Community:Announcement eur05
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'SpaceMaster' 2 year program in Europe for masters students in space physics - due 1 Mar
Dear Professor,
We are in an Erasmus Mundus Master Course Consortium 'Space Master' Joint European Master in Space Science and Technology that has been selected by the European Commission for a new two year (Bologna Accord compliant) MSc programme within the European 'Erasmus Mundus Framework'.
(See: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html
The Consortium Members are:
Lulee University of Technology, Sweden (Coordinator)
Julius-Maximilians University, W|rzburg, Germany
Czech University of Technology, Prague
Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Paul Sabatier University Toulouse, France
Cranfield University
The Master Course is a 2 year course including minimum one semester work on the Master Thesis.
The scheme funds '13 third country' students and "13 Asian window students" at a level of 21 000 Euros per year to attend at least two member universities of the consortium. (A third country student is basically a non EU-student). Of course fees will have to be paid out of this at some of the partner universities. Cranfield University has a large fee for non-EU students (around �16000), but in Finland and Sweden there will be no fee and elsewhere there may be minor fee.
The core programme in the first year starts with a semester in W�rzburg and continues with a semester in Kiruna (a campus of Lule�) in Northern Sweden. Thereafter, the student spends the second year at a University of choice, depending on the preferred specialisation. On successful completion of the Master Course, the student is awarded two MSc degrees from two partner institutions.
For a short description of the Master Course see:
http://www.krm.se/utbildning/program.asp?id=SPM
Having been selected, our next and fairly urgent task is to find non-EU students for entry in early October 2005, and eventually to find partner universities.The deadline for third country students is March 1 for the Master Course SpaceMaster. The '13 third country' students and "13 Asian window students" apply to the Master Course Consortium, that means to Lule� University of Technology (The coordinator) .
I attach a brief description of the draft curriculum, extracted from the proposal to the Commission.
Do you think your Bachelor's students may be interested in such an opportunity? We would be very happy if you could inform good students about this opportunity and possibly take time and write a recommendation letter.
Best Regards,
Christophe Peymirat
christophe.peymirat@cesr.fr
Section 2, No 2 Detailed Description of the Master Course for Space Physics (maximum 15 pages) 1 General Information 1.1 The Disciplines The disciplines are Engineering, Technology and Natural Sciences. 1.2 Duration The duration is two years (120 ECTS). 1.3 Student Population and Number of Staff involved in the SpaceMaster Course The student population will be about 70 European + 19 Third country students. Possibly the European Commission will provide specific funding for more Third country students from Asia. That means a possible number of totally 90-105 students in the SpaceMaster. The Number of staff involved in the SpaceMaster will be: 1. Cranfield University: about 10. 2. Czech Technical University: about 10. 3. Helsinki University of Technology: about 10. 4. Julius-Maximilians Universit�t W�rzburg: about 10. 5. Lule� University of Technology: about 15. 6. Universit� Paul Sabatier: about 15 for each track of UPS. 1.4 Final Degree delivered The students will get an MSc Degree or equivalent from their Home University and an MSc degree or equivalent from their host university. The Consortium gives an Erasmus Mundus Master Course transcript describing the complete study program. 2 Detailed Description of the Master Course (max 15 pages) 2.1 Objectives and how the Course contributes towards University excellence and European competiveness The objective of this new Joint European Master in Space Science and Technology is to combine the great diversity of space expertise at six European universities to a common platform of competence within the guidelines of the Bologna process. European and Third-country good quality students will in the framework of SpaceMaster have the possibility to study space science at excellent universities in Europe in a research oriented environment. Another objective is to give the students cross-disciplinary extension from laboratory and computer simulation environment to concrete situations such as balloon, rocket, satellite and radar control, tele robotics, sensor data fusion, automatic control and multi-body dynamics. SpaceMaster will bring together as a core group students from the whole world to share the existing space competence, to develop it together and distribute it to benefit the European space industry and research community. 