The European School of Antennas: the new model of distributed PhD school of the antenna center of excellence

The European School of Antennas is a new model of a geographically distributed PhD school, which aims to improve the advanced antenna training and research in Europe. The school is organized in the framework of the Antenna Center of Excellence (ACE), a "Network of Excellence" financed by the sixth framework program of the European Union. The school is constituted as a highly qualified integrated set of advanced courses at the PhD level, distributed in the most accredited European research centers on antennas. The general objectives of the school are: i) strengthening the European excellence on antennas; ii) completing the individual PhD curricula of students in electrical and information engineering by offering interaction with the best trainers in Europe; iii) increasing the link between European universities and industries in antenna research and development; and iv) facilitating the interchange of ideas among early-stage researchers and teachers, thus increasing the future mobility and synergy. The school is furnished with centralized Web support, and this is coordinated so that the courses have the same format and apply common basic rules for exams and credits.