Learn Engage Create
Module: CHALLENGES
“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. ” ―
Cicely Tyson
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may
be made of the information contained therein.
Collaboration with a University has
CALLENGES (which can be overcome)
• Agreeing on Common Objectives
• Working with (seemingly) Endless Bureaucracy
• Timeframes - sometimes difficult to hold HEI to deadlines
•
Inflexible working hours
• Insufficient understanding by HEI of Commercial Pressures
• Cost
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Common Objectives
• You have YOUR objectives
– S.M.A.R.T. Objectives
– An Exercise
• We (the partnership) have OUR objectives
– Win-Win
– Negotiating Agreement
– Collaboration Agreement
Image credit: pixabay.com - Creative Commons Deed CC0.
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You have YOUR objectives
• “If you do not know where you are going, do not be
surprised if you do not get there!”
– Be clear about what you want for yourself and
for your organization
– Write down your objectives
• Be complete
• Be honest
• Be realistic
– Be sure they are S.M.A.R.T
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S.M.A.R.T. Objectives
Image credit: tutor2u (request pending)
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Plan a Journey – a SMART exercise
• Break out into teams
• Each team to plan a journey between 2 points
– For example: London – Edinburgh
• Your premises - Train Station
• After 5 minutes each team presents to the whole group
how the journey will be made
• Link this to SMART objectives highlighting the problems of
not being SMART
(using S.M.A.R.T. objectives)
– What number is the bus I have to take?
– How long is the walk to the taxi rank?
– Is this method of transport affordable?
• If we don’t look at the detail we might not get to the
destination!
Image credit: pixabay (License: CC0 Public Domain)
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We have OUR objectives…
• “If people can’t agree, they can’t accomplish
anything”
• There may be disagreement when you “bring
together” all the individual objectives
– Focus on Win-Win
– Negotiate to win… without giving in
– Write it down! [Collaboration Agreement]
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Win-Win
What do your partners
want from collaboration
with you, a CCI?
Sometimes they don’t
know or find it hard to
explain.
You need the right tools
and approach.
What business (and
other) outcomes
are you trying to
achieve through
your collaboration
with a University HEI?
At the intersection of these sometimes competing needs, there’s a fertile space
where new ideas or improved services can have a dramatic effect.
Image credit: Foolproof Limited
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Negotiating Agreement
Image credit: Sacha Chua
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Collaboration Agreement
• Drawing up a collaboration agreement at the start of a project,
before any intellectual property (IP) has been generated, can save a
lot of negotiation later on
• There are many model collaboration agreements available – online
such as the Intellectual Property Office) or via business support
agencies
• As a minimum, an agreement should cover:
–
–
–
–
Arrangements for the management and co-ordination of the project
Responsibilities (including funding) and liabilities of the partners
IP arrangements
Reporting and publication arrangements, access to results and
confidentiality provisions
– Consequences of termination/default and ways of handling disputes
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“Endless” Bureaucracy
• Bureaucracy perhaps, but maybe not
endless…
– Figures show a 33% increase in the
number of managers in higher education
in the last five years (UK)
– One person says, “It is an advanced case of galloping
bureaucracy" to which someone else replies: "Ooooh,
certainly not galloping. A gentle canter at the most.“
– In any case, take steps to navigate the
University’s bureaucracy
• Understanding Universities
• Understanding the Needs of Faculty
Image credit: pixabay.com - Creative Commons Deed CC0.
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Understanding Universities
and the Needs of Faculty
• The Knowledge Cycle
• University Job Hierarchy
• Skills for Collaboration
• Social Networking
• Collaboration Framework and Tools
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How Universities Work
Image credit: Craig W Thompson, University of Arkansas
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Where does their time go?
On average, university professors in Europe spend their time as follows:
RESEARCH
TEACHING
ADMINISTRATION
SERVICE
OTHER
38%
30%
17%
7%
8%
Any surprises for you?
What does this tell you about how to best approach academic personnel – in
relation to a possible collaboration for innovation in your CCI sector?
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Basic Ranking of Levels in a
University
Image credit: hierarchystructure.com
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Who should you see first?
• It depends …
• Chancellor is indeed the top person but …
– Is usually very busy, thus hard to schedule
– Has a very high-level view – your proposed project may be below his “radar
screen”
• Dean covers various departments
– Should have a more knowledge of specific related disciples and who best
works in them
– Can link you to Department Heads
• Department Head (not shown on pervious graphic)
– Perhaps your “best bet” – if you have a fairly well-outlined project proposal
– Will know specific professors (all levels) who may have the expertise and
interest to work with a specific CCI sector
• In any case, direct relationships (you know the individual or
somebody you know can introduce you) can work wonders – it will
at least open the door for a preliminary discussion
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Understanding the Needs of Faculty
• How are Faculty Measured?
• Teaching - classes taught, guest lectures, student evaluations
• Research - funded grants, scholarly (peer reviewed) publications,
abstracts [your collaboration project can contribute to the latter two items]
• Service - editorial boards, committees, advisory panels
• At pre-determined time, faculty member will apply for
promotion, tenure or both – in effect “up or out”
– Based on teaching, research, service outcomes assessed by peers then a vote
– Either promoted, tenured … or out
• Ensure that you understand key needs of faculty and invite
them to talk about their work and the challenges they face
– especially discuss how your proposed collaboration on
innovation can help them meet their needs
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Timeframes
• Understand the
differences in
timeframes
• The impact of doing
collaboration on the
timeframe
• Important to clarify
time and cost inputs
and returns
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Inflexible Hours
• Historically based
• Changing … but slowly (be patient)
• Understand the specifics of your
contacts (potential partners)
– Fixed academic timetables
– Research schedule
Image credit: pixabay.com - Creative Commons Deed CC0.
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Commercial Pressures
• HEIs are primarily Government
funded
• Many staff are long-term if not lifetime
employees
• Fixed academic timetables (again)
• And, finally, most HEI staff have not
experienced the consequences of commercial
failure
Image credit: pixabay.com - Creative Commons Deed CC0.
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Costs
• Collaboration with a HEI can help your
business to achieve accelerated growth
• Understand and clarify costs and your needs
early on
Image credit: pixabay.com - Creative Commons Deed CC0.
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References to Pearltrees
• Pearltrees is a visual and collaborative curation tool which will
provide you with much more in-depth information on this
module’s topic.
• Specifically please visit: http://www.pearltrees.com/learnengagecreate/challenges/id12742869
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Any questions whatsoever?
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Thank you for your attention!
<insert presenter's name & contact details>
Further extensive material, case studies, exercises, links and
more can be found on www.lec-project.eu
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
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