2.2 Masters Course Structure Table 1 and Table 2 give the structure of the SpaceMaster. An estimated number of around 107 Master�s students (70 European + 35 from Third countries including 18 potential students from Asia) are planned to start at JMUW mid October 2005 with a preliminary START-UP week in W�rzburg in late September. This event will be attended by staff from Partner Universities The students will be enrolled (registered) at their home universities, apart from Third country students who will be enrolled in the Masters Consortium, coordinated by Lule� University of Technology. These are numbers for the year 2005-2006. Possibly there will be an increase in the amount of third country students for the following years. University CU CTU HUT JMUW LTU UPS Total EU students 5 10 10 10 30 5 70 Third country students 3 3 3 3 4 3 19 Potential students from Asia 3 3 3 3 3 3 18 Total 11 16 16 16 37 11 107 Table 1. Student distribution Semester 1 All students at JMUW taking core modules and optional modules in languages and Bavarian culture. Semester 2 All students at LTU, Kiruna Campus, taking core modules and optional modules in languages and S�mi culture. Semester 3 CU Track E1 CTU Track E5 HUT Track E2 JMUW Track E3 LTU Tracks E4, S3 UPS Tracks S1, S2 5 CU 10 CTU 10 HUT 5 JMUW 13 LTU 5 UPS 3 3rd C. 3 3rd C. 3 3rd C. 3 3rd C. 4 3rd C. 3 3rd C. 2-3 LTU 2 LTU 2-4 LTU 2-4 LTU 4-6 LTU 1JMUW 2JMUW 2 JMUW 3 Asia 3 Asia 3 Asia 3 Asia 3 Asia 3 Asia Total 15 Total 20 Total 22 Total 14 Total 20 Total 16 Semester 4 Work on the Master Thesis. Supervisors from two Institutions. Table 2. SpaceMaster structure and approximate numbers of students at each Track 2.2.1 First Semester, Core Modules, 30 ECTS, at JMUW, Germany The modules to be taken by all students will be: 1. Introduction in Space Physics (7.5 ECTS) 2. Spacecraft System Design (7.5 ECTS) 3. Space dynamics (7.5 ECTS) 4. Programming, Embedded Control, Communication (7.5 ECTS) (Each module is structured as 4 hours per week, equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits, giving a total of 30 ECTS). These studies are complemented by language tuition, as described in section 2.17, Events to experience Bavarian culture will be organised. 2.2.2 Second Semester, Core modules, 30 ECTS at LTU, Sweden The modules to be taken by all students will be: 1. Spacecraft Environment Interaction (7.5 ECTS). 2. Electronics in Space (7.5 ECTS). 3. Image Processing and Remote Sensing (7.5 ECTS) 4. Optics- and Radar-based Observations (7.5 ECTS) Complementary language tuition as outlined in section 2.17 will be available. In addition, events to experience the S�mi culture will be arranged. 2.2.3 Third Semester During the Third Semester there are optional Tracks at different universities. The students will earn 30 ECTS at each institution. There may be some students that spend the 3rd Semester at TWO institutions. The 30 ECTS is recognised by all universities. The different tracks during the Third Semester are: E1 Engineering Track 1 E2 Engineering Track 2 E3 Engineering Track 3 E4 Engineering Track 4 E5 Engineering Track 5 S1 Scientific Track 1 S2 Scientific Track 2 S3 Scientific Track 3 2.2.3.1 Engineering Track 1, 30 ECTS, at CU, UK, � Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures The modules will be: 1. Space Propulsion (5.0 ECTS). 2. Introduction to Space Structures (2.5 ECTS). 3. Statics of Structures, Dynamics of Structures (5.0 ECTS). 4. Fiber Reinforced Plastics (5.0 ECTS). 5. Rigid Spacecraft Dynamics (5.0 ECTS). 6. Classical Control Methods (5.0 ECTS). 7. Multivariable Control for Aerospace Applications (5.0 ECTS). 8. GPS and INS (5.0 ECTS). 9. Group Design Project (30 ECTS). 2.2.3.2 Engineering Track 2, 30 ECTS, at HUT, Finland � Space Robotics The modules will be: 1. Machine Perception (3 ECTS). 2. Positioning and Navigation Methods (3 ECTS) 3. Automation and Control Technology (4.5 ECTS) 4. Robotics (3 ECTS) 5. Field and Service Robotics (4.5 ECTS) 6. Behavior-based Robotics (3 ECTS) 7. Kinematics and Motion Planning (3 ECTS) 8. Bionics (3 ECTS) 9. Mechatronic Miniature Automation (3 ECTS) 10. Project in Automation Technology (3-9 ECTS) 2.2.3.3 Engineering Track 3, 30 ECTS, at JMUW, Germany � Automation, Control and Communication of Space Robotics The modules will be: 1. Robotics1+2 (12 ECTS) 2. Automation and Control (7.5 ECTS) 3. Computer and Communication Networks, (12 ECTS) 4. Telecommunication Networks in Space (3 ECTS) 5. Group Project (3-9 ECTS) 2.2.3.4 Engineering Track 4, 30 ECTS, LTU, Sweden � Space Technology and Instrumentation The modules will be: 1. Space Vehicle Systems (7.5 ECTS) 2. Principles for Space Instruments (7.5 ECTS) 3. Instrument design and measurement techniques for spectroscopic imaging (7.5 ECTS) 4. Balloon project BEXUS at Esrange (Could be part of the Thesis work) 5. The Rocket Project REXUS at Esrange (Could be part of the Thesis work) 2.2.3.5 Engineering Track 5, 30 ECTS, CTU, Czech Republic � Space Automation and Control The modules will be: 1. Space Systems, Modeling and Identification (7.0 ECTS) 2. Optimal and Robust Control Design (7.0 ECTS) 3. Estimation, Filtering and Fault Detection (7.0 ECTS) 4. Real-time Software Components for Space Control (7.0 ECTS) 5. Distributed Embedded Systems (7.0 ECTS) 6. Hardware Support in Space Engineering (7.0 ECTS) 7. Team Design Project (10.0 ECTS) 2.2.3.6 Science Track 1, 30 ECTS, at UPS, France � Astrophysics, Space Sciences, Planetologi, Research oriented Professor Sylvie Vauclair and collaborators are responsible of all the subjects and modules of this track. She will be helped by the responsible of the main modules of this master. These responsible are G. Soucail, F. Paletou, B. Escudier and Peter von Ballmoos. They will help her to manage the teaching staff of every subject and module of this track. The modules will be: 1. Astrophysics 2. Planetology 3. Space Technique 4. Instrumentation The students have to follow specific courses during the first semester (30 ECTS altogether), and they have to do a thesis in a laboratory during the second semester (30 ECTS) to obtain their master degree. 