The Finnish Graduate Schools and Centres of Excellence in research - views from the inside

1. 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

2. GS´s and CoE´s in Finland Two innovations in Finland Started in 1995 Some personal experiences and views

3. 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

4. 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

5. Graduate School in Chemical Engineering Åbo Akademi University Helsinki University of Technology Lappeenranta University of Technology University of Oulu 26 laboratories

6. 30 paid student positions • Additional students with support from other sources • Individual research and study plans • Annual individual progress reviews

7. Annual Seminar • Yearbook • Progress report • Annual Prize • General Seminar • Intensive courses • Support for participation in international courses and conferences

8. 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 ?

9. 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

10. Specialised, discipline- related skills General, transferrable skills Balance in Education

11. Graduate School problems • Transparent and fair selection of students • Too old students taken in • Supervision variable – quality too • Education mainly for the academics

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. CoE organisation • Open to all disciplines • One or more high-profile research groups • 1995-1999 by appointment • Open calls • National evaluation • International evaluation

16. To become aCoE • 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

17. Centres of Excellence in research • 2000 26 • 2002 16 • 2006 23 • 2008 18 Too many for a population of 5.3 million ?

18. CoE Fields Recently appointed (2006 and 2008) • Biosciences 18 • Other Natural and Technical 13 • Other 10

19. 2000-2005 2006-2011 Four groups at Åbo Akademi Molecular Process Chemistry Towards understanding of industrial processes and products at the molecular level

20. Academy of Finland/ Scientific Advisory Board Industrial Advisory Board Åbo Akademi Process Chemistry Centre Board Coordination/ Finances Task Forces Combustion and Materials Chemistry Prof. Mikko Hupa Wood and Paper Chemistry Prof. Bjarne Holmbom Process Analytical Chemistry Prof. Ari Ivaska Kinetics and Catalysis Prof. Tapio Salmi

21. CoE Funding • Academy of Finland • Host organisations of units • Other sources of national and international funding

22. PCC Funding 2000-2005 ÅA AoF

23. Good synergy - broader views • More focus on science – much more international publications • More visibility and respect • Some free money - more innovative research

24. 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 - - -

25. Treasures can be found knot I found a Knots: Nature´s richest source of bioactive polyphenols

26. 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

27. On the market In 2006 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

28. MarieCurie Training Site • 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.

29. The Johan GadolinScholarship 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 - - -

30. Who was Johan Gadolin ? 1760 – 1852 Professor of Chemistry 1797 – 1822 at The Royal Academy of Turku / Åbo Isolated yttrium oxide, thus finding the first so-called rare earth metal compound The element 64 found in the late 19th century was named Gadolinium

31. Final messages Try to identify and then support ambitious groups / individuals having visions – mission – passion Provide them with • space for growth • Some free money to do what they like to do Save them from administrative duties