The selected EU partners have developed a committed excellence in teaching and research in MG using the extensive resources and combined strengths of their universities. The selection of the following EU institutions is mainly explained by the reforms in MG education performed in their institutions and exceptional professional forces which will strongly contribute to the development of professional workforce of MG in partner countries by assisting the development of professional competencies and standards, and performance of curricular reforms.
The University of Bologna is one of the most important institutions of higher education across Italy with more than 80.000 enrolled students, and 6000 permanent staff including both academics and administrative. UNIBO offers a vast array of programmes, both at the first, second and third cycle of studies and is fully committed to the implementation of the Bologna process action lines. Internationalization is one of the key priorities of UNIBO, including the participation as leader or partner in many EU funding cooperation initiatives. In the specific field of advanced training in Genetics, the Medical Genetics Unit of UNIBO, has promoted and supported for the past 12 years the courses of the European School of Genetic Medicine (ESGM) which offers advanced post-graduate training in genetics to young researchers coming from all over the world. Many faculty members of the advanced training courses organized by ESGM are affiliated to the Medical Genetics Unit of UNIBO.
The University of Bologna (UNIBO) has promoted and supported for the past 12 years the courses of the European School of Genetic Medicine (ESGM) offering advanced post-graduate training in MG to young researchers from all over the world. Many faculty members of the advanced training courses organized by ESGM are affiliated to UNIBO.
University of Plymouth is involved in internationally significant research in health and social care. As part of the Faculty of Health, Education and Society, The Applied Health Genetics Research Group is involved in research into genetic health services, standards of professional practice and genetics competence of health professionals and group members have authored a wide range of publications on health professional competence and education in genetics. The University provides health genetics education for national and international students. The Postgraduate Certificate in Genetic Health care programme, the only one of its kind in Europe is offered to health professionals who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge in science, counseling and clinical care in genetic health care contexts.
The representative of the University of Plymouth (UOP), responsible for the development of core competences in genetics for health professionals in Europe as part of EuroGentest project, is now Chair of the European Board of Medical Genetics, charged with assessing competence of health professionals specializing in MG.
Charles University now contains 17 faculties (14 in Prague, 2 in Hradec Kralove, and 1 in Plzen), 3 collegiate institutes, 6 additional establishments for educational, scientific, research and developmental activities and other creative activities and for information service, 5 university-wide facilities and the vice-chancellor/rector office as an executive establishment for Charles University management. There are more than 7000 University employees, 4000 of them are academic and research workers. Scientific and research activities form the basis on which the doctoral and master programs are based at Charles University. Scientific results of Charles University establishments measured by the amount of financial means provided to universities in the Czech Republic make approximately one third of this financial means. Charles University aims to be recognized as a competitive research university on the world stage.
The Charles University in Prague (CU) will be represented by the Former President of the European Society of Human Genetics well oriented in EU affairs and in the harmonization of genetics curricula, and other specialists experienced in human molecular genetics and pre-/postgraduate education in MG.
The core competencies of the Medical University of Graz (MUG) are high-standard training and education, research at international level, continuous improvement of top-quality medicine, transfer of the knowhow by coaching trainings and improving the education system in many European countries. The MUG, the University of Health, fulfills its tasks on a number of levels, especially in the training of future doctors and health and health care professionals. The Biobank Graz, a central facility of the MUG, represents the basis for sustainable research and supports the needs of systems biology approaches to medical research and of personalized medicine by providing the largest collections of diseased and normal human samples and associated data in Europe. Beside sample and data provision the Biobank Graz aspires the knowhow transfer by organizing trainings to coach the staff in various countries especially in cooperation with Central Eastern Europe increasing the ability and efficacy of medical research and improving the education system in other countries.
UPD is a multidisciplinary university devoted to Health and Humanity sciences research and one of the most important research poles in France. It groups 37, 000 students in 13 graduate schools and more than 3,300 lecturers and researchers in 82 research units. Research covers a very wide range including science, biology, medicine, and pharmacy. In 2010, UPD was ranked by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan as the first French University for its excellence in medical research. The Imagine Institute for genetic diseases is a new institute dedicated to genetic diseases, affiliated to UPD. It promotes clinical and basic research and has a strong teaching program in MG including a MD-PhD and a Master 2 program, a specialized training for paramedical staff and international seminars series, all of which contribute to create a unique site for international cooperation with scientific and education partners from Europe and emerging countries.
Université Paris Descartes (UPD) is represented by internationally recognized specialists with extensive experience in teaching of MG who combined the clinical expertise and molecular approaches of genetic diseases fostering research and education at the same environment. Among them are principal investigators, directors of INSERM teams, a coordinator of the European Master of Genetics at UPD and the elected President of the European Society of Human Genetics.
EUROTEX is an international non-profit association, established in 1999 under the Belgian law, and devoted to the transfer of knowledge, innovation and technology between countries of the Western and Central Europe and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), to the mutual benefit of all countries involved. EUROTEX was the brainchild of some members of INTAS General Assembly and the Council of Scientists, joined by some leading scientists and science administrator. From 2001, EUROTEX prepared and coordinated €0.9 million EU IST Project ADONIS (Application Development Outsourcing to the New Independent States) and €0.6 million ICT CSA Project EU-RU.NET (Linking R&D Strategies, Foresight and Stimulation of EU-Russia Cooperation in Nanoelectronics Technology) and is the participant of two other EU projects targeting integration of Armenia into ERA (INARMERA and INARMERA-ICT).
European Centre For Knowledge and Technology Transfer (EUROTEX) supports transfer of knowledge, innovation and technology between the EU and the EECA countries. EUROTEX has strong experience in project monitoring, quality assurance, networking and general assessment of the overall project success and progress.
