Course Programme for Doctoral Students in Economics of Education
The Swiss Leading House on the “Economics of Education, Firm Behaviour and Training Policies”, located at the University of Zurich, offers a training programme for beginning doctoral students in economics of education. The programme is similar to the first part of a PhD-programme of a top university in the US. The Swiss Leading House on the “Economics of Education, Firm Behaviour and Training Policies”, located at the University of Zurich, offers a training programme for beginning doctoral students in economics of education.
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The Leading House is funded by the Swiss Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET). It is directed by Prof. Dr. Uschi Backes-Gellner (University of Zurich) and Prof. Dr. Stefan C. Wolter (University of Bern). The OPET has created this Centre of Excellence as a new instrument to ensure the long-term development of outstanding research in the economics of vocational education and training.
The course programme for doctoral students consists of four core courses and a variety of electives. The courses are usually taught as one week intensive courses in order to make it possible for doctoral students from other universities to participate in the programme. The courses are taught by prominent faculty members of leading research universities.
Target Group
Participants are beginning doctoral students in economics of education who hold a university degree in economics, business economics or related fields and are enrolled in a doctoral programme of a Swiss university or – pending vacant positions – of a European research university. The core programme should be completed within one year, electives within two years. Participants who pass all core courses (a full course programme) receive a document certifying participation in the basic (full) Economics of Education-Programme. Participation in only one or a selected sample of the core courses is possible upon request. For single courses students earn 3 ECTS per course but no Economics of Education certificate will be issued.
Programme
The programme starts in the winter term 2006/2007 with two core courses: “Microeconomic Foundations of Economics of Education” (Nov. 20-24, 2006) and “Econometric Analyzes in Economics of Education” (Jan. 22-26, 2007). Two more core courses follow in the summer term 2007, covering “Personnel Economics for Education Economists” as well as „Economics of Education and the Labour Market“. The core courses include formal lectures of six hours per day. The remaining time should be reserved for reading and exercises. Classes are taught in English. Electives are offered every semester either at the University of Zurich or the University of Bern (weekly schedule or en bloc). They include courses for example on “Vocational Education and Training in an International Comparison” or on “Economics of Apprenticeship Training in Switzerland”.
Here you find detailed informations about all courses
Exams
All courses include exams. Exams are either open-book final exams (oral or written) or presentations. Participation in exams is mandatory.
Application
Applicants with an excellent academic record and a Lizentiat, Master, Diploma or equivalent degree are welcome. A strong background in quantitative methods is necessary for a successful application. The language of the core programme is English; depending on the participants some electives may be in German. However, a good command of English is a prerequisite. Applications should be sent to the address below. They should include a CV, a short statement of purpose (ca. two pages, in English) and recent grade transcripts. The application also requires a letter of recommendation that should be sent by the recommender directly to the address below.Applications should be sent to the address below. They should include a CV, a short statement of purpose (ca. two pages, in English) and recent grade transcripts. The application also requires a letter of recommendation that should be sent by the recommender directly to the address below.
Fees
No fee is charged for the courses. However, participants have to cover travel costs and living expenses by themselves. For candidates undergoing financial hardship (e.g. from transition states) a small number of modest travel grants is available (detailed explanation and documents have to be provided with application).
Application deadline was September 8, 2006.
Candidates were notified by October 6, 2006.
Contact
Johannes Mure, University of Zurich, ISU, Plattenstrasse 14, CH-8032 Zurich, Mail: johannes.mure@isu.uzh.ch, Phone: +41 (0) 44 634 4276, Fax: +41 (0) 44 634 4370