2.2.3.7 Science Track 2, 30 ECTS at UPS, France � Space Technique and Instrumentation, Professional oriented Dr. Christophe Peymirat and collaborators are responsible of all the subjects and modules of this track. He will be helped by the responsible of the main modules of this master. These responsible are R. Talon, G. Flouzat, H. Reme, J. Martinez-Vega, G. Skinner, A. Lopez, A. Capdevila and M. Bonnis Sassi. They will help him to manage the teaching staff of every subject and module of this track. The teaching staff will include 50% of teacher-cum- researcher and 50% of professionals of the industry. Professionals of the industry belong mainly to the industries CNES (Centre National des Etudes Spatiales) and ALCATEL SPACE. * Spatial Technique * Instrumentation 2.2.3.8 Science Track 3, 30 ECTS at LTU, Sweden � Atmospheric and Space Physics The modules will be: * Atmospheric Physics, Professor Sheila Kirkwood + collaborators * Space Plasma Physics, Associate Professor Carol Norberg * Solar Physics, Dr. Martin Bohm * Numerical methods in Space Physics, Associate Professor Mats Holmstr�m * Solar System Physics, Professor Rickard Lundin + collaborators 2.2.4 Fourth Semester 2.2.4.1 Introduction The students will do their Master Thesis work valued at a minimum of 30 ECTS during the Fourth Semester. The European students from CU, CTU, HUT, and UPS will do their Thesis work at their Home University or at Industry or a research institution with close relations to the home university. Some of the LTU/Kiruna students and the JMUW students will not do their Thesis at their Home University. They will spend the Second year at a Host university depending on choice of Track. The Third country students will disperse to different Partner universities, dependent on the subject of their research thesis work. 2.2.4.2 Thesis Work The Thesis work in France can be performed in Toulouse which benefits from a large support in industry and research institutions. For instance applied thesis could be realised in industries like ALCATEL SPACE or CNES (Centre National des Etudes Spatiales). Research thesis could be realised in the laboratories belonging to Observatoire Midi Pyr�n�es. Thesis work at CU can be undertaken on campus, in association with UK space industry (Astrium, Vega), at the RAL laboratory of the research councils or in collaboration with the Open University. The Thesis work at CTU, HUT and JMUW can be performed around the laboratories at the universities and/or in space related research projects with connection to the universities. The Thesis work at LTU will be performed around the excellent facilities in the Esrange base in Lapland area, Kiruna, in close collaboration with the European Space Agency ESA and other Space Agencies around the Globe. Some Thesis work will also be done at NEAT- the North European Test Range at Vidsel. Some of the Thesis work will be integrated projects in tele-robotics, remote operation, sensor data fusion and automatic control where the participating students are located all around Europe. 2.2.4.3 Thesis Assesment The individual research thesis will be assessed jointly by the student�s Host University for the research and by the Home University. In cases where these universities are the same, either JMUW or LTU will provide a second assessor. 2.3 The acquired competence and the learning outcomes * ability to understand and integrate knowledge from space related disciplines * capability to work as an expert in interdisciplinary team working in space related activities * capability to solve problems independently and creatively and in teams * capability to use, product and evaluate scientific knowledge/information in space-related area * capability to get acquainted with technical problems * capability to communicate effectively both written and in oral presentations; also in international context (language competence) * readiness/willingness for lifelong learning 2.4 List of Partner Institutions and awarded Degrees Name of Institution Title of degree awarded for this Master Course by this institution Type of degree awarded Date and reference of formal Approval of degree CU, UK MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering Double Latest mid December 2004 CTU, Czech Republic MSc in Electrical Engineering and Informatics Double Latest mid December 2004 HUT, Finland MSc (Technology) Double Latest mid December 