Our offer is addressed to PhD students. The overall objective of the programmeis to intensify international cooperation of the Polish research units and to increase the scientific level of research carried out in Poland by young scientists (PhD students). Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies (CMMS) is one of the flag-ship institutions in Poland in the area of broadly defined chemistry research and post-graduate education. It is a multidisciplinary research centre (organic and polymer chemistry, and physics, materials chemistry, bioorganic chemistry) as well as a high ranking educational institution. CMMS belongs to the network of Institutes affiliated at Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS). According to various evaluations, CMMS is ranking third to fifth among all chemistry faculties at universities and research institutes in Poland. Due to high scientific achievements in various fields of research, CMMS professors have been awarded significant and honours, such as Foundation for Polish Science Prise as well as Honorary Doctorate degrees by several foreign universities.The PhD Studies Programme in CMMS offers high quality education for young university graduates (37 students in the academic year 2008/2009, 22 female and 15 male students). CMMS was awarded the status of The European Centre of Excellence in 2000 and in the years 2006-2008 has obtained a European Social Found (ESF) for its PhD Studies Project. CMMS professors, involved in the PhD Programme as lecturers, have an international experience, giving also lectures in European Universities (France, England, Germany, etc) as well as in Polish Universities (University of Torun, Lodz Technical University, University of Poznan and Cracow). Among the teaching staff ,100% of lecturers are fluent in English and the PhD Programme involves also lectures in English, given by professors from European Universities. Given the priorities set out in the Bologna Declaration and the Lisbon Process, CMMS will implement the policy for internationalization of education carrying out the following objectives and priorities: constantly improving mobility standards, full recognition of study periods abroad, developing curricula with regard to the labour market needs, enhancing educational offer in foreign languages together with teaching Polish culture and language, providing information about the progress of ERASMUS programme, improving services for incoming and outgoing students (on-line application, documentation flow via Internet), developing and implementing the ECTS catalogue and Diploma Supplement in Polish and English, monitoring the use of ECTS, improving staff and students’ level of language skills, disseminating knowledge among students about cultural differences so as to prevent racism and xenophobia. In order to increase students and lecturers’ exchange we are going to support student associations to organize international summer courses and conferences, publicity: access to on line forum for Erasmus students and lecturers to share their experience, searching financial support for Erasmus teaching staff mobility, taking into account criteria of teacher mobility as part of the academic career. Important part of our project will be promotion of innovative technology by cooperation with enterprises and innovative higher education institutions, participating in innovation fairs. To support disabled students/teachers CMMS plans to provide special facilities for students/teachers with hearing and physical disabilities.
CMMS has many bilateral agreements with educational and research institutions in Europe and is a member of European Associated Laboratory. We offer ERASMUS programme for PhD study. At present, CMMS is working on introducing credit system. We select students, participating in the PhD programme as a result of the introductory exam process based on students’ learning achievements’ and knowledge of the foreign languages. High quality of academic mobility is ensured by: a) full recognition of mobility period abroad on the basis of ‘Learning Agreement’ and satisfactory completed study period at partner university, b) system of bilateral agreements with educational and research institutions in Europe (Belgium, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain), leading to regular contacts with partner universities and providing students with the information concerning study programmes. Information about partner universities (institutes) are available in the CMMS Office of Deputy Director for Research and respective questionnaires are accessible on the Institute website pages. Mobility candidates from CMMS are entitled to reimbursement of the costs of language courses in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German; provided they pass exam checking the knowledge of foreign language. We offer for incoming students: a) high quality research facilities and modern curricula at the CMMS PhD courses, b) provision of accommodation at the CMMS with all the facilities, c) tutoring – PhD students from CMMS taking care of incoming students, d) Polish language courses, e) integration and cultural events. Lecturer exchange is to increase the quality of education at CMMS by learning and using successful learning methods, and improving lecturer language skills, intensification of existing cooperation, developing of new joint activities. In the future CMMS is planning to take part in Academic Networks designed to promote innovation in specific disciplines.
Quality of PhD students mobility for professional training is ensured by organization of student placement in partner enterprises and enterprises cooperating scientifically with CMMS or recommended by foreign and Polish partners, establishing bilateral agreements. Furthermore, CMMS maintains student selection process focusing on learning achievements, knowledge of languages, compatibility of the subject of placement with the student’s field of study. CMMS meets formal requirements e.g. insurance, establishing individual plan of study as attachment to the agreement, signing agreement by PhD student, research institute and enterprise, describing requirements towards each party, recognition of placement and assessment procedure, regular contacts with coordinator in the enterprise. PhD student placement requires the following to be recognized; subject of placement compatible with the field of study, plan of placement agreed with coordinator of bilateral agreement, interim and final reports to be presented by PhD student, placement positive opinion or assessment to be delivered by enterprise, recognition of placement by Coordinator of Programme. Based on those criteria, 1-2 months industrial placements will be organized in European countries, mainly Germany, France, Belgium and Holland, during the summer holidays.
