Abstract:

Marek Biziuk, Jacek Namie?nik
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Faculty,
Gdansk University of Technology (GUT)
11/12 G. Narutowicza Str., 80-952 Gda?sk, POLAND
Tel: (4858) 3471783; e-mail; biziuk@chem.pg.gda.pl; fax: (4858) 3472694

The importance of Analytical Chemistry in the modern world is continually increasing. There is a lot of reasons; the need of environmental monitoring, quality of food control, human health, quality of industrial production control, nanotechnologies, material science – there are only some of areas where analysts are indispensable. Analytical Chemistry or rather Chemical Analytics should be treated on a par with the three fundamental chemical courses: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.
Analytical Chemistry, as a individual course or courses, is lectured in 52 Polish universities, including academy of medicine and academy of agriculture. All these universities introduced already in the Bolonia Process, ECTS points and three steps of education: Bachelor’s degree (at universities of technology – Engineer’s degree), Master’s degree and Doctoral Studies. Analytical Chemistry exists on all levels of teaching. On the first level, Bachelor’s degree, the program of Analytical Chemistry contains the basic knowledge, so called classical Analytical Chemistry: gravimetric analysis, electrogravimetry, acid-base titration, oxidation-reduction titration, precipitation titration, complexometric titration and quality assurance and quality control of results (2-3 h of lecture, 5 h of laboratory 1 h of seminar). During second level (Master’s degree) the program contains more developed analytical techniques: gas and liquid chromatography, spectrophotometric methods, electrochemical methods, elemental analysis etc. The courses lectured at universities depend on the specific specialization and there are a variety of different courses according to the need of specialization programs. Both a Bachelor’s (engineer’s) projects as a diploma thesis very often are prepared in the field of Analytical Chemistry. The same is with Doctoral Studies, very often students choose subject matter connected with Analytical Chemistry. It is why each year we have about 100 doctorate in the field of Analytical Chemistry. The laboratory on Polish universities are well equipped in specialist apparatuses, but it’s strongly depended on university profile and how big it is. Students can participate in the scientific research carried on by the didactic staff, especially doing diploma thesis or doctorate. Some of them are doing studies and thesis abroad, in the frame of LLP ERASMUS Program. From my department each year about 10-12 students are doing their thesis abroad in the field of Analytical Chemistry. We have signed more then 50 Bilateral Agreement with different universities in Europe. My department participates also in two Erasmus-Mundus projects for Master Studies connected with Analytical Chemistry. Our teachers gave lectures at other European universities and we invite teachers from abroad for courses at our university. International cooperation is very important for education. It promotes the European dimension and improves the quality of education by encouraging innovation in education.