2004 JMUW, Germany Diploma Course in Technical Computer Science or Diploma Course in Physics Double Latest mid December 2004 LTU, Sweden MSc in Space Science and Technology Double Latest mid December 2004 UPS, France Master Professionnel Techniques Spatiales et Instrumentation or Master Recherche Astrophysique, Sciences de l'Espace, Plan�tologie Double Latest mid December 2004 2.5 Policy and Legal Procedures The SpaceMaster Course is based on joint curriculum design, which forms a basis for the recognition of the Course as a whole. Recognition of the Master Course in each participating university is carried out by institutional official procedures, which is to assure also that double degrees (two national M.Sc degrees) can be awarded. The Consortium will set up an Examination Committee, which meets regularly to discuss and follow-up on the procedures and rules related to the SpaceMaster Course. At the time of the deadline October 31, all the details of legal approval procedures within the Consortium are not finalised. An agreement about all legal approval procedures is planned to be signed by all the partner universities before mid December 2004. 2.6 Diploma Supplement The Consortium will join an Erasmus Mundus Diploma Supplement to the students final Degrees providing a full description of the curriculum and the role of the universities in the Consortium. 2.7 Master Course Status The Consortium was created in late June 2004 by an initiative from Lule� University of Technology. There have been long lasting relations between many of the universities before. LTU have had links with CU, UPS and HUT during many years. HUT have had links since many years with both JMUW and CTU � one example is the PELOTE Consortium. Now these groups have joined together in this challenging mission to offer a high quality European SpaceMaster. The Consortium was formally created during its first meeting, July 5 and 6, 2004 in Lule�. 2.8 List of teaching staff The attached CV�s in Annex II show that each university has teaching staff who are both experienced lectures as well as excellent researchers. Some of them come from the space industry and will bring in broad industrial experience in the SpaceMaster. Besides, all staff have long experience in supervising PhD students and Master Thesis students from many different nationalities and cultures. The Consortium has excellent global networks in space science and technology areas. Two examples: The IQN, International Quality Network, a Partnership between worldwide top universities in Mechatronics and Telematics The IFAC Technical Committee on Aerospace. IFAC includes 60 appointed members all over the world. (http://www7.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/ifac) The Consortium is well prepared for Action 2, third country students and scholars. Scholars from third country partner universities will be involved in the Master Course on a regular base. 2.9 Availability and Presence of Teaching Staff The academic staff in the Consortium are full time lectures and scientists. The responsible of each track helped by the responsible of the main modules of the tracks will be in permanent relation with the students. They will insure a link between the students and all the teaching staff. This will help in solving the problems eventually encountered by the students and improving the quality of the lectures given in this master. 2.10 Admission, Selection and Examination criteria 2.10.1 Introduction The admission requirements for European and third country students are a good quality Bachelor�s degree in Engineering, Natural Science, Mathematics or equivalent qualifications. The third country students apply to the Consortium. The Admission Committee takes the decisions about enrolments and will finalise the list and the reserve list to the Commission before the deadline. The European students apply at their home university. They have a background from different Courses. Students from non-English speaking countries are required to have passed TOEFL, IELTS test or equivalent tests with specified results. 2.10.2 Admission Criteria A good quality Bachelor�s degree in Engineering, Natural Science, Mathematics or equivalent qualifications. Admission on competitive basis; the students are assessed on the basis of their previous academic record. Knowledge of English. Students from non-English speaking countries are required to have passed one of the following tests: TOEFL (score 580/237 or higher) or IELTS (score 6,5 or higher) or some equivalent test. * Letter of motivation * A Curriculum Vitae. * Certificates and diplomas from previous university studies. * Transcripts of records including grades and course syllabus from previous university studies. The purpose is to enable the Consortium Admission Board to assess content and level of your studies. * Certificates of relevant work experience and other professional certificates, if any. 2.10.3 Application Procedure The deadline for applications for Third country students is March 1st .The European students follow the local routines for enrolment at respective partner university. Required documents: * Official transcript of the university records and the official Bachelor degree certificate. All documents must be officially true attested copies. All translations must be officially certified and accompanied by the copy of the original. * Language test report. * Letter of motivation * A Curriculum Vitae. * A copy of the passport. * Name, address and kind of relation to nearest relative. Third country students send their Applications to: Lule� University of Technology Admission Office SpaceMaster 971 87 Lule� Sweden The documents requested must be in English. The LTU Office for Enrolment will check all the applications. European students send their Applications to the administration at their home universities and follow the enrolment routines at each partner university. 