WHEREAS : - Each Institution is recognized as being a leader in higher education, teaching and/or research within their respective Countries.- Each Institution recognizes that an agreement of cooperation for higher education would be of mutual benefit and would serve to establish enduring ties among them and the Countries they represent.- Considering the joint declarations of the European Ministers of Education, in Paris 1998, Bologna 1999, Salamanca and Prague 2001, Graz and Berlin 2003, and the Convention on Recognition Qualification concerning Higher Education in the European Region signed in Lisbon on April 1997 and ratified in Italy on July 2002 by law No. 148, which strongly stimulate the general promotion of a common European dimension in higher education, based on cooperation and on the promotion of human mobility, fundamental steps towards European integration.- Considering the common objective of the involved Institutions to actively contribute to the harmonic development of joint higher education programmes.- A history of collaborative efforts is well established and a strong convergence and integration of scientific and research interests in the field of Insect Science and Biotechnology exists and could be further stimulated by joint higher education plans. THEREFORE: Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", represented by Prof. Guido Trombetti, Rettore, Imperial College London, represented by Prof. Mary Ritter, Pro-Rector, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, represented by Prof. E. Ritchie, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Universität Bayreuth, represented by Prof. Dr. Rudiger Bormann, Präsident, Université F. Rabelais de Tours, represented by Prof. M. Lussault, Président, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, represented by Pr. A. Marouanii, Président, University of Georgia, represented by Prof. David Lee, Vice President for Research, Rothamsted Research, represented by Mr Stephen James, Institute Secretary, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences, represented by Prof. Frantisek Sehnal, Director, in conformity with official national laws, with their own local rules and internal academic regulations

AGREE to develop a joint European PhD Course on

“Insect SCIENCE AND Biotechnology”

Article 1 - General Aims

This Memorandum of Agreement defines the general rules for the management of a European PhD Course on “Insect Science and Biotechnology”. This course will be jointly developed by an International Consortium, which includes the Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Imperial College London, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Universität Bayreuth, Université F. Rabelais de Tours, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, University of Georgia, Rothamsted Research, Biology Centre Academy of Sciences. The Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II" will act as legal representative of an Italian Network, which includes the following Universities and Research Institutions: - Università degli Studi dell’Insubria- Università degli Studi di Milano- Università degli Studi della Basilicata- Università degli Studi di Pavia- Università degli Studi di Perugia- Università degli Studi di Siena- Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica, C.N.R., Napoli- Istituto di Protezione delle Piante, C.N.R., Napoli -Consiglio per la Ricerca e Sperimentazione in Agricoltura (C.R.A.), Roma -Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige,- Isagro Ricerca, Novara- Arterra Bioscience, Napoli. This initiative aims at filling the educational gap in the field of insect science and biotechnology, by complementing different scientific expertises and top level human resources, available in different European countries. The basic idea is to merge together, within the same educational and scientific forum, scientists that are expert in insect sciences and those having a molecular and biotechnological background.

Article 2 – Admission

To be admitted to the PhD Course on “Insect Science and Biotechnology”, without any age limit, Italian students should have a Laurea Magistrale degree or any previous equivalent Laurea degree (hereafter denoted simply as Laurea), German students a Diploma degree, French and Czech students a Master degree, United Kingdom students at least a second class Honours Bachelor degree, followed, when required, by one year of postgraduate studies, US students a Master or a Bachelor degree. In case of students of different nationalities, analogous degrees, officially recognized by the Academic Authorities of the University they join, are required. The access to the PhD Course on “Insect Science and Biotechnology” is regulated by a competitive examination at the Università di Napoli "Federico II" and by competitive interview at the Université F. Rabelais de Tours, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, the University of Newcastle, the Imperial College London, the Universität Bayreuth, and the University of Georgia. The committees in charge of competitive examinations and interviews at each University are composed of local staff members. Imperial College London students will take the existing one-year MSc course in “Applied Entomology” at Imperial College London, before starting the PhD programme in “Insect Science and Biotechnology”. At the start of the 3-year PhD programme, Imperial College London and University of Newcastle students will be registered initially for the Master of Philosophy (MPhil), in accordance with local regulations, and transfer to PhD registration after ca 18 months subject to satisfactory progress according to local rules for PhD transfer.At the beginning of the academic year, each participating university will officially communicate to the coordinator the name of the registered students.

