H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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WORKSHOP C

EPS collaboration in Physics Studies across Europe

Hendrik FERDINANDE

Member EPS Executive Committee, FR-68200MulhouseUniversiteit Gent, BE-9000 Gent

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Summary

• Quality A New Standard?• Prologue (i) & (ii)• EPS : Bologna Process Project (i),(ii) & (iii)• ‘A European Specification

for Physics Doctoral Studies’• Alternative approaches (Natur. Sc. & Eng.)• Conclusions & workshop suggestions (i) & (ii)

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Quality A New Standard?

• A North American professor went to India earlier this year to teach

• No sooner had he begun when a student asked if his course was compliant

with one found on the

MIT OpenCourseware site

• Is this a new bottom-up standard?

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Prologue (i)

• European Physical Society (EPS) – grass roots member driven organisation– over 3,000 individuals, – 41 national physical societies

• DPG ~ 60,000 memb.; IoP ~ 40,000 memb.– 50 unis, research labs and comp’s active in

physics• European Mobility Scheme for Physics Students

[EMSPS] (1992/2003)

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Prologue (ii)

• Support to ‘Bologna Process’ and EHEA• BPP: ‘The implementation of the Bologna

Process into Physics Studies in Europe’– systematic analysis European-wide impact

reforms to degree structure in physics

• Logistic help from INCHER (International Centre for Higher Education Research)

(Prof. B. Kehm) Universität Kassel (DE)

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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EPS : Bologna Process Project (i)

• EPS + 17 Nat. Phys. Soc. + INCHER

• Inquiries– Bachelor in 2008– Master in 2009– Doctoral in 2010

• Results Ba & Ma & Doc (provisional):

see www.eps.org

• Concluded large dissemination conference

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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EPS : Bologna Process Project (ii)

• ‘A European Specification for Physics Bachelor/Master/Doctoral Studies’i.e. characteristics of physics study programmes

in a European dimension at EQF Level 6 , 7 & 8

(sort of descriptors for Level 6 , 7 & 8 in a SQF)

• Guidebook for Physics Ba/Ma/Doc study by group phys. experts (EPS, IoP, DPG, EPS - BPP & EPS - PED)

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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EPS : Bologna Process Project (iii)

• European Specification Phys Ba/Ma/Doc Studies– introduction– programme structure & delivery– physics– physics Ba/Ma/Doc discipline competences– physics Ba/Ma/Doc generic competences– annex: Ba: European Benchmarks (i.e. “contents”)

• Target groups– physics departments: e.g. Directors of Studies– physics students & candidates– physics related industry: e.g. CEOs, recruiting managers

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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‘A European Specification for Physics Doctoral Studies’

• Dublin Descriptors

• Salzburg II recommendations

• Banff Principles on Graduate Education 2007

• Doctoral candidates (students): emphasize professional status

• ‘Tuning Educational Structures in Europe’

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Alternative approaches

• Natural Sciences– Europ. Chemistry Thematic Network (ECTN)

• Euro-Bachelor®, Euro-Master® & Euro-Doctorate®

– EFG: Euro-Ages project

• Engineering– European Network for Accreditation of

Engineering Education (ENAEE) Prof. Giuliano Augusti (Roma ‘La Sapienza’, IT)

agreements with Nat. QAA & ECA

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Conclusions & workshop suggestions (i)

• Physics ~ Europe-wide:

Ba/Ma/Doc: 3 + 2 + (3 to 4)

• Doctorate (only?) after Bologna Ma!• Doctoral Schools (DS) (generic for Grad. &/or

Res. Sch.)

by uni or by program (CDT in UK)

or by res. counc. [FNRS in BE(fr)]

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Conclusions & workshop suggestions

• Euro-label: ® or not? & four conditions ?(in 90’ies)

– thesis defence ≤ 2 profs from 2 HEIs of 2 Eur. countries (other than one where doctorate defended) given judgment on manuscript

– ≤ 1 member jury belong HEI from Eur. country other than one where doctorate defended

– part of defence in one of the official Eur. languages, other than one where thesis defended

– doctorate partly prepared as result of research of ≤ 1 trimester spent in an other Eur. country

H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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H. Ferdinande 21st C Doctorate Brussels (BE) 2011-03-18

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Many thanks for your attention!

www.eps.org