2.10.4 Selection Process The selection process will be carried out by the Admission Board of the consortium. The Board includes professors in charge of the Master Course at each institution of the consortium representative from each partner university. The Chairman of the Admission Board is the coordinator of the program. The Admission Board will meet in the middle of March to do the selection of third-country students. 19 students are proposed for acceptance and 19 students are put on a reserve list. There may also be a list for Asian students. The students are selected straight to the option and the candidates are asked to indicate three study options when applying. The candidate can be asked to change the option within the program. The European students follow the admission routines at each partner university. The selection criteria are the same for third-country students and EU- students. No special conditions apply to third-country students, except for the tuition fees. (question 2.13) 2.10.5 Tuition Fees The universities in the consortium will charge tuition fees according to their own national legislation. 2.11 Mobility Arrangements All the students in the SpaceMaster will study core modules at JMUW, Germany, during the First Semester from early October to mid January. After that they will move to LTU, Sweden at the Kiruna Space Campus starting the Second Semester in February 1 and continue studying core subjects until early June. During the Second year the European students from CU, CTU, HUT and UPS will study at their home universities. The LTU- and JMUW-students will be spread out between all the partner universities depending on their specialisation. The third country students will be spread out about equally between the partner universities. 2.12 The Mechanism to reach Third Country Students The Consortium will use Networks like The IFAC Technical Committee on Aerospace and in January 2005 contact Professors at good universities all around the world to reach good quality students in third country. The Consortium will also use the National Contact points at each country. The Consortium will soon create a web- page for SpaceMaster. 2.13 Application and Selection Process for Third Country Students The selection criteria are the same for third-country students and European students. No special conditions apply to third-country students, except for tuition fees when applicable. (See 2.10) 2.14 Distribution of third country students within the Consortium The distribution of students is a part of the selection procedure. A third-country student can apply for one of the options of the SpaceMaster and in addition be asked to give second and third choice. In principle the students are distributed within the Consortium according to their wishes. However, all partners should receive agreed number of third-country students, and therefore there will be limitations. Third-country students are informed about restricted number of study places in each partner university in admission procedure material. 2.15 Service provided to welcome and host them 2.15.1 Introduction All partner universities have an Office for International Affairs and thus ready mechanisms to host third-country students. Staff at these offices will assist the students in housing and other practical matters and provide the students with written �Foreign student guide� in English All the partner universities are very familiar and experienced in taking care of exchange students and international Master students. 2.15.2 JMUW, W�rzburg The Office for International Affairs at JMUW, W�rzburg will assist the SpaceMaster students to get good accommodation During the month prior to each semester (i.e. September and March), there are intensive German language courses (5 daily hours, 5 days a week, four weeks) to prepare international student for their studies at W�rzburg. During the semester, there are also courses parallel to the actual lectures. With their Letters of Admission, All internationals students receive written information on the enrolment procedure and all steps which have to be taken in advance. In addition, a list with the names of the student tutors employed by the International Office is also sent out to all students. This way, international students can get in touch with the tutors from their home country and make the necessary arrangements for their