
Mission Statement
The Organisation for PhD Education in Biomedicine and Health Sciences in the European System, or ORPHEUS, was founded in 2004. ORPHEUS aims to safeguard the PhD as a research degree by supporting graduate schools, faculties and departments, research students and their supervisors, through quality assurance mechanisms, advocation of best practices, professional development and training.
Executive Committee

Professor John Creemers
President
KU Leuven, Belgium

Professor Janet Carton
Vice President
University College Dublin, Ireland

Professor Ana Borovečki
Treasurer
University of Zagreb, Croatia

Professor Hakan Sedat Orer
Koç University, Istanbul , Turkey

Professor Nebojsa M. Lalic
University of Belgrade, Serbia

Professor Rudolf Schubert
University of Augsburg, Germany

Professor Damir Sapunar
University of Split, Croatia

Associate Professor Kamille Smidt Rasmussen
Aarhus University, Denmark

Professor Joana Almeida Palha
University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Annedorte Vad
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
About
ORPHEUS runs thematic conferences annually, addressing key topics in graduate research of interest to its network. In co-operation with the Association of Medical Schools in Europe (AMSE) and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), ORPHEUS has developed Best Practices for PhD Training. Graduate schools and departments in biomedical fields can measure their practices in PhD training against these tenets and ORPHEUS offers support and guidance in the pursuit of certification and labelling as quality assurance mechanisms. ORPHEUS also offers disciplinary specific training opportunities for research students and supports the professional development of new and experienced research supervisors.
Please view the warm welcome from the President of ORPHEUS, Professor John Creemers, KU Leuven, below. You are invited to contact ORPHEUS with any queries about how we can support the development of your graduate research students and staff or to discuss quality assurance mechanisms leading to certification.
Specific Aims
The aims of ORPHEUS are to:
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- Represent higher education and research in biomedicine and health sciences and to influence policy making at national, European and international level.
- Safeguard the PhD as a research degree and to strengthen skills development and career opportunities for PhD graduates.
- Encourage cooperation among members of the Association and the development of effective bilateral and multilateral networks.
- Promote access to and harmonisation of international best practices in PhD programmes in biomedicine and health sciences.
- Stimulate quality assurance of PhD research and education and in particular, to develop an accreditation process for PhD programmes in biomedicine and health sciences.
- Provide a for a for discussion and debate on development in graduate research education in biomedical and health science.
- Give active support and guidance to members of ORPHEUS in enhancing their contributions to medicine and graduate education.
- Provide information on training opportunities to members of ORPHEUS and PhD candidates across Europe.
- Support the ongoing professional development of research supervisors.
- Promote cooperation in research and development of joint PhD programmes.
- Encourage mobility of PhD candidates and academic staff.
- Co-operate with other graduate educational associations with similar goals.
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The Legend Of Orpheus
Orpheus (Greek: Ορφεύς) was considered one of the chief poets and musicians of antiquity, and is still a symbol of the art of music. By dint of his music and singing, he could charm the wild beasts, coax the trees and rocks into dance, even arrest the course of rivers.
Apart from being a symbol of music, Orpheus is considered as one of the pioneers of civilization; he is said to have taught mankind the arts of writing, agriculture, and even medicine.
The mysterious power of his music today is shown in the power of science. The indestructibility of his music symbolizes the will power needed to achieve significant results in life, as well as in medical research.
Become a Member
Join a list of over 131 Members Institutions Globally
Auditors

Professor Sergo I. Tabagari
Tbilisi, Georgia

Professor Dr. László Rosivall
Budapest, Hungary