EFCE European Federation of Chemical Engineering

Invited by the Dutch delegate Peter Hamersma the EFCE WP on Education held its spring 2007 business meeting on 30 March 2007 at the Delft University of Technology (TU) in Delft/NL. The meeting was attended by 20 members and three invited guests.

Prof. Karel Luyben, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, welcomed the attendees and presented an overview on Chemical Engineering in the Netherlands and on the Faculty of Applied Sciences. At TU Delft research in chemical engineering takes place in three departments of this faculty as well as in two departments of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering.

Ir. Pieter L.J. Swinkels, Director of Delft Ingenious Design, gave a presentation on “Technical and human factors in chemical process design courses”. He presented the Dutch concept of a post MSc programme leading to a so-called Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng). This advanced level programme trains and educates graduates to become Certified Process Designers.

Prof. Anthonie W. M. Meijers, Eindhoven University of Technology, presented the “3TU Project on Academic Competences” which is a joined effort of TU Delft, University of Twente, and TU Eindhoven. The main objective of that project was to define a number of areas of competence that characterise a university graduate.

All three presentations were followed by intensive discussions.

The attendees discussed the status of the planned WPE workshop “The Future of European Chemical Engineering Education in a Globalized World” and welcomed the finalized speakers list. The event will be held along ECCE-6 in Copenhagen/DK on 18^th September 2007.

Further the attendees discussed the status and objectives of the WPE project to gather and disseminate good examples to promote chemical Engineering. They decided how to proceed.

On the day before the business meeting took place a group of attendees used the opportunity to visit DelftChemTech, the department of Chemical Engineering of the Delft University of Technology, which belongs to the Faculty of Applied Sciences. The head of the department, Prof. Ernst Sudhoelter, gave a short presentation as an introduction. Than the labs of two research groups were visited, showing examples of basic research on the properties of new opto electronic materials as well as some examples of applied research.

Piero Salatino, Naples/I, replaces Alberto Brucato, Palermo/I, as delegate of Italy.

Martin Molzahn (Chairman of EFCE WP on Education)

Autumn 2006:

On the occasion of CHISA 2006 and invited by the Czech delegate Václav Machoň the EFCE WP on Education held its second business meeting 2006 on 27 August 2006 in Prague/CZ. The meeting was attended by 17 members.

Prof Ji ř i Draho š , Prague, President of EFCE, welcomed the attendees and spent some time with the meeting.

Václav Machoň presented information on Chemical Engineering at the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology. The degrees are in the process of change to the Bologna pattern. While there are relatively few students who graduate as pure chemical engineers, a much greater numbers study chemical engineering as part of other degrees in chemical technology.

Jaromir Lederer gave a provocative view of chemical engineering education and careers in the Czech Republic and European Industry. To his opinion chemical engineers are commonly viewed as narrow specialists indistinguishable from applied chemists and chemical technologists, not adaptable people who could apply fundamental science to a range of branches as described by Prof .Drahoš.

Sebasti ă o Feyo de Azevedo, Portugal, was elected unanimously to take over the WPE chairmanship when the present chairman’s second term of office will end in 2007.

The attendees discussed the status of preparation for the planned WPE workshop and changed the title into “The Future of European Chemical Engineering Education in a Globalized World”. The event will be held along ECCE-6 in Copenhagen/DK on 18 September 2007.

The concept of a third cycle in the Bologna Process, doctoral studies, was discussed thoroughly. It was evident that big differences exist between the European countries. People studying for a doctoral degree have the status of students in some countries and may have to pay tuition fees, though in many there are no fees for nationals of that country. In others (e.g. Germany) they receive a salary as professionals in the first stage of their career. Though the Bologna/Berlin documents seem to envisage

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