The Survey

Background

More than 80 Master and 40 PhD students have been or are still in the program. MedNeuro was the base for a number of succeeding projects such as two more DFG Research Training Groups (GRKs), the EU funded EST Cortex or the Berlin School of Mind and Brain, one of the graduate schools of the excellence initiative. In 2008, the program was awarded the label Top10 International Master Programs by the DAAD.

Never the less, the number of applicants has been stagnating on a relatively low level and the number of students quitting the program is about 12%. Combined with perceived dissatisfaction and explicit criticism, we felt that it was time to evaluate where we stand with the program. A survey amongst current and former students as well as faculty (i.e. stakeholders), prepared and carried out by artop, a Humboldt University associated personnel and organization development company and financed by the DAAD was carried out in fall of 2008. Of the 286 contacted students and faculty, about one third replied.

The Key Results

The degree of overall satisfaction with regards to the program is high, and so it the degree of identification with the program. MedNeuro not only claims bench to bedside translation on paper, it actually lives up to that claim. As main strengths of the program the following was identified:

• its high quality research and teaching/learning environment
• the high caliber of the involved scientists
• the resources provided for training and research
• uniqueness of the program and the competitive admissions’ process
• Berlin as a great location.

The central areas that still have room for development are:

• management and organization of the program
• international visibility and competitiveness
• career services and mentoring, both issue ranked as important.

Further Reading

Download the 2 page summary in English here.

Or read the DAAD/ Gate Germany interview with MedNeuro and artop here.