arrival: pick up from the central station, handing over the room key in the dormitory on weekends, orientation in town and at the university. The tutors can act as buddies, and it is therefore easy to make new contacts with the help from someone who is already well acquainted in W�rzburg. At W�rzburg, there are special housing arrangements for international students. Exchange students can rent a room in one of the dormitories of the �Studentenwerk Wuerzburg�. The other international students can avoid waiting lists and directly receive a dorm room by buying the �Servicepaket� (service package) from the Studentenwerk. Affordable meals are available through the dining facilities of the Studentenwerk. All students at W�rzburg have a semester ticket for free transportation in the city. The International Office together with the Student Representative Body organises a programme of welcome activities and excursions. These include free tours of the City, the W�rzburg Residenz and Fortress Marienberg, special tours of the university library etc. There is also a welcome meeting with the President and the Chancellor of the University of W�rzburg and various excursions throughout the semester. Academic guidance can primarily be sought from the academic counselors in the departments or the �Zentrale Studienberatung� (�general� student advisors); the International Office remains a partner for service and advice throughout students� courses of study. 2.15.3 LTU, Kiruna LTU guarantee good student accommodation to all students in the SpaceMaster at the Kiruna Space Campus. The students will be welcomed by students from the Kiruna Space Campus when they arrive to the railway Station / airport. Swedish language courses, Swedish culture and S�mi culture will be offered. The Student Union arrange numerous social activities, such as dinners, parties and trips. Study trips to the iron mine, the famous Ice Hotel at Jukkasj�rvi and of course to the Esrange Rocket base will be arranged. There are excellent possibilities for wildlife and winter sport in the Kiruna region. 2.15.4 All Partner universities * The International Offices at the other Partner universities will assist the SpaceMaster students to get good accomodation. * Within the Consortium, special attention is paid to study counselling, which is organised in all partner universities. All participating students will have a tutor (mentor), who is usually a member of staff (for example recently graduated researcher) in the hosting university. The purpose ot the tutoring system is to ensure a systematic monitoring of every student�s progress and to ensure, that students are made aware individually of their performance frequently. In addition, all students have an opportunity to receive advice on studying from the teachers and planning officers throughout the programme. * All partner universities will provide courses in the home language for the SpaceMaster students 2.16 Financial management The coordinating Institution, Lule� University of Technology, LTU, manages all financial matters through LTU:s central administration. The Deputy Head of Administration at LTU will together with the coordinator of SpaceMaster nominate a financial group that will take care of all financial administration within the Consortium. The financial group will work in close collaboration with the SpaceMaster coordinator and the local coordinators at each partner university * The universities in the consortium will apply the usual tuition fees of each university when applicable * LTU will pay the Grants for third country students and scholars in the Master Course through a bank transfer once a month * LTU will pay the fixed amount of money (5 000 Euro) to the third country students after that the student has arrived to the entrance university- JMUW at W�rzburg for the First year. There may be some exceptions to that rule in case a third country student has a need to pay for the ticket before arrival. In that case the Consortium will make sure that the transferred amount of money will pay for the ticket. 2.17 Language policy The language of instruction and the language of examinations will be English except at UPS where there will be both French and English. Courses (including course material), examinations, and study counselling are available in English. All universities offer a variety of language courses in addition to English language courses. Students are encouraged to learn basics in other national languages represented in the Consortium (German, French, Swedish, Finnish). 2.18 ECTS, External Body, Quality assurance All partners have institutional quality assurance mechanisms in place, of which the most common are student questionnaires and Education committees. Questionnaires typically incorporate areas such as content of the module, the quality of teaching, availability of other guidance and support on the module and module material. In Education committee�s quality of modules are frequently discussed. Institutional procedures of each institution are followed. Within the SpaceMaster Course, the Examination Committee has the overall responsibility of the Master Course. The Examination Committee has a representative from each partner university and meets on a regular basis to discuss about quality issues. The Chairman of the committee is the coordinator of the SpaceMaster. The overall evaluation of the SpaceMaster Course will be carried out also by external evaluation team involved in the Erasmus Mundus framework. Most of the partners within the consortium use ECTS -based credit systems. In addition, ECTS grading systems can be used by converting local grades to ECTS grades. 