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A Harbinger in the Asia-Pacific A Role for AIT in Research and Innovation August 25, 2005. A Discussion by Professor Ram M. Shrestha. A changing research landscape. Historically, the main thrust of AIT was in graduate education with a strong student research component
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A Harbinger in the Asia-Pacific A Role for AIT in Research and Innovation August 25, 2005 A Discussion by Professor Ram M. Shrestha
A changing research landscape • Historically, the main thrust of AIT was in graduate education with a strong student research component • Today, an increasing focus on sponsored research • Change in revenue and product mixes
AIT’s Competitive Advantage : Tapping core competencies • Regional advantage • Multidisciplinary capabilities • Extensive experience in applied research • Widespread Alumni network
Challenges • Growing competition from universities – Asian and non-Asian • Ability to reposition ourselves • Traditional “donor-recipient model” now largely obsolete • Development cooperation agencies now perceive themselves as partners in development • Emphasis on AIT’s mission to help developing countries develop further • AIT’s cost-effective, high quality problem-solving research and highly competent professionals
Strategy 1: Anticipating Regional Research Needs • Needs and capabilities assessment • Diversity of in terms of • Economic growth • Industrialization • Development
Strategy 2: Forging partnerships • Development Partnerships with development cooperation agencies • Partnership with AIT alumni • Partnerships and networking with universities and research institutions • Partnerships with private (industry) sector • Partnerships with international organizations, multilateral funding agencies and research networks • Partnerships with government agencies • Partnerships with regional organizations • University-Government-Industry (Triple Helix Model)
Strategy 3: Enhancing ties with industry • Enhance AIT’s research linkage with the private sector industries • Mapping out industry needs and AIT research competencies • Developing a database of key companies • Exploring commercialization/licensing of AIT technologies • Providing technology incubation services • Forming industry specific advisory committees • Encouraging student research in the industry • Organizing seminars to present AIT research results • Exploring opportunities for industry employees to conduct research at AIT
Strategy 4: Seizing new opportunities • Staying prepared, from proposal development to research project execution. • Maintaining a roaster of faculty and research staff by types of their expertise and research interest • Formation of multidisciplinary research teams within and/or across schools • Monitoring major research programs/activities on Asia of national, regional, international agencies, etc • Monitoring major research programs/activities of other universities and research institutes
Strategy 5: Creating an enabling environment • Creating an enabling environment for AIT faculty and research staff • Recognition to researchers • Incentive schemes • Encouraging research staff to develop independent projects • Improvement/streamlining of administrative processes • AIT Research Fund to support continuity of some key strategic research • Provision of efficient support system to research project management • Facilitate preparation of research project proposals • Provide research initiation grants • Provide grant for preparation of new project proposals • Improve faculty evaluation system • Encourage more participation of students in research projects
Strategy 6: Enhancing research quality • Nurturing research culture • Self policing and collegial feedbacks • Internal and/or external peer review of research reports • Publication of papers based on research projects in refereed journals • Encouraging seminars for presentation of sponsored project research and student research • Encouraging presentation of papers in international and regional conferences • Increased involvement of post doctoral fellows and students in research projects
Strategy 7: Enhancing visibility • Branding AIT as a center for research excellence • Increased publications of journal and conference papers • Increased publications of books and summaries for policy makers based on research reports • Advertising or informing key stakeholders about new AIT publications • Organizing international applied research conference at AIT more regularly • Organising research fora for disseminating AIT research outputs • Production of materials for mass media
Initial Initiatives • Set up • a monitoring unit to gather information regularly about the research opportunities • database for technology licensing and patents • effective archive for AIT research reports • Prepare a roaster of • faculty and staff by their research expertise and interest • present and potential partner organizations • Consult faculty, staff and students to • seek ideas to improve the research quality and research environment at AIT • Improve policies and procedures on sponsored research