Mission
The project "Regional Doctoral Program in Theoretical and Experimental Particle Physics", which unites the Universities of Bonn, Siegen, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Tbilisi State University, Yerevan Physics Institute and Yerevan State University, aims at a full-fledged implementation of a common structured doctoral program in theoretical and experimental particle physics in Georgia and Armenia. The new project is a successor of the project "Regional Training Network in Theoretical Physics", which was funded by Volkswagenstiftung under contract no. 86260. The new project, however, sets more ambitious goals which, when achieved, will have a significant positive impact on the state of the PhD training in the region. In particular, the project envisages the creation of special structures in Georgia and Armenia (Program Committees, elected by the node members), which, with the help of the colleagues from the partner Universities, oversee all aspects of the implementation of the project on site: planning the PhD curriculum and lecture courses, admission and mentoring, assignment of the co-supervisors, planning the research internships for the students, organization of the PhD schools and workshops, financial issues, etc. The creation of such structures will be critically important for the sustainability of the project after the end of the funding period.
The planned activities of the collaboration include, in particular, the organization of advanced courses on various topics of theoretical and experimental physics, intended to guarantee that the Georgian and Armenian students receive a high-level PhD training. This is a necessary prerequisite for the organization of successful and fruitful student exchanges between these countries and Germany, which should become an alternative to the unhindered brain drain from the region. Finally, one should specially mention the truly regional character of the collaboration, which unites colleagues from Georgian and Armenian Universities. Moreover, the events organized by the collaboration in the past (PhD schools, workshops), were attended by many participants from other countries of the region. This fact supports our expectation that we will be able to attract, already in the nearest future, students from the neighboring countries through offering a high-level PhD training, compatible with the standards accepted at German Universities.
Further, the collaboration will organize scientific workshops in Georgia and Armenia, combined with the seasonal schools for young academics.
The collaboration will engage Georgian and Armenian scientists, which are currently employed in leading Universities worldwide, into its activities, as invited members. These activities include: delivering lecture courses and seminars, participation in the schools/workshops, co-supervision of the PhD students, etc.
The collaboration will rely on modern video-communication means in its work. In particular, the video transmission of the lecture courses and seminars will be a common practice.
The activities of the collaboration represent the continuation and the extension of the work of the Regional Training Network in Theoretical Physics, which is functioning since 2013.