2.19 Evaluation and quality assessment mechanism The Examination Committee of Masters Consortium monitors the overall quality of the Course on a regular basis. In addition to student questionnaires in each partner university, all students are asked to give feedback on their experiences across the whole Course when graduating. Responses and actions are taken with regard to this feedback. 2.20 Co-operation mechanism The basis for co-operation within the Masters Consortium is excellent because among several partners, active co- operation has existed on a research level. In educational level, the core of the co-operation is grounded on the Admission committee and Examination committee. The purpose of these committees is to ensure, that admission procedure, regulations, quality of the Course, student counseling and other study related matters are administrated jointly. In addition to formal meetings, the consortium will arrange e-meetings. 2.21 Administrative Staffing and Funding of the Master Consortium The SpaceMaster coordinator will administrate and manage the Consortium in close collaboration with the coordinator at each partner university and the financial and administrative staff at Lule� University of Technology. The SpaceMaster coordinator is Sven Molin from LTU who has a proven record of successful management of international collaborative projects. The funding of the Consortium will be based on the annual Grant of 15 000 Euro together with basics funding for administration at each partner university. 2.22 Preparatory year Not relevant the Consortium will not apply for a Preparatory year! 2.23 Links to Research Activities. 2.23.1 Introduction The subject matter of much of the taught material of the Masters already reflects areas of research within the consortium. This research spectrum may be summarised with the following keywords autonomy tele-robotics remote operation distributed systems sensor data fusion automatic control multi-body dynamics flight dynamics & control data communication These skills, taught on the SpaceMaster, will be adapted and developed for future needs. In searching for solutions for future space science, planetary exploration and exploitation of near-space and planetary resources, the synergistic application of such multi-disciplinary technologies will be paramount. Remote operation on locations, which are distant in terms of the communication round trip, means that actions need to be performed with embedded safety systems. Remote vehicles will have opto-electronic and other sensors to survey the local environment. Collaboration between sets will need local autonomy. The Earth-bound operations supervisor will need a simulation of both this environment and also the dynamics of the robot vehicles. This may be termed the remote reality. The research into such complex systems may be illustrated during project work on the SpaceMaster, where competing teams at different locations remotely and simultaneously direct firstly their own and then each others robot vehicles to perform a defined task. Internet and wireless connections would be used for data and command communications. Some performance criteria would enable a clear winning team to be declared. The development of such technologies will have wide spin-off into such spheres as * remote construction in hazardous or inaccessible environments * remote decontamination in polluted environments * tele-medicine in remote locations * intelligent monitoring and alarm systems for the factory and home 2.23.2 Example 1 A very good example of such a link between the research and the planned SpaceMaster is the currently ongoing CubeSat program at the the Bayerische Julius-Maximilans University of W�rzburg (http://www7.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/cubesat/index.html). Within the scope of this program a whole ready to fly satellite, the UWE-1, is being developed and build. The work (structure, thermal and electrical design, onboard data handling and software, communication data flows and protocols �) on the satellite is completely done by students in the context of practices, diploma thesis and PHD works. At the current status the structure mass model undergoes vibration and sound tests at a satellite testing facility of the ESA. After successful testing it will be launched in the first quarter of 2005. The scientific task of the satellite in orbit will be the examination of TCP/IP based protocols for space communication and the testing of newly developed solar cells which have been submitted by a project partner. The student which will enroll for the SpaceMaster in the future will participate in follow-on projects in contexts like satellite design and planetary robots design. 