Origin of the Master's degree and Doctoral studies in Experimental Techniques in Chemistry 

The origin of the Master's degree and the Doctoral programme in Experimental Techniques in Chemistry will be described below, pointing out the references to the official documents for their approval.

The continuous advance of science instruments makes possible the continuous development of a great number of experimental techniques, which application allows us to provide very detailed information on the intrinsic characteristics of chemical compounds and their reactions. These advances in experimental techniques allow us to face the new demands of the current society in the diverse areas where quemical analysis and/or compound characterisation.

Because of this, the Master's Degree in Experimental Techniques in Chemistry (from now on, Máster's degree in ETC) by the University of Valencia (from now on, UV) is devoted to the teaching of these techniques.

The Master's degree in ETC has an interdepartmental character as the Department of Analytical Chemistry and the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, both of the UV, play a role in the teaching.

The Academic Body Responsible of the Master's Degree (from now on, ABRMD) is the Department of Analytical Chemistry, and the Master's is registered under the Postgraduate Centre of the UV.

The Master's degree in ETC roots from the previous experience acquired by the teaching staff of the two departments above mentioned, in the former Doctoral studies programme with Quality Mention also labeled "Experimental Techniques in Chemistry", from which it cames from.

From its beginnings, the Doctoral Programme in "Experimental Techniques in Chemistry" of the UV provided excellent results in: number of defended Doctoral Theses, Doctoral Extraordinary Awards, Theses with European Mention, science publications in journals of inetrnational prestige derived from the theses, pre-doctoral and doctoral stays in international centres and current status of the graduates, among other indicators. In fact, the information received has allowed some graduates to join companies of the sector, official bodies and universities.

With the change of the regulation of doctoral studies, all that has been mentioned before demanded and supported at the same time the creation of the studies leading to the Master's degree in ETC for training current graduates and future graduates interested in acquiring the competences derived from the deepening in learning chemical-Analyticalal and characterisation. techniques.

In order to achieve this, the proposal of introduction of the Master's degree in ETC was carried out to the Valencian Committee of Accreditation and Quality Assessment that assessed positively the proposal (Decree 31/2007 of 16 March, DOGV 21 March; Resolution 26 March 2007, DOGV 9 May).

Afterwards, a request was made to the University Council for the verification of official university degree of Master's degree through the fast-track procedure (which belongs to introduced degrees according to the Royal Decree 56/2005). The University Council, through the Committee of Curriculum Verification, and once received the positive assessment report of the Spanish National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accrediation (ANECA), decided to positively verify the proposal of degree (meeting held on 15 July 2009).

Following this, the Council of Ministers, in their reunion of 30 July 2010 aopted the Agreement by which the official character of specific degrees of the Master's degree and its subscribing to the Registry of Universities, Centres and Degrees, among which the Master's Degree in Experimental Techniques in Chemistry by the University of Valencia is found (Resolution of 7 September 2010 of the General University Office of the Secretary, BOE of 29 September 2010, Annex), was established. 

The Master's degree in ETC was openned in the 2009-2010 year and since then it has been taught continously up until now. Additionally, the curriculum has been modified partially to improve it since the 2011-2012 edition, expanding its experimentality level.

On the other hand, during the 2011-12 year for the first time the process of Master's Degree Monitoring by the Valencian Agency of Assessment and Prospective (from now on AVAP) was carried out and on 25 June 2012 the Master's degree in ETC has received the renewal of accreditation, where indicates that the introduction of the degree has been carried out successfuly and it is complete and satisfactory.

Regarding the current Doctoral Programme in Experimental Techniques in Chemistry (from now on Doctoral Programme in ETC), it should be noted that the legislation has been adopted (within the RD1393/2007 modified by the RD861/2010), being positively verified by the Committee for Verification and Accreditation of Curricula of the University Council in its session of 23 February 2011, as Interuniversity Doctoral Programme. Furthermore, aside from the Department of Analytical Chemistry and the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the UV, the programme of the Department of Chemistry of the Technic University of Valencia has been introduced.

Currently, the Doctoral Programme in ETC, like in the rest of the doctoral programmes of all Spanish universities, is adapting itself to the most recent regulations.

After completing 60 ECTS credits of the Master's Degree in Experimental Techniques in Chemistry, the graduates that meet the requeriments established in the current legislation, can join directly the Research Stage of the Doctoral Programme of Experimental Techniques in Chemistry with an excellent training and having acquired the attitudes and necessary skills to produce a Doctoral Thesis. Likewise, the graduates can join the Doctoral Programme in Chemistry and other doctoral programmes related with Chemistry or related sciences both of the UV as well as of other universities.