1. Coimbra Group Annual Conference, Turku/Åbo, 1 June 2007
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 1

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

7. Support for participation in international courses and conferences
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 Average age still too high
% 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. General, transferrable skills
Balance in Education
Specialised, discipline- related skills
General, transferrable skills

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 page summary
Courses 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
by appointment
Open calls
National evaluation
International evaluation

16. 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

17. Centres of Excellence in research
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

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

20. Wood and Paper Chemistry Prof. Bjarne Holmbom
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

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

22. PCC Funding 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 I found a knot
Knots: Nature´s richest source of bioactive polyphenols
knot

26. HMR from spruce knots Cooperation Univ. of Turku - ÅA
Inhibits the growth of breast cancer
Strong antioxidant
Hormos Medical Inc., Turku
US-FDA approval as dietary supplement in May 2004

27. www.hmrlignan.com 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.

28. Marie Curie Training Site
ÅA PCC appointed Marie Curie Training Site
Research visits to PCC by doctoral students in EU
EC funding € – 96 visitor months
19 students
Poland 6, Romania 6, Spain 2, UK, Sweden, NL,
Bulgaria, Czech Rep.

29. 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 - - -

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
Not for myself but for the next generation of scientists
in strategically important fields