2.23.3 Example 2 Another good example of links between education and research are the REXUS and BEXUS projects at the Esrange area in Lapland, Kiruna, where rockets and balloons are launched in close collaboration with the European Space Agency ESA and other Space Agencies around the Globe. Relatively close to Kiruna is also NEAT- the North European Test Range at Vidsel. Esrange and NEAT will be important resources in the SpaceMaster programme. 2.23.4 Example 3 Toulouse and the Midi-Pyr�n�es region represent a leading national and international pole in the fields of Astrophysics and Planetology. In particular, the �Laboratoire d�Astrophysique� and the �Centre d�Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements�, laboratories of the �Observatoire Midi-Pyr�n�es�, perform research activities in numerous fields, from the Solar System to the large scale Universe, from a theoretical, modelling and observational (ground and space observations) point of view. The studied subjects of the track �2.2.3.5 Science Track 1, 30 ECTS, at UPS, France � Astrophysics, Space Sciences, Planetology, Research oriented� represent the complete field of astrophysics, from stellar physics to the cosmology, as well as the planetology. Some of the subjects, like the internal structure of the stars and the giant planets, are treated from a general point of view in these two research fields. Others are more specialized, like the study of the primordial Universe or the study of telluric planets. 2.23.5 Example 4 At Cranfield, in the wider dynamics area, SpaceMaster students will be able to perform their research thesis in areas mapping doctoral and staff research. These include Smooth Particle Hydrocode and Finite Element methods to study hypervelocity and lower velocity impacts, flight control of autonomous aircraft, such as those for flight in the Martian atmosphere and formation flying of spacecraft for distributed systems such as the Darwin antenna. In addition, there are general system interests, such as the integration of Micro System Technology into low cost nano-spacecraft, air vehicles for Mars surface landing, the application of SAR interferometry to changes in topography and launch vehicle configuration comparison. 2.24 Distinctive European added Value of the SpaceMaster The Consortium is unifying expertise from a broad range of European universities to create a Joint European Master in space science and technology with high quality modules in the space area. The students will experience projects and research activities during work in projects and on the Master Thesis. Many of these projects will take place in close collaboration with the European Space Industry. So the SpaceMaster has a potential to provide Europe�s Space industry and research institutions with high quality engineers and researchers in the space area. The concept of the first year as a common year will create tight and long-lasting links and friendship between the European students and the third country students � hopefully they will continue to collaborate in their future profession. Furthermore, the students in the SpaceMaster will experience many different European climate, nature and culture: German, Scandinavian, French, Czech and English. This will help to go beyond the differences between different countries of Europe. This point is important because scientific projects require more and more expensive equipments to increase the knowledge of our planet and the universe surrounding it. These equipments cannot be usually funded by one country and requires a strong collaboration between the scientific organisms of each country. Such a collaboration cannot take place in the absence of a strong knowledge of the culture of the involved countries and strong links between European scientists. Finally, the inclusion of third countries students will help to create links between Europe and Third Countries. The students of those countries will acquire the knowledge of European technologies that they will import in their country when they will come back home. Such a transfer of technology will be facilitated if one works together on common scientific projects. We hope that the master we propose will be the beginning of a move towards the creation of European scientific projects and a collaboration with Third Countries that will be beneficial to Europe in the long term. 2.25 Describe any aspects of the Master Course which offers potential examples of good practice which could be disseminated more widely We regard that the structure of the SpaceMaster: * A common first year at two partner universities * A good variety of specialisations Tracks with close links to research activities and industrial projects during the Second year * A good diversity of European top class universities * A good organisation to take care of and mentor the third country students and offer them activities to experience different European Culture could serve as a model for future European Master Courses. 2.26 Other aspects ...
-- Revised 04 Mar 2005 by emery@ucar.edu
