TEMPUS PHARE
JOINT EUROPEAN PROJECT
1998 - 2000
"REFORM OF THE STUDIES IN PHYSICS"


Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University has recently
undertaken a major reform of studies. This reform aims at transforming
the former educational programme. The expected result is a wider
range and more flexible choice of educational possibilities.

These objectives imply the need for modernization of our student
laboratories (both experimental as well as computer equipment has to be
updated) and for the exchange of educational experiences with some of
our partner institutions in European Community. Both tasks are supported
in part by the TEMPUS funds granted for the implementation of the project
"Reform of the Studies in Physics".


INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT:

Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland (JU) (contracting institution)
coordinator/contractor: Dr Edward Malec

University College Cork, Cork, Ireland (UCC)
contact person: Prof. Niall O'Murchadha

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany (FSUJ)
contact person: Prof. Gerhard Schäfer

King's College London (University of London), London, United Kingdom
contact person: Prof. Gordon Davies

ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT

This part of the Tempus grant helps to modernize the student
laboratories of the Institute of Physics (JU). In the first year of
the functioning of the project (1998) the purchase of experimental
equipment and computers for the total sum of over 30 000 ECU has
been financed by the Tempus funds. The new equipment plays important
role in the extension of our educational possibilities. We intend to
continue the modernization in the forthcoming years. 


MOBILITY PROGRAMME

The exchange of experience in teaching physics between the cooperating
institutions is forwarded by the mobility grants offered both to the
academic teachers as well as students. In the framework of this
programme the total number of 7 short vists of academic staff and 10
three-months stays abroad of students has taken place during the first
year (1998).

The staff mobility included:
- a short organizational visit of the three persons from partner
institutions responsible for the contacts with the coordinator
institution (JU);
- visits in partner institutions of the staff members of the Institute
of Physics JU responsible for the implementation of the reform ;
- a visit in JU of Dr James F. Boyce from the King's College giving an
intensive course in digital image processing.

The student mobility included:
one stay of a FSUJ student (Erik Wöhnert) in JU and stays of nine JU
students in:
- FSUJ: 3 third year students (Aleksandra Wrońska, Miłosław Frey and
Waldemar Wieczorek),
- KCL: 4 fifth year students (Marian Balakowicz, Leszek Bogacz, Piotr
Homola and Krzysztof Jedziniak),
- UCC: 2 fifth year students (Dawid Owsiak i Paweł Regucki),
The fellowships granted to JU students were: 1950 ECU for FSUJ, 2500 ECU
for KCL and 2100 ECU for UCC. The differences reflect highly differing
travel, accomodation and subsistence costs. 

A similar structure of the mobility programme will be maintained in the
forthcoming years, with the exception of our intention to host more
students from partner institutions at one-semester stays in the
Institute of Physics JU. We encourage potentially interested persons
from this group to contact the persons taking care of the project at
their respective institutions. Higher years students would be especially
welcome, since the courses which we can offer in English are advanced
couses. Here are some basic relevant informations:

The academic year in JU is organized into two semesters: the winter
semester, 1 October - 31 January (with the Christmas break), and summer
semester, 15 February - 10 June (with the Easter break). The following 
courses are given in English:

- QCD,
- Astrophysics,
- Soliton Theory,
- Surface Physics,
- Group Theory,
- Java Language,
- Theory of Strongly Correlated Fermions,
- Physical Cosmology.

More detailed information is obtainable on request.

The Tempus mobility grant offered to foreign students is about 400 ECU
per month, which is sufficient to cover the travel costs, accomodation
and subsistence in Cracow.