor.open.ac.uk jmg@tutor.open.ac.uk

or or kolasa@chemia.uj.edu.pl) kolasa@chemia.uj.edu.pl)