European Chemistry Thematic Network Association

 

EURODOCTORATE PROJECT

 

Site Visit Commentary – University of Genoa

 

PART ONE: May be sent to the institution for comment.

Programme to be evaluated: Doctorate School in Science and Technology of Chemistry and Materials

Date of Visit: Wednesday 26th October, 2011

Site Visit Team: R. Salzer, T. Mitchell and A. Smith

 

 

Persons seen:

Prof. Fabio Lavagetto, Pro-Rector for Research

Prof. Giovanni Carlo Alfonso, Head of the Department

Dr. Aldo Spalla, Head of Administrative office of the Doctorate Schools

Prof. Gabriella Borzone, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Adriana Saccone, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Alessandro Balbi, DISCIFAR, Genoa University

Prof. Luca Banfi, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Mario Canepa, DIFI, Genoa University

Prof. Elisabetta Finocchio, DICHEP, Genoa University

Prof. Annalisa Relini, DIFI, Genoa University

Prof. Davide Comoretto, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Gabriele Cacciamani, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Antonio Comite, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Paola Riani, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Anna Cardinale, DCCI, Genoa University

Prof. Vincenzo Minganti, DICTFA, Genoa University

Prof. Rinaldo Marazza, DCCI, Genoa University

 

33 PhD students of the School in SCIENZE E TECNOLOGIE DELLA CHIMICA E DEI MATERIALI

 

Background to the visit:

The Doctorate School in Science and Technology of Chemistry and Materials was founded in 2005 in order to manage the doctorate courses concerning chemistry and related areas. The School organizes three independent doctorate courses:

Chemical Sciences and Technology,
Medicinal, Food and Cosmetic Sciences,
Material Science and Technology.

 

The School is managed by a Director and a Degree Committee. The Degree Committee is in charge of defining the policy and the strategy of the School.

 

A New National Law is expected very soon. The new regulation shall be much closer to regulations in other European countries than those currently in place, a sound basis for further positive development of the School. It might well be seen as a role model for other Schools in Italy.

 

1. Fitness for Purpose

 

The curriculum proposed offers to the student a framework suitable for the development of advanced general and specific competences, as well as for the appropriation of complex theoretical and practical knowledge, as requested at a state-of-the-art level in the relevant subjects. The graduates can work in industry, in scientific research institutions and in the public service.

 

2. Entry to the Programme

Candidates must hold a 5 (3+2) years degree (M.Sc.) or an old Italian university degree (4 or 5 years). No age or citizenship limits are foreseen. Application is based on yearly calls. The call provides the yearly details (number of positions, enrolment procedures, scholarships etc.). The course management decides about the selection procedure (based on cv, interview, examination). The Admission Committee is local. There are no examination fees. Currently 150 students are funded by grants or research contracts. A grant lasts 3 years. It requires successful annual examinations, otherwise the grant will be terminated earlier.

 

3. Length of Study

 

A doctoral degree is awarded after at least 3 years of full-time attendance. An extension of up to 2 years is foreseen. Since the start of the courses approx. 10% of the participants extended beyond the 3^rd year. Italian law restricts grants to a maximum of 3 years. A part-time attendance for a doctoral degree is foreseen.

 

4. Study Programme Structure: Coursework and Credits

 

The School covers a variety of chemical, physical, biological and computational topics.Research is of central importance. Special abilities are developed by semi-elective courses, which can be freely selected by the students.
Coursework requires between 18-30 credits. The programme is well equilibrated and outcome oriented. Knowledge, abilities and skills to be developed are clearly stated. Emphasis on particular modules is slightly different for the three different courses in order to accommodate special needs in the different areas.
The attendance to specialised lectures held by visiting scientists is compulsory.
Publications and patents are welcome but not mandatory.
All courses are available in English. In the research labs the communication is also generally based on English, assuring a continuous practice.
Credits are assigned to all activities. The relation between credits and workload is clearly defined on an internal scale. The dominating research component is also structured on a credit base. The evaluation of success is based on annual examinations.
It is strongly recommended by the School that every student spends at least 4 months through research periods abroad.
The final assessment is open to the public.

 

5. Other Elements of the Programme

 

Italian regulations restrict teaching activities for students to teaching in the laboratory and in problem solving classes. Tutorials and lab supervision is carried out in a very appropriate time volume (approx. 100 h per year, no extra payment). The candidates appreciate these duties very much with respect to develop their generic skills. Candidates are trained by their supervisors for teaching. There are no special didactic courses on offer.

 

Generic competences
Generic competences will be acquired and evaluated. Several generic competences are particularly mentioned in the application, from planning processes to social responsibility and ethics. Plans to improve the development of generic skills within the School exist. The progress should be evaluated in due time.

 

6. Transcripts

 

The institutional certificate issued by Genoa University does contain information about the skills developed by the candidate. This information is contained in a transcript issued by the department. The transcript shows the title of the thesis, gives detailed information about the coursework chosen by the candidate, on teaching activities and further generic skills developed during the course.

 

7. Graduate Schools

 

The School has an interdepartmental structure, which ensures an appropriate size of the School and provides interdisciplinary education. 5 departments are involved in the current School. The faculty runs another School, which also offers three courses. The latter School is focused on environmental issues. Based on the existing programmes the requirements for coursework (in terms of credits) vary between the courses. Harmonization might be of advantage for the future.

 

8. Supervision

 

The Degree Committee is responsible for the appointment of supervisors and the approval of thesis titles. No written contract between students and university/department/supervisor is signed. Conflicts are solved by the Director of the School and the Degree Committee. No training of doctoral supervisors is foreseen so far.

 

9. Final Examinations

 

The thesis can be written in Italian or in English. The Examination Board is designated by the Degree Committee. Public defence takes place at the department. The Examination Board has to have two external members. The examination can be carried out in Italian or in English.

 

10. Assessment

 

The Examination Board obtains an evaluation list, which contains information about didactic and scientific activities of the candidate, coursework examinations, communication skills, periods spent abroad and in companies, publications. Italian law does not foresee grading of doctorates, but the School issues the “Excellent” mention to approx. 30% of the graduates.

 

11. Quality Assurance

A Scientific Committee made up of external experts from industry and academia, from Italy and abroad evaluates the activity of the Doctorate School annually and offers advice on its improvement. In addition, the university has an internal Evaluation Group assigned to the evaluation of the university system, research and instruction.

 

Conclusion

The experts recommend that the Eurodoctorate Label be awarded to the University of Genoa for the Doctorate School in Science and Technology of Chemistry and Materials for the three independent doctorate courses:

Chemical Sciences and Technology,
Medicinal, Food and Cosmetic Sciences,
Material Science and Technology.

No requirements are proposed to the Label Committee.

The following recommendations are proposed to the Label Committee:

1. Since research credits are awarded, programmes should be developed in a way that as a rule each calendar year carries 50 research credits.
2. The 3 programmes should be harmonized with respect to the required number of coursework credits.
3. The benefits should be evaluated of the intention to use the Scientific Committee as a forum for discussing generic skills.

 

The Doctorate School is organized according to the calendar year. For this reason it seems advisable to award the Eurodoctorate Label effective for the application date as the School works under constant conditions already since 2005.

Reiner Salzer
Terence Mitchell
Anthony Smith