The Department of Physics (DP) is keen to lower the barriers for exchange. One measure is that we approve course packages and help to ensure that a stay abroad does not extend the students’ studies.
But it is demanding both for the professors and the study administration. Collaborative agreements needs to be in place and opportunities and needs for joint course development will arise. It is therefore important to think long-term, and develop plans for how cooperation can be developed and continue beyond the four-year project period. It develops best when connecting student exchange tightly with research exchange.
The DP receives professional support from the Central Administration, and we receive support from faculty and rector level when we address embassies to take part in agreement signings. In 2017 alone, we have signed 3 agreements on education with support from embassies. That way, we ensure deep institutional anchoring with the universities we cooperate with.
It is for us extremely rewarding to integrate master's and doctoral students in international research networks. Two examples of this below, both supported by SIU.
Triangular Cooperation Stellenbosch-Berkeley-Oslo
We want to provide the students with the best possible research education, both theoretically and not least being where research takes place, by participating in experiments. We take advantage of each other's learning powers, and have a common intensive course that is directly relevant to our research.
The exchange also builds professional networks for students already from early age. The students contribute to the research. This is win-win! Better education provides better research.
In November we sign a new MOU with Stellenbosch.
Sunniva Siem
Norwegian-Chinese cooperation on solar cells
We cooperate with top research groups and world-leading industries in China on silicon solar cell technology. Our partner - JinkoSolar - has recently demonstrated that they are able to produce solar cells with a record 22.04% in efficiency. Together with our research partners Tsinghua University and CAS, we elaborate ideas on how efficiency can be further enhanced, and both Chinese and Norwegian master students, PhD students and postdoctors cooperate. It is very important that verification of our proposals for new technologies is done by JinkoSolar, ie directly in contact with the cutting-edge of solar cell production.
Norwegian students who travel to China, will learn not only technical skills, but also soft skills and innovation.
Both the EU and China are preparing big investments: the EU's "quantum technology flagship" and similar in China with Tsinghua U in the lead. It is very meaningful for us to do this from an educational perspective since both Tsinghua University and University of Oslo develop new study programs in quantum technology.
Andrej Kuznetsov