Final Activity Report Summary - HIM (Highlights in Microtechlogy)
Created in 2004, HIM is a successful training program offering a unique opportunity to experience 10 intensive days of high-level teaching in topics at the heart of microtechnology. Between 2006 and 2009 included, thanks to European support, we were able to offer this course free of charge to 24 young scientists. Each year, the course took place over two thematic weeks, and included both highly specialised lectures and hands-on experience in the clean-room and laboratory. The first thematic week on 'general methods for microtechnology' took place every year, whereas the second week had a different thematic each year. These were 'Microtechnology and signal processing in global navigation systems' in 2006, 'Microtechnology for bio- and life sciences' in 2007, 'Microtechnology for space applications' in 2008 and 'MicroOptics' in 2009.
The course included two visits to high-tech companies, as well as a two-day visit to the University of Besançon in France, where part of the lectures were given. The course was first limited to 24 participants in order to have small groups for the practical part: no more than 6 students per group. Latter the course was extended to 28, and then 30 participants, and more laboratories were organised in such a way that the maximum group size for the practical works remained of 6 participants.
Participants who completed the entire course received a 'certificate of participation', and four ECTS credits issued by the University of Neuchâtel (HIM 2006 to 2008) or by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (HIM 2009) could be obtained by successfully passing a written exam at the end of the course.
In 2009, a final conference took place at the end of the two weeks lectures to which all participants to the HIM2006-2009 courses were invited to attend. This final conference closed the four years of Marie Curie funding.
In 2010, the course was included as part of the 'Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne's doctoral program. It is still open to students outside EPFL, but they do not benefit from funding anymore.
The course included two visits to high-tech companies, as well as a two-day visit to the University of Besançon in France, where part of the lectures were given. The course was first limited to 24 participants in order to have small groups for the practical part: no more than 6 students per group. Latter the course was extended to 28, and then 30 participants, and more laboratories were organised in such a way that the maximum group size for the practical works remained of 6 participants.
Participants who completed the entire course received a 'certificate of participation', and four ECTS credits issued by the University of Neuchâtel (HIM 2006 to 2008) or by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (HIM 2009) could be obtained by successfully passing a written exam at the end of the course.
In 2009, a final conference took place at the end of the two weeks lectures to which all participants to the HIM2006-2009 courses were invited to attend. This final conference closed the four years of Marie Curie funding.
In 2010, the course was included as part of the 'Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne's doctoral program. It is still open to students outside EPFL, but they do not benefit from funding anymore.