EUA Workshop, London, 11-12 November 2005 Implementing Structured Doctoral Programmes at Faculty-Level: Benefits, Challenges, Perspectives Thomas Koch, Scientific Coordinator Graduate School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
RUB Facts & Figures Established in 1965 to drive structural reform in the Ruhr region, now among the 10 largest universities in Germany 20 Faculties housing all major disciplines on a compact and well integrated campus Germany s leader in the introduction of Bachelor/Master courses, best practice university 2004 Annual budget 360 m 4000 academic and research staff 31 000 students 4300 international 2500 doctoral, 15% in structured programmes
Structured Doctoral Programmes at RUB Research Training Programmes 9 DFG Research Training Groups 2 International Max Planck Research Schools 3 EU Marie Curie Early Stage Research Trainings Graduate Schools RUB Doctoral College ( Promotionskolleg ) Cross-faculty: NRW International Graduate School for Neuroscience NRW Ruhr-Graduate School of Economics (interinstitutional) Faculty-wide: Graduate School of Chemistry and Biochemistry International Graduate School for Biosciences
Doctorate Degrees at RUB Faculties (1998-2004 average) 100,0 (177) 90,0 80,0 70,0 60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 60,8 38,7 25,3 27,3 30,0 28,8 29,0 25,0 18,2 15,3 12,0 14,0 4,8 5,3 6,3 7,3 6,2 1,8 1,5 Doctorates conferred p.a. Protestant Theology Catholic Theology Philosophy, Education and Journalism History Philology Law Faculty of Economics Social Science East Asian Studies Sports Science Psychology Civil Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electronics and Information Technology Mathematics Physics and Astronomy Geosciences Chemistry Biology Medicine
Course Structure at the Faculty of Chemistry Traditional up to 2001/2002 2001 Bologna reforms 2002 New doctorate regulations Doctoral Studies 3-year research course Master of Science (120 CP) Preparatory Training (60 CP) Diplom Studies 4.5 years Bachelor of Science (180 CP)
Graduate School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Established in October 2002 New doctorate and study regulations at the faculty o 1+3 year doctoral programme o Internationally compatible admissions o Teaching language largely English o Mandatory interdisciplinary curriculum Coordination office o Scientific coordination of doctoral programme o International marketing and recruiting o Additonal academic and social counselling Start-up funding by DAAD/DFG o Doctorates at Universities in Germany (PHD)
DAAD/DFG Start-up Funding Doctorates at Universities in Germany (PHD) Selection criteria o Academic excellence o Structures and transparency o International focus 50 International Postgraduate Programmes Budget, max. 160 000 p.a. For infrastructure only, i.e. staff salary, language courses, social activities, teaching material, marketing and recruiting, guest lectures and soft skills, travel No scholarships 3 years initial funding + 2 years upon peer-evaluation Institution must agree to continue the programme for at least 5 years after pilot phase
Doctoral Students in Graduate School 200 Doctoral students 150 100 50 0 Graduate School 30% international students 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Membership All doctoral students admitted to the structured doctoral programme at the Faculty of Chemistry belong to the Graduate School
Research Training in (Bio-)Chemistry All chemistry departments Inorganic Chemistry I, II Organic Chemistry I, II Physical Chemistry I, II Biochemistry I, II Technical Chemistry Theoretical Chemistry Selected laboratories On campus Faculty of Biology Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Geoscience (23 professors, 130 scientists) Off campus MPI for Coal Research MPI for Bioinorganic Chemistry MPI for Iron Research MPI for Molecular Physiology
Faculty Research Broad scientific spectrum Materials Molecular Chemistry NanoChemistry for Life Life Science Many collaborations 3 RUB Centres of Excellence 2 DFG Research Units 4 DFG Collaborative Research Centres 6 DFG Priority Programmes 2 DFG Research Training Groups 2 Graduate Schools EU-FP6-FET-IP PACE EU-MC-EST INTCHEM 6 m external funding in 2004 Constant need for highly qualified researchers
International Doctoral Programme Admission Requirements Preparatory Training: B.Sc. or FH degree (1st class) in chemistry or biochemistry, functional English language skills, basic German is recommended Starting dates: 1 October or 1 April Research Studies: M.Sc. or Diplom in chemistry, biochemistry or related field, alternatively 60 CP in preparatory training (1st class), functional English language skills Starting dates: anytime
Curriculum Preparatory Training Classes (60 CP) Mandatory core subjects Elective courses Intermediate examinations In-depth practicals Specialisation Oral presentation and final examination Admission to research course (or M.Sc. 2nd year) Research Course Individual research project Classes (Course record form) Interdisciplinary lecture programme Literature and methodology seminar Modern aspects of chemistry and biochemistry Scientific communication Doctoral research seminar Research management Subsidiary subject Thesis Public thesis defense
Services and Events for Students Academic Induction- and poster session Regularinfoevents Study guides Individual study counselling Cross-departmental doctoral research seminars Guest scientist programme Summer schools 2 Graduation days p.a. o Chemistry Day o Christmas Colloquium Social Administrative support with o Immigration o Accommodation o Local authorities o Matriculation Excursions German language courses
Centralised Recruitment International marketing Calls for application Permanent general call for applications Additional specific calls for thematically focussed research trainings (e.g., DFG-GK, EU-MC-EST,...) Application form Self evaluation Research proposal Transcripts & certificates Letters of recommendation Evaluation Elegibility Preliminary ranking Structured interviews Short-term project
International Admissions Application GSCB Office elegibility, preliminary ranking Recommendation Doctorate Board Admission Supervision? Funding? Yes/No Members of Faculty: Professor 1, Professor 2,..., Professor X
Management Advisory Board incl. Dean, Head of Doctorate Board and 2 additional Profs. Speaker Prof. W. Sander Scientific Coordinaton Dr. T. Koch General Administraton G. Talbot Objectives 1. Implementation of international doctoral programme 2. Aquisition of external funds 3. Institutionalisation
Financial Aspects 450.000 400.000 350.000 EU (MC-EST) DAAD (PHD) 300.000 Total Budget 250.000 200.000 150.000 100.000 50.000 Initial Funding Successful evaluation & aquisition of new funding 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Calender Year
Added Value and Sustainability Benefits of faculty-wide GSCB Improves guidance and qualification of individual doctoral students with academic, administrative and social support close to the actual person Focusses organisatorial resources related to cross-disciplinary research training and recruitment of international graduate students Enhances the international exposure of faculty research Ideal host for externally funded research trainings and networks Medium-term funding largely secured through external sources
Key Issues Transition from pilot project to permanent infrastructure Integration into university budget Faculty-wide vs. larger organisational structure Integration of Master programmes into Graduate School Level of English communication skills in wider University administration RUB Institutional Perspective University-wide Research School - 3 scientific sections - International Postgraduate Center
Contact Speaker: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Sander (wolfram.sander@rub.de) Coordinator: Dr. Thomas Koch (thomas.koch@rub.de) Graduate School of Chemistry and Biochemistry RUB NC 02/168 Ruhr-Universität Bochum D-44780 Bochum Tel: ++49 (0) 234 32 24374 Fax: ++49 (0) 234 32 14749 gscb@rub.de www.rub.de/gscb