AcadeMiC means ‘...to create a European forum, where analytical chemistry
lecturers can meet and share ideas and best practice in teaching Metrology in
Chemistry, in promoting to students and getting support from funding/decision
bodies. The vision of AcadeMiC is a common training in the field of Metrology
in Chemistry at a higher education level…’
Introduction
Measurement science (i.e. metrology) is a prerequisite for assuring the
quality of measurement results. Quality issues are considered to be of the
highest importance nowadays because of the challenges of increased legislation
and regulation. The need for measurement quality in order to make a correct
decision based on the results of analytical measurements is increasing
significantly in routine work, industrial processes, legislative work and
scientific research. Nonetheless, there is a general lack of knowledge of
metrology among research staff, laboratory practitioners, laboratory managers
and legal experts. TrainMiC, a European
Commission financed platform for training of current practitioners in the
chemistry sector has proven useful for over 2 000 people since 2001. However,
it is of major importance that professionals receive such knowledge and
training during their higher education studies before they enter the job
market. This is the particular issue of AcadeMiC (Academic M
etrology in Chemistry).
Terms of Reference for AcadeMiC
The idea of AcadeMiC originated in 2002 at the Institute of Reference
Materials and Measurements (IRMM) of the European Commission's Joint Research
Center in Geel. From the beginning, the vision of AcadeMiC was to foster the
advancement of education in Metrology in Chemistry and related topics (e.g.
method validation, traceability, measurement uncertainty, quality control and
quality assurance); this is to teach students generic measurement issues that
are addressed in the ISO/IEC-17025 "General requirements for competence of
testing and calibration laboratories". The implementation of this idea
requires a forum, where people and organisations lecturing/training in these
topics meet, exchange skills, share experience and materials and develop a
common curriculum in order to ensure the same level of knowledge throughout
Europe (see
Rogaška Declaration). AcadeMiC closely interacts with the Eurachem
Education and Training Working Group.
Scope of AcadeMiC
The main scope of AcadeMiC is to increase the quality of:
– Universities’ curricula by providing up-to-date courses on Metrology in
Chemistry;
– Graduate students by providing optimum education and training;
– Laboratories by having access to highly competent staff;
– Scientific research by providing data with appropriate quality.
AcadeMiC projects
Various AcadeMiC projects have been set up, e.g.
(i) Setting up of Metrology in Chemistry curriculum and definition of the
topics which need to be covered;
(ii) Setting up of a shareware platform of teaching materials in order to
harmonize Metrology in Chemistry curricula;
(iii) Coordination of a harmonized and collaborative implementation strategy
in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA);
(iv) Organisation of bi-annual
AcadeMiC Summer Schools for university lecturers.