Higher education in Europe is changing, with many, but not all countries adopting the Bologna model of a 3-year first degree, 2-year masters and 3-year PhD. New "European" masters programmes are emerging, and the nature of the PhD degree is changing, with an increased emphasis on professional skills. Many of the changes are driven by external influences and sometimes with little input from either university supervisors, or the students themselves. The goal of this informal workshop was to discuss these changes, and exchange ideas and experience to ensure that the very highest quality of masters and PhD education can be maintained.

The presentations are now available for download:

Update on the Optics and Photonics Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson

Author: James Wyant; University of Arizona (US).

• The M.S. and Ph.D. optics and photonics program at the College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona is continuing to grow. An update on courses, recruiting, and graduate employment will be given.

More information is available at: EOSAM08 EOSAM08_Workshop_Wyant.pdf

Demands of the Photonics Industry on Academic Graduates

Author: Rainer Schuhmann; Berliner Glas KGaA (DE).

• The growing market using optical technologies requires highly educated physicists and engineers involved in industrial manufacturing. Photonics as an enabling technology is based on a deep understanding of physical phenomena covering generation of light, interaction of light and materials used to guide light.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Schuhmann.pdf

Master Degrees and PhDs at the «Institut d’Optique - Graduate School», for Research, Engineering and Entrepreneurship

Author: Jean-Michel Jonathan, Institut d'Optique -Graduate School, Palaiseau and Université Paris-Sud 11 (FR).

• The Institute, founded in 1917, delivers each year one hundred master degrees in optics and photonics from fundamental physics to engineering. Its PhD programm is run in association with Université Paris-Sud. The Institut takes advantage of 10 years of experience in a co-op work program with the industry, and successfully launched an original Innovation and entrepreneurship track.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Jonathan.pdf

A new International Interdisciplinary Program in Photonics and Laser Science from Bachelor to PhD.

Author: Laurent Sarger, University Bordeaux 1 (FR)

• A complete vertically integrated program in Laser and Material Science is proposed linking universities in Europe (FSU, Jena and University Bordeaux 1) and in the USA (UCF and Clemson). A new double degree at the master level in the ATLANTIS framework will complete the existing mobility system from undergraduate to PhD.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Sarger.pdf

Photonics BCN: a master in Photonics in the Barcelona area, inclusion of transversal competences

Author: R.Vilaseca, Univ. Politècnica de Catalunya, Dept. of Physics and Nucl. Eng. (ES)

• The Master in Photonics organized by the universities UPC, UAB, and UB and the research institute ICFO offers a variety of researchor professional-oriented itineraries. Short courses on transversal skills and “activities weeks” allow the student to gain experience on business and research worlds, computing and communication.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Vilaseca.pdf

Dual Graduate Degrees at Georgia Tech Lorraine,

Author: B. Boussert 1Georgia Tech Lorraine, Georgia Tech-C.N.R.S., UMI 2958 (FR)

• Georgia Tech Lorraine is based in Metz, France, and grants American M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Almost all students at the M.S. and Ph.D. level are engaged in dual degree programs with European universities. We will review these program and discuss an intercontinental perspective on graduate education and research.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Boussert.pdf

Training by research in photonics master programs

Author: Dana Cristea, National Institute for R&D in Microtechnologies (IMT-Bucharest) (RO).

• The paper presents the vision of on a multidisciplinary master program in photonics programs, based on hands-on training.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Cristea.pdf

Twenty Five Years of Offering M.S. in Optical Engineering

Author: Azad Siahmakoun, Department of Physics and Optical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (US).

• The Department of Physics and Optical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has been offering a terminal master's degree in optical engineering which prepares students for jobs in industry since 1983. We intend to share our experience and challenges of constructing a curriculum for this purpose.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Siahmakoun.pdf

The Abbe School of Photonics at Jena - home of a novel, distinguished master program in photonics

Author: T. Pertsch, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (DE)

• An international MSc course in photonics, supported by the German government and optical industry, has been established with excellent teaching conditions and a scholarship program for students from abroad.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Pertsch.pdf

Computers in Exams

Author: Kenneth Weir, Imperial College London (UK).

• To allow exam question to address real situations in optics, we have introduced the use of computers in the exam for our Masters level course on “Photonic Structures”. This allows us to examine candidates’ understanding of optics, rather than the detailed underlying mathematics. We will report on the implementation of the exam, its structure, the students’ response and their performance.

More information is available at: EOSAM08_Workshop_Weir.pdf

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