RIGA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF POWER AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PROGRAMME OF DOCTORAL STUDIES
SELF-ASSESSMENT REPORT
RIGA, 2007
CONTENT
INTRODUCTION 41. OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME 5
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME 6
3. advertising and informative editions about studying opportunities 7
4. DURATION OF STUDIES AND volume of study subjects 8
5. PROPORTION OF COMPULSORY AND OPTIONAL SUBJECTS OF THE DOCTORAL STUDY PROGRAMME 9
6. time for development of doctoral thesis 10
7. THE EVALUATION OF DOCTORAL STUDY PROGRAMME FOR THE PERSPECTIVE OF INTERESTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL 11
8. study programme development plan 15
8.1. Long-term development plan 15
8.2. Accreditation Plan of Study Programme 18
8.3. Development plan of inventory and informative base for study programme implementation 19
8.4. Study programme graduates competitiveness evaluation in Latvian labor market 19
9. study programme Inventory. financing sources 20
9.1. Methodological provision and inventory of study programme 20
9.1.1. Financing sources 20
9.1.2. Scientific laboratories 20
9.1.3. International cooperation in research and education 21
9.2. Headship of study programme 21
10. Qualification and professionalism of Academic staff 23
10.1. List of Academic Staff 23
10.2. Academicals staff compliance with department’s tasks and objectives 23
10.3. Documents confirming that course of lectures in study programme are presented by doctors of science or habilitate doctors 24
11. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES 26
11.1. Publication of Results of Scientific Researches in Internationally Quotable Editions in Latvia and Abroad 26
11.2. Development of PhD Thesis 26
11.3. For Practical Researches – Patenting or Implementation in Production, Application in Entrepreneurial Activities 27
11.4. Latvian Council of Science Financed Research Implementation 27
11.5. List of Monographers Published as a Result of Scientific Researches 27
11.6. Results of international expertise organized by Latvian. Council of Science 28
11.6.1. International projects 28
11.6.2. Participation on International Research Projects 28
12. COLLABORATION OF HIGHSCHOOL DEPARTMENTS FOR REALIZATION OF INDIVIDUAL UNITS 30
13. KNOWLEDGE EVALUATION SYSTEM IN EXAMINATIONS AND OTHER TESTS 31
14. INFORMATION ON THE ORGANISATION OF LABORATORY WORK, COURSE PAPER AND PROMOTION PAPER ELABORATION 32
15. Guarantee to offer opportunities 33
16. Student potentialities 34
16.1. Doctoral student involvement in research projects 34
16.2. Doctoral students involvement in pedagogic activities 35
17. The comparison of the doctoral studies programmes 37
Annex 1 Programmes of studies 39
Annex 2 Short course description 43
Annex 3 LIST OF PhD student PUBLICATIONS 52
Annex 4 Academical stuff CV 56
INTRODUCTION
Environmental engineering provides the most comprehensive answer how to mitigate human impact on environment, because it motivates to think and analyse the causes of environmental and climate changes.
This is the underlying idea also for the study program of environmental engineering. The study program of environmental engineering has been formed so that our country would have technologically thinking specialists, who would not only take care of sustainable development but would be able to assess and to help the economy to mitigate its environmental impact, as well as to forecast its development within the framework of European legislation and international agreements.
The study program “Environmental Science” implemented by the RTU Faculty of Electrical and Power Engineering, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment provides an opportunity to obtain academic education of two levels:
· Bachelor of environmental science (the program has been accredited till 31st December 2010);
· Master of environmental science (the program has been accredited till 31st December 2010).
Elaboration of a study program to obtain the doctor’s academic degree in environmental engineering was a logical step in the development of environmental science.
The environmental engineering academic study program for the degree of the doctor of environmental science has been licensed on 21 June 2005 (licence Nr. 04051-62). See the accreditation sheets and the licence enclosed.
The program title “Environmental Science” complies with the scientific discipline classification of Latvia: scientific discipline – “Environmental Science” with the sub-discipline “Environmental Engineering”.
The classification has been approved by Latvian Council of Science resolution Nr.9 – 3 – 1 dated 16th November 1999.
So the objective of the environmental science study programs of all levels is to educate versatile specialists with various levels of education (bachelors, masters, doctors) and high qualifications, having integrated academic education and systemic thinking and understanding, who are able to follow the evolution of environmental technologies and to participate in implementation of environmentally friendly technologies successfully.
1. OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
Objective of the study programme is to produce high qualified specialists in the area of Environmental science with integrated academical education, systematical speculative power and insights into scientifical, industrial and pedagogical operations, who developed an PhD thesis and taken one's doctor of Environmental Science.
The doctoral study programme includes lectures, practical and laboratorial classes, self-dependent studies with scientific literature and is pointed to master the following:
1. understanding of system, its entirety and interaction of elements;
2. ability to define and to assess impact to environment from human activities;
3. ability to perform scientific research and provide consultations in the area of climate technologies and energy systems;
4. knowledge for development of material and intellectual values in Environmental Science;
5. ability to manage and develop sustainable processes in industrial or energy sectors or at institutional level;
6. to promote integration of scientific research in industries and environmental management systems;
7. ability to manage works at Ministry of Environment and its supervised institutions, to take part in activities of municipalities and enterprises;
8. ability to use computers and corresponding softwares in scientific research and pedagogical work;
9. to improve scientific and pedagogical working skills.
After graduation of doctoral study programme a student oneself has to analyse and assess processes and technologies linked with Environmental science from technical, economical, environmental, etc. points of view, to define topical and unsolved issues, therefore cutting down the sectorial effect to environment, as well as providing sustainable development of the environment. In the framework of the study programme PhD students have to present the results of the scientific research at international conferences and seminars, to publish the papers in scientific editions, to pass the exams, to develop, to hand in and present PhD thesis. After finishing theoretical course and successful presentation of doctoral thesis, a student obtains a doctor degree in engineering science (Dr. sc. ing.).
The doctoral programme concludes a teaching process, allowing to execute tasks and to reach the objectives stated by European countries in Bologna.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME
Doctoral studies prescribed as 3 years studies, divided into 6 study half-years. Duration of full time study programme is 3 years (48 weeks x 3=144 weeks).
Volume of the study programme is 144 credits (1 credit/week x 144 weeks).
The study programme includes the following units:
A. Compulsory subjects 15 credits
B. Compulsory elective subjects 15 credits
C. Languages 6 credits
D. Optional subjects 6 credits
E. Scientific research 102 credits
In Total 144 credits
PhD student has to pass 3 - 5 doctoral exams and tests according to the study plan. At least three exams from the total amount of exams must be passed in specialty, i.e. appropriate sub-sector (from these one corresponds to the theme of scientific research), the other – in languages (recommended languages are English, German or French).
Description of the study programme and annotations of courses contents included in the programme are shown in the tables of Annex 1 and Annex 2.
A summary on the topics and their proportions in the study programme "Environmental Science" is given below.
A summary on the topics and their proportions in the study programme "Environmental Science"
Subject / Credits / Lectures/practical classes/laboratorial classesModern Environmental Problems. Solutions. Modeling / 15 / 64/128/48
Environmental Assessment / 9 / 32/64/48
Ecological Aspects of Energy Technologies / 9 / 32/64/48
Modeling of Energy Systems / 6 / 32/48/16
Energosistēmu automatizācija un optimizācija / 9 / 32/64/48
Environmental Policy. Theoretical Aspects of Climate Technologies / 9 / 32/64/48
Life Cycle Analysis / 6 / 32/48/16
Power Systems Advanced Development / 6 / 32/48/16
Energy Efficiency. Advanced course / 9 / 32/64/48
Heat and Mass Transfer Processes and Technologies / 6 / 32/48/16
Energy Technology. Advanced course / 6 / 32/48/16
Demand Side Management. Advanced course / 6 / 32/48/16
Solar Energy Systems / 6 / 32/48/16
Biohydrogen. System Analysis / 6 / 16/64/16
3. advertising and informative editions about studying opportunities
Advertising and informative editions about the possibilities of studies at doctoral study programme do not differ from the editions for bachelor and master study programmes. Information is available in different ways:
1.1. Web page of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment www.videszinatne.lv;
Information about the study programme, lecturers, scientific areas, scientific laboratories and equipment for scientific research in the Institute can be found on the web.
1.2. Web page of Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering www.eef.rtu.lv;
Information about the study programme, lecturers and scientific areas can be found on the web.
1.3. Web page of Riga Technical University www.rtu.lv;
1.4. conferences in Latvia and abroad;
1.5. seminars and other events in Latvia;
1.6. organizing of conferences and other scientific events;
1.7. personal meetings with potential PhD students candidates;
1.8. organizing of non-traditional events;
1.9. development of scientific proceedings;
1.10. scientific papers in different scientific and research editions;
1.11. articles about the staff of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment as well as interesting facts from Institute’s life.
