In 1999, the International Research Training Group "GRK532" was founded as a pilot project for cross-border European postgraduate education along the German/French/Luxembourg borders. The project consists of an interdisciplinary research programme on synthesis, isolation and characterization of new materials accompanied by an ambitious continuous and consecutive education programme between research groups from chemistry, pharmacy, physics, biochemistry, materials science and analytical chemistry. The education programme aims at qualifying doctoral students in international, interdisciplinary and soft skills during their thesis work. Key elements of the education programme are lectures, hands-on workshops, scientific presentations and discussions in English. Alumni receive a certificate of successful participation, which is signed by the German and French speakers and the president of the Deutsch-Franzosische Hochschule/Universite Franco-Allemande [Franco-German University]. (Contains 35 footnotes and 5 figures.)