Education and Research in the SEENET-MTP Regional Framework for Higher Education in Physics

TL;DR

This paper examines higher education and research in physics within Southeastern Europe, focusing on regional qualifications, professional competences, and aligning regional practices with European standards to enhance career prospects and academic mobility.

Contribution

It introduces a regional framework for recognizing physics qualifications, proposes new occupations for the national register, and compares regional and European higher education visions.

Findings

Identification of regional qualifications and competences in physics

Proposal of new occupations for national qualification registers

Analysis of regional and European higher education alignment

Abstract

Southeastern European countries undergo significant changes in the demand/supply ratio on the labour market and in the structure of professional competences that are necessary for undertaking a professional activity. In addition, brain-drain process and decrease of interest for a career in basic sciences put many challenges for our community. Consequently, based on the activity of the Southeastern European Network in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics (SEENET MTP Network) in connecting groups and persons working in mathematics and theoretical physics, we investigate specific qualifications recognized in these fields in all the countries from the region, and the related competences necessary for practicing the respective occupations. A list of new possible occupations will be promoted for inclusion in the National Qualifications Register for Higher Education. Finally, we analyze the vision existing in this region on the higher education qualifications against the European vision and experience, in particular in training of Master students, PhD students, and senior teaching and research staff through the Network, i.e. multilateral and bilateral programs.