1.12. annual awards for employees of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment.
The receipt of various prizes and awards by employees, incl. PhD students, of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment raises a prestige of the Institute’s scientific and researching methods.
Dr. Dagnija Blumberga awarded with Latvian Academy of Science and Latvenergo award for attainments in science in December 2005.
1.13. participation in operation of the Latvian Council of Environmental Science and Education
Dagnija Blumberga, a director of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, is a chairwoman of the Latvian Council of Environmental Science and Education. One of the Council’s objectives is to promote Environmental science in Latvia.
1.14. Annual informative editions of Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University publishes several scientific materials every year, where the information about the presented doctoral theses as well as scientific areas and institutions are supplied.
1.15. Annual scientific reports of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment
The Institute of Energy Systems and Environment hands in a report on scientific activities and the results every year. The report is availabale online and a part of it is published in informative material of Riga Technical University.
1.16. List of scientific thesis themes.
A list of scientific themes, used for annual announcing of PhD students ensuring that potential students can duly choose themes for scientific works and discuss it with potential supervisor, is updated every year.
1.17. A brochure about the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment
A brochure about structure and description of the areas of scientific researches of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment developed in 2007.
4. DURATION OF STUDIES AND volume of study subjects
PhD studies are planed for three years. During the studies several courses have been studied with could be found in the second part of this report and in the annex 1 and annex 2.
Subjects have been selected according to the theme of PhD thesis. Students have opportunities to learn English as some of the courses have been taught in English.
Scientific and research activities of PhD students have an effect on study programme of Environmental science as in developing of lecture abstracts and description of laboratorial classes as well as of practical classes and examination papers.
PhD students took part in development of study and teaching aids:
· A.Blumberga, D.Blumberga, M.Blumberga, P.Cikmačs, I.Veidenbergs, Efektīva apgaisme // Mācību līdzeklis, Rīga, 2002, 124 p.
· D. Blumberga, M.Blumberga "Energoserviss": 1. grāmata: Energoservisa pakalpojumi", 2005, XXp.
Computer simulation models developed during scientific and research activities of PhD students are used for practical classes.
Significant input in improvement of studying quality belongs to the scientific materials gotten by the institute’s lecturers and PhD students during the participation in conferences, seminars, Exchange training tours. For example, materials used in lectures and seminars from participation of PhD students - M. Blumberga, A. Voloshchuka, V. Vitolins, A. Arajeva, S. Njakou, C. Rochas, J. Gusca - in conferences, seminars and symposiums in China, Italy, Germany, Sweden, France and Latvia.
5. PROPORTION OF COMPULSORY AND OPTIONAL SUBJECTS OF THE DOCTORAL STUDY PROGRAMME
The study courses are divided as follows:
Unit / Credits / Proportion, %Unit A COMPULSORY STUDY SUBJECTS / 15 / 10,4
Unit B COMPULSORY ELECTIVE SUBJECTS / 15 / 10,4
Unit C LANGUAGES / 6 / 4,2
Unit D OPTIONAL SUBJECTS / 6 / 4,2
Unit E SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH / 102 / 70,8
In total / 144 / 100
Two or three study courses are preformed in English in Unit C (number of courses depends on credits). These could be as optional subjects (Unit D) as well as compulsory elective subjects (Unit B).
The biggest amount of credits is prescribed for development of scientific research. It must be noted that themes of the course works within the subjects of Unit A and Unit B are selected accordingly to the scientific research of each student. Sometimes it conforms to deeper introduction into a theme of PhD thesis.
6. time for development of doctoral thesis
Doctoral thesis is to develop during three years. It is really achievable. For example PhD student of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment had finished her doctoral thesis during three years and 6 month were needed for accomplishment of presentation procedure.
In average it must be considered at least 4 - 5 years for development of doctoral thesis.
Implementation of scheduled tasks defined in the study programme and individual study plans are controlled in three levels - university, faculty and institute levels. Controlling at university and faculty levels mainly covers organizational and administrative aspects - submission of plans, reports, etc. Controlling of tasks according to work matter takes place at regular institute meetings, where a supervisor and department staff are participating. Therefore PhD student regularly presents the status of results achieved and plans of further activities.