MEiCogSci: Middle European Interdisciplinary Master Programme in Cognitive Science

Presented atSpoločné študijné programy – možnosti slovenských vysokých škôl

Pedagogická fakulta UKF, Nitra, Slovakia

Igor Farkaš, Ján Rybár13.3.2008Comenius Universityin Bratislava

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Cognitive Science as interdisciplinary field of studyMEiCogSci project – curriculum developmentspecial features of the programme

mobilitystudent conference

accreditation Implementation (infrastructure, contractual issues,…)Visibility

Overview

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• Cognitive Science – study of human mind• embraces various methodologies known from its „mother“ disciplines

(cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy of mind, ...)

• well established as a field of study in US, and quite well in western Europe

• Our goal – join forces, provide the best for students as a specialisation

• Our ultimate goal – joint degree

Interdisciplinary field of study

4Seite:Igor Farkaš, Ján Rybár, Comenius University, Bratislava

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Duration: Oct. 1, 2005 – Sept. 30, 2007

Coordinator – University of Vienna

Project goal - Curriculum development Review of existing programmes Curricular architecture Definition of learning outcomes (for courses, modules) Teaching & learning concept External evaluation (CogSci programme Univ. Amsterdam,

L.Wenting)

MEi:CogSci project28545-1-IC-2004-1-AT-ERASMUS-PROGUC-4

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University of Vienna -Markus Peschl, Brigitte Römmer Nossek, Elisabeth Zimmermann,

Comenius University in Bratislava - Igor Farkaš, Ján Rybár

Budapest University of Technology and Economics - Csaba Pléh

Loránd Eötvös University in Budapest - László Ropolyi

University of Ljubljana - Urban Kordes, Olga Markic, Andrej Ule

University of Zagreb - Melita Kovacevic, Bojana Dalbelo-Basic

MEi:CogSci consortium

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Exchange of students & teachers

ERASMUS – bilateral agreements with partner universities CEEPUS – network (if Erasmus not possible) regular meetings with students from Vienna student mobility obligatory

Our mobility:• 2007/08: all 5 students of Comenius U. to Vienna• 2008/09: 10 students, most to Vienna, some to Budapest• so far, we have received two students from Vienna – we will try to attract more • teacher mobility within CEEPUS

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• feature of MEiCogSci• purpose:

get-together for students in consortiumstudent presentations (talks, posters) at int’l level invited teachers’/researchers’ talks

• It‘s a challenge that can discourage less motivated students• June 2007 – 1st student conference, held in Vienna• June 2008 – 2nd will be in Bratislava

Student conference

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Accreditation• Different legal frameworks• No procedures for the accreditation of joint degrees!• Bratislava & Vienna: Pilot efforts

At Comenius Uni:• in 2005: programme submitted in parallel to two committees (psychology, artificial intelligence), as joint effort of two faculties (no support from rectorate, conservativism of accreditation committee)• in 2008: we have to go through reaccreditation

• applying in new field of study 9.2.11 - Cognitive Science• CogSci programme with int‘l flavor, no true joint degree yet

Accreditation on European level?

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CogSci at Comenius U. runs at one faculty (F. of Math, physics and informatics) researchers/teachers from other faculties involved as well financing required for those only moral support from dean and rector

Rectorate we need to push them to sign bilateral contract

international level & recognition helps

Implementation

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Implementation:Infrastructure needed to run the program

international leveljoint programme

coordinatorscientific steering

committee

university levellocal p. coordinator(module resp.)

faculty(ies) administration IT-infrastructure

IT-infrastructureAdministration

IRO

… … …

rector

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Implementation:Infrastructure needed to run the program

International Level joint programme coordinator [local programme director] scientific steering committee [LPD, module responsible,…]

Link local/international levelIT-resourcesadministration: clear interfaces & procedures web platform createdHow to minimize duplicity?

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Visibility

• web platform currently at http://univie.ac.at/meicogsci,

http://ii.fmph.uniba.sk/meicogsci• under construction: http://meicogsci.eu• advertising

in newspapersat appropriate ocassions

• we want students with various backgrounds

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Implementation: Contractual issues

Contract„Legal formalities“CurriculumTitle awardedRecognitionStudent statusResponsibilitiesProcedures for joining & leaving the consortiumQualityFinancial mattersetc.

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THANK YOU for listening !