The Finnish Graduate Schools and Centres of Excellence in

research- views from the inside

Bjarne Holmbom

Coimbra Group Annual Conference, Turku/Åbo, 1 June 2007

GS´s and CoE´s in Finland

Two innovations in FinlandStarted in 1995

Some personal experiences and views

Graduate Schools in Finland

Ministery of Education / Academy of Finland

• Small scattered groups - National and international networking

• Old PhD´s – median 37 years• Better, more organised supervision • Better science in Finland

Graduate Schools in Finland

• Applications - evaluations• Now 124 schools • 1458 student positions• Twice as many as in 1995• Support for four years, about 1800 €/month

Graduate School in Graduate School in Chemical EngineeringChemical EngineeringGraduate School in Graduate School in

Chemical EngineeringChemical Engineering

Åbo Akademi University

Helsinki University of Technology

Lappeenranta University of Technology

University of Oulu

26 laboratories

30 paid student positions

Additional students with support from other sources

Individual research and study plans

Annual individual progress reviews

Annual Seminar

Yearbook

Progress report

Annual Prize

General Seminar

Intensive courses

Support for participation in international courses and conferences

Development 1995 - 2006

• Much more doctors– 1985 349– 1995 765– 2006 1409 49 % women !

• Average age still too high – median value for 2002: 32.9 (natural

sciences) – 42.8 (pedagogical)

• Has quality improved ?

Too many doctors now ? Better doctors ?

Generally, not too many now, but – maybe too many in some disciplines

Too few, independent entrepreneur-type doctors (?)

Ready for work in the private sector, including spin-off enterprises

Balance in Education

Specialised, discipline- related skills

General, transferrable skills

Graduate School problems

• Transparent and fair selection of students

• Too old students taken in• Supervision variable – quality too• Education mainly for the academics

Too high demands in Finland ?

• 5 refereed international publications + 40-50 page summary

• Courses 40 + 20 ECTS

• PhD degree in 4 years achievable for less than half of the students

• Quality >>> Quantity

Development of Graduate Education 2007-2011 (Min. of Educ.)

• Supply and demand of doctors in balance• Quality and quality control• Larger, but fewer schools • International networking - cooperation and

mobility• Joint degrees• 20% foreign students in 2012

Centres of Excellence in research

Academy of Finland

• Raising the goals and quality standards of Finnish research

• Increase international competitiveness and exposure

• Increase the esteem of research• Promote interdisciplinary research

• Open to all disciplines• One or more high-profile research

groups

• 1995-1999 by appointment• Open calls

1. National evaluation2. International evaluation

CoE organisation

To become a CoE

• At, or very close to the international cutting edge in their own field

• Share a clear set of objectives• Work under the same management• University or research institute

Centres of Excellence in research

• 2000 26• 2002 16• 2006 23• 2008 18

Too many for a population of 5.3 million ?

CoE Fields

Recently appointed (2006 and 2008)

– Biosciences 18– Other Natural and Technical 13– Other 10

Four groups at Åbo Akademi

Molecular Process Chemistry

Towards understanding of industrial processes and products

at the molecular level

2000-20052006-2011

Åbo Akademi Process Chemistry Centre Board

Academy of Finland/Scientific Advisory Board

Industrial Advisory Board

Coordination/Finances

Wood and Paper Chemistry

Prof. Bjarne Holmbom

Combustion and Materials Chemistry

Prof. Mikko Hupa

Kinetics and Catalysis

Prof. Tapio Salmi

Process Analytical Chemistry

Prof. Ari Ivaska

Task Forces

CoE Funding

• Academy of Finland• Host organisations of units• Other sources of national and

international funding

PCC Funding 2000-2005

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Mill

ion

€

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Others

Graduate Schools

Nordic Scholarships

EU

ÅA

Companies

Academy of Finland

Tekes

AoF

ÅA

Good synergy - broader views More focus on science – much more international

publications More visibility and respect

Some free money - more innovative research

Free money for scientific adventures

Science is like adventurous searching in a vast forest

Trying to understand Nature´s Wisdom created by the Evolution in the trees - at the molecular level

Trying to find treasures - - -

Treasures can be found

I found a

Knots: Nature´s richest source of bioactive polyphenols

knot

HMR from spruce knots

Cooperation Univ. of Turku - ÅA

• Inhibits the growth of breast cancer

• Strong antioxidant

• Hormos Medical Inc., Turku 1997 -

• US-FDA approval as dietary supplement in May

2004

O

O

MeO

OH

OH

OMe

OH

Recent research has shown that plant lignans have a positive influence on the development of breast, prostate and colon cancer which rely specifically on oestrogens in order to progress.

www.hmrlignan.com

On the marketIn 2006

• ÅA PCC appointed Marie Curie Training Site 2002-2006

• Research visits to PCC by doctoral students in EU

• EC funding 240.000 € – 96 visitor months

• 19 students Poland 6, Romania 6, Spain 2, UK, Sweden, NL, Bulgaria, Czech Rep.

Marie Curie Training Site

The Johan Gadolin Scholarship

Support to the Process Chemistry Centre from the Åbo Akademi Foundation for three years

To sponsor visits to ÅA by PhD students and PostDocs, from all over the world

Open call soon - - -

Hoping for Coimbra Group students and PostDocs - - -

Who was Johan Gadolin ?

1760 – 1852

Professor of Chemistry1797 – 1822 atThe Royal Academy of Turku / Åbo

Isolated yttrium oxide, thus finding the first so-called rare earth metalcompound

The element 64 found in the late 19th century was named Gadolinium

Final messages

Try to identify and then support ambitious groups / individuals having visions – mission – passion

Provide them with – space for growth– Some free money to do what they like to

do

Save them from administrative duties