Abstract:

The aim of the proposed Master Degree is to provide the students with the understanding of the concepts of research methodology and achieving practical skills of research methodology and critical appraisal, in order to provide better research specialists and thus to rise the level of high quality European research.
The objectives are:
• For students: to be able to search the scientific literature in hard copy and electronic media; to understand the methods to evaluate critically published research, to be able to formulate appropriate research questions and to design a study; to understand the range of statistical tools used in research; to understand the role of mathematic methods and modelling in scientific research; to develop a conceptual understanding of the range of research methods; to be able to select an appropriate research instrument for a given research question; to synthesize and present research results; to develop a conceptual understanding of the implications of research findings in practice; to understand the publication cycle and the means of dissemination of the outcomes of research; to be able to manage scientific research; to be able to construct a budget of research; to be able to monitor and assess research activity; to be able to research for financial support for scientific research and to apply for a research grant (especially how to write a competitive proposal for the 6-7th Framework Programme; to understand the ethics, fraud, protection of intellectual property and environment security issues related to research; to be able to use computer software specially designed for all of the above research issues; to receive certificates and ECTS credits.
• For the consortium: to know the level in which research methodology is the objective of the existing programmes, to develop a joint programme which will contain the contribution of each participant to the consortium representing: a core module in the curricula of each partner institutions; a degree accredited in the curricula of each participant universities, with ECTS credits for transfer and accumulation system.
In these terms, the program is a response to the new directions of striving for high quality European research and to the increasing demand for this kind of training by different parties.
Assembling the experiences of different Universities in research methodology rises the opportunity to develop a more useful, optimal and well balanced curricula, which covers all important topics and also the new trends in research methodology. The novelty of this project is the innovative and practice based way in which it is carried out. Another innovative aspect of this project is the integration on a large extent of the information and communication technologies. Innovative is also the fact that the study programme will provide all the elements of the understanding, the design and the management skills to construct a successful application proposal for a research Framework Program. Providing a high level practical education in research methodology for life sciences, supported by all of the above mentioned innovative and also classical features, this study programme helps in increasing the number of highly qualified researchers, able to use EU research funds in better conducted research projects.