The principle objective of the project is establishment of a system of harmonized, structured, high quality, internationally oriented and networked doctoral programmes in mathematical sciences in South-East Europe, in a way that overcomes fragmentation and foster reciprocal development of human resources at partner institutions in accordance with EHEA-ERA goals.
The far-reaching objective is to enhance the capacities of Western Balkans universities in mathematical sciences for successful integration into European Higher Education Area and European Research Area. Six intensive courses four weeks long in the core subjects (two for each of the three major groups in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and theoretical computer science, gathering the first time enrolled candidates from all partner universities and with lecturers coming from EU and the region) are supposed to mark the start of a hopefully irreversible process how high quality doctoral education is to be conducted in the region in the future. The cotutelle arrangements will be encouraged and prospects for joint or double degrees opened. Research groups will be formed (thus counter-acting isolation and atomization of research interests) with better chances to benefit from and contribute to European programs of a knowledge based society.
Serious work on introducing the third cycle up to the Bologna standards necessarily leads to a number of important multiple effects. One of these is assessment of existing master programs from the standpoint of learning outcomes. Possibilities for strengthening through upgrade in content and teaching methodology is exemplified by two master-level courses held in 2010: Mathematical Modeling and Financial Mathematics. Both build excellent cases for considering the dichotomy laying at the heart of the second cycle: between scientific and job oriented goals.
While doctoral programmes are unique they should not be considered in isolation but in relation to the implementation of the three Bologna cycles as a whole: a research component, and the development of transferable skills, need to be adequately included and developed throughout the cycles. The Bologna Process is changing the educational paradigm in Europe. The system of study visits within the project is a part of strategy to update the present knowledge and train the next generation of mathematics professors at Western Balkans universities to meet the challenge.
There is an obvious need to upgrade IT and library facilities and where possible to improve management of the limited resourses through inter-university coordination. The laboratories for applied mathematics at consortium members in Western Balkans countries are upgraded and training provided for an efficient use of such equipment. Better access to IT also increases benefits from present state of several international projects directed to establishing a digitalized library of mathematical literature.