Article 3 – Administration

The duration of the PhD Course on “Insect Science and Biotechnology” is 3 years. All admitted students have to pay fees, if they apply, only to the University where they are registered. Students undertaking their mobility program will not be charged for the payment of course or bench fees by the host University. Any expenses incurred by each Institution under this Agreement will be the sole responsibility of that Institution, unless otherwise stipulated in future supplements to this Agreement, regulating relationships among Departments.

Article 4 – Governing Boards

Two Governing Boards are defined:- Board of Professors- Scientific BoardThe Board of Professors is composed by 2 representatives from each of the following universities and research institutions: Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II" (wich will also indicate 2 additional members from the associated Italian network), Imperial College London, University of Newcastle, Universität Bayreuth, Université F. Rabelais de Tours, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, University of Georgia, Rothamsted Research, Biology Centre - Czech Academy of Sciences. In case additional members will be nominated, the maximum number of representatives from each partecipating institution is 3. The Board of Professors is in charge of the PhD Course management and quality control. The Scientific Board is composed by all members of the Board of Professors and all supervisors or co-supervisors of PhD students. All the scientific issues regarding the research work of students and the definition and organization of teaching initiatives, specifically dedicated to the PhD Course, will be discussed and addressed by the Scientific Board, before formal approval by the Board of Professors.

Article 5 – PhD Course structure and final degree

The PhD Course structure is based both on study and research work. The work unit into which the educational plan is broken down is the “credit”, as defined by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The credit corresponds to 25 hours of work. The credit for study activities might normally include 8 hours class lectures or seminars and 17 hours of private study or 25 hours for research work. ECTS credits may be assigned formally only to lectures and training courses officially approved by the participating universities. Credits in the scientific areas reported below, taken during MSc, Laurea, DEA or Diploma degree, can be transferred to the PhD course, up to a maximum of 20 credits. In all cases, the remaining credits will be fulfilled within the first two years of the PhD course. The general structure of the course, with 60 credits per year, can be summarized as follows: First year
19 credits for graduate courses and seminars in the following scientific areas: Agricultural and Forest Entomology, Application Technology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Economics and Ecology of Pest Control, Insect Ecology and Behaviour, Insect Genomics, Insect Physiology and Development, Insect Systematics, Molecular Biology, Pesticide Science, Population Biology and Genetics, Statistics and Experimental Design, Virus Vectors.At least 4 of the scientific areas indicated above should be considered, according to the educational project of each student.
40 credits for research work
1 credit for preparing a report of the research program undertaken, that will be presented and discussed at the annual meeting of the Scientific Board.The above 19 taught credits could be taken as a part of the preliminary MSc, Laurea, Master or Diploma degree plans, prior to start the PhD programme.

Second year
19 credits for graduate courses and seminars in following scientific areas: Advanced Ecology, Analytical Chemistry, Biological Control, Biosystematics, Experimental Design and Data Analysis, Insect Biophysics, Insect Molecular Biotechnology, Insect Parasitology, Insect Pathology, Insect-Plant Interactions, Insect Proteomics, Modelling and Simulation, Molecular Phylogenetics, Organic Chemistry, Plant Biotechnology for Insect Control, Protein Chemistry, Structural Biology, Techniques for Scientific Communication, Technology and Data Quantification, Technology Transfer Management. At least 4 of the scientific areas indicated above should be considered, according to the educational project of each student.
40 credits for research work
1 credit for preparing a report of the research program undertaken, that will be presented and discussed at the annual meeting of the Scientific Board.For those students that took the first year taught credits before entering the PhD Course, the above 19 credits, together with a local programme concerned with professional (transferable) skills at Imperial College London, could be taken over the first 2 years of the PhD programme.

