View
225
Download
3
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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
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 - - -
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