EUNICE European University links with these workshops emerging researchers and industry to promote PhD collaborations
Around 50 participants from the European countries of the EUNICE European University for Customised Education gathered from 5th to 7th October at the University of Catania (Italy) with one goal: facilitating the approaching and cooperation between University and Industry for education and research activities This was the first edition the Industry-driven Education workshops organised by the alliance, with the collaboration of UMONS University. It brought together EUNICE staff working on “Training, Research & Development for Industry-oriented problems”, experts of industrial Ph.D. programmes, representatives of companies and industries, PhD students and researchers.
Francesco Priolo, Rector of the University of Catania, welcomed the guests with a special focus on PhD students, whom he encouraged to continue on their academic career. “Discussing Industrial Ph.D. is very important, especially when working together with companies and industries,” explained Rector Francesco Priolo.
“I believe that these opportunities represent a moment of cultural, educational and professional growth of fundamental importance. An industrial doctorate offers more opportunities, because it is a qualification useful for initiating an academic career, but at the same time it is a qualification spendable outside of the academy, which facilitates access to the labour market. Companies and industries are not only looking for a qualification, but also for transversal skills that can be obtained by comparison with other researchers, companies and industries in other countries. This is why this event represents a unique opportunity for growth”, he said.
Caption: Prof. Priolo, Rector of the University of Catania.
Next to speak were the delegates for PhD and Master’s courses Claudio Bucolo, for Research Salvo Baglio, Antonio Terrasi and Filippo Caraci, and for Third Mission and Internationalisation Lucia Zappalà, who emphasised the opportunities arising from working together: “ i.e. research collaborations, networking with companies and industries to achieve practical applications capable of providing solutions to new socio-economic challenges, both locally and globally”.
During the first working day, staff, industrial Ph.D. coordinators and students built a solid network based on expertise and exchange of experience in the industrial Ph.D. opportunities offered by the consortium. To achieve this goal, they identified the most indispensable research topics in the labour market for industrial Ph.D. and Masters, and planning and counselling support service for students who wish to approach industry-driven Ph.D.
Paweł Śniatała, Vice Rector of the Poznań University of Technology (Poland), institution coordinating EUNICE, adressed the PhD students directly: “When you decide to join in a Ph.D. programme, you have renounced something, you are sacrificing a lot, without being able to experience the benefits of your choice immediately. However, based on my personal experience, I am sure that, in addition to your skills and competences, having a Ph.D. on your business cards will come in handy and help you a lot in your life. The meeting in Catania gives you the opportunity to start networking with PhD students from other European countries, which will help you a lot in your future. I would like to give my encouragement to all students who want to enrol in a Ph.D. programme, especially an industrial one!”.
During the second day, Alliance’s partner companies, which participate in activities such as the EIIP – EUNICE International Internship Portal, were directly involved. Speakers in the morning session included Marek Landowski of Intel Polska (Poland), Adam Rosocki of Freudenberg Sealing (Germany), Ramón Merino of Inhibitec (Spain), Alessandro Brunetti of IQrypto (Belgium), Pietro Amico of Fidia Farmaceutics (Italy), David Fillon of Toyota (France), Donald Mouafo of Besttic (France) and Tauno Kekäle of Merinova Technology Centre (Finland).
In the afternoon, 13 Ph.D. students competed in the “2-min Elevator Pitch”, presenting their industrial research projects to attending industries and companies. The winner was Katherine Gouveia, an industrial PhD student in Chemical Sciences from the University of Mons, with her work entitled “Synthesis and foaming of novel NIPUs by continuous reactive extrusion”.
The second “Knowledge Triangle” workshop, co-organised by Universities of Mons (Belgium) and Catania, included three parallel sessions, two attended by researchers specialised in Materials Science and Energy research fields with the aim of identifying joint projects to be funded, and one specifically for EUNICE staff with the aim of identifying useful tools to facilitate mobility for internships by expanding the portfolio of companies already present on the EIIP, starting work on joint calls for scholarships for Ph.D. students and researchers.
About EUNICE
EUNICE European University for Customised Education is nurtured by the intellectual and infrastructural contributions of ten universities: Poznań University of Technology (Poland), Brandenburg University of Technology (Germany), University of Cantabria (Spain), University of Mons (Belgium), University of Catania (Italy), Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France (France), University of Vaasa (Finland), University of Peloponnese (Greece), Polytechnic Institute of Visseu (Portugal) and University of Karlstad (Sweden).
The Alliance, selected in the 2020 Call of the Erasmus+ programme for the specific action European University Initiative (EUI), aims at a paradigm shift from traditional education to customised, flexible, open, multicultural, multicentric, innovative and engaging education, capable of meeting the needs of individuals, society, the labour market, industry and business. This is made possible by the establishment of a strong network comprising educational institutions, over 200 industrial and commercial partners, as well as other social, cultural, artistic and sporting actors.
