BOVA seminar "Planning of international BOVA Ph.D. courses"

Future perspectives of joint international BOVA doctoral courses were discussed in the seminar �Planning of international BOVA Ph.D. courses� in Jelgava (Latvia University of Agriculture) in December 5-6.

Following successful model of joint international master courses in the BOVA network and implementing strategical objectives of BOVA University network a new initiative on development of international doctoral courses was raised in 2006. This idea was supported by the NordForsk giving a grant of NOK 40.000 for planning activities. A small survey on status of doctoral studies and the level of internationalisation was completed by Eda Tursk (coordinator of doctoral studies in EMU) and results were used as a starting point during the seminar. Five teacher groups with ideas and plans for BOVA doctoral courses participated in the seminar together with member of BOVA CC and other officers responsible for development of doctoral studies at member universities.

Reporting results from workshops

Most of seminar participants share opinion on the high demand of joint international doctoral level studies in the BOVA network. They would be a new step in network development and for member universities would increase a quality of doctoral studies, raise competences of doctoral students, increase awareness of professors, mobility rate of students in general, real scientific networking between teachers and build better network between current and future teachers. Joint courses fits very well to EU priorities in higher education policy.

At the end of seminar, teacher groups came with concrete plans for international doctoral courses they wish to provide in 2007 and 2008. In parallel, administrators group formulated proposals to BOVA Rector Board on next actions aimed to initiation of joint international BOVA doctoral courses. Primarily they stress the need of establishment of attractive environment for professors and teachers at member universities. Suggestions on funding policy, number of courses in network and some issues on activity management were addressed to BOVA rector Board meeting for final decisions.

More information on the seminar and some of presentations can be found on the BOVA website: http://www.bova-university.org/index.php?list=phdsem2006.

Submitted by:
 
 Alvidas Sarlauskas
BOVA secretary