Third year
40 credits for research work.
2 credits for seminars on Bioethics and European GMO Regulations.
18 credits for PhD Thesis preparation and final dissertation. Each student will develop its study and research plan, to be approved by the Board of Professors within 3 months from the starting date of the first year, under the supervision of a Supervisory Committee, made of 1 supervisor and 2 additional members. The Board of Professors will guarantee that no delays hindering student research progress will result from the collective decision taking by the committee. The components of the Supervisory Committee are professors or researchers authorized by the Universities part of the Consortium, and are not necessarily expected to be part of the Board of Professors. The 3 members of the Supervisory Committee should be of different nationality, nominated according to the internal rules of each participating University. Two local ‘advisors’, in addition to the above panel, may also be appointed. For students registered at Imperial College London and University of Newcastle these local “advisors”, together with the College supervisor(s), would be involved in the MPhil to PhD transfer under local academic regulations. Students will spend at least 6 months, and no more than 18 months, abroad, in a different host Institution. The Board of Professors, under exceptional circumstances and/or for important scientific motivations, can authorize stays of different length, if compatible with their own local rules and internal academic regulations.At the end of every year, there will be an Annual Meeting of the Scientific Board. This will be the most important moment for scientific discussion, for planning of both teaching and research activities, for officially monitoring the quality of the research work done by each student and for assessing the credit fulfilment required for admission to the following year of the course or to the final thesis examination.The final thesis will be written in English or in the official language of the country in which the ‘home’ University is located. In this case, an extensive summary in English will be included.For each final thesis examination, an international committee will be appointed by the University where the student is registered, in accordance with national laws and internal regulations. This committee may include at least 1 external representative, suggested by the Board of Professors, who has to be an expert in the scientific field of the thesis. The final thesis examination will take place at the University where the student is registered and it will be in the official language of the country and/or in English.The final degree will be issued, when possible along with a "Diploma Supplement", by the University where the examination of the final thesis will take place, in accordance with the national laws and local academic regulations. Students who will develop their PhD programme spending comparable time intervals in two universities belonging to the network, and no less than 1 year in one of them, are eligible for receiving a "Double Degree" or a "Joint Degree", as defined by current European regulations, and according to specific rules that will be defined in supplements to this agreement

Article 6 – Transfer of Credits

Graduate courses, within the scientific areas indicated in the article 5, for which transfer credits are sought, must have been successfully completed within Laurea, Master or Diploma degree plans, and documented by official certification of the university where the student was registered. Seminars, within the scientific areas indicated in the article 5, for which transfer credits are sought, must be among those planned by the Scientific Board and approved by the Board of Professors. Additional activities not planned in advance are allowed, but have to be submitted in all cases to the Board of Professor for approval. The credit transfer for any activity to be included in the "Diploma Supplement" has to be certified by a transcript of records, that has to be transmitted to the Board of Professors.

Article 7 – Mobility

The student mobility program will be developed within the Institutions which are part of the Consortium. However, for specific scientific needs, students may visit other Universities and Research Institutions, which are not part of the Consortium. This has to be proposed by the Supervisory Committee and approved by the Board of Professors. In all cases, students visiting foreign Institutions have to be covered by extended public health cares they may have in their country of origin or by health insurance. All participating Institutions pledge to offer hospitality to foreign students, subject to each student’s study programme and according to their regulations or specific agreements they may have on international mobility.Mobility of professors will be stimulated by reciprocal invitations for specific teaching activities, to be planned within the Scientific Board and approved by the Board of Professors.

Article 8 – Final Rule

Applications by other Universities and Research Institutions wishing to enter the network will be evaluated by the Scientific Board, before the final approval by the Board of Professors. The participating universities, at least two, may start additional PhD Courses structured and regulated as above, by submitting a new Memorandum of Agreement. Notwithstanding what is stated in the present Memorandum of Agreement, national laws and local academic rules will apply or specific Supplements will be developed, to harmonise and integrate the different educational systems.This Agreement shall become effective starting from the Academic Year 2009-2010 and will be renewable every 3 years, upon mutual written consent by all Institutions involved. This Agreement may be amended by means of common written consent on the part of the signatories or their designated representatives.

IN AFFIRMATION:

Prof. Guido Trombetti

Rettore

Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II"

Prof. Mary Ritter

Pro-rector

Imperial College London

Prof. E. Ritchie
Pro-Vice Chancellor
University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Prof. Dr. Rudiger Bormann

Präsident
Universität Bayreuth

Prof. M. Lussault
Président
Université F. Rabelais de Tours

Pr. A. Marouani

Président
Université Nice Sophia Antipolis

Prof. David Lee

Vice President for Research
University of Georgia

Mr Stephen James
Institute Secretary
Rothamsted Research

Prof. Frantisek Sehnal
Director

Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences

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