Experts Address Series (2003-04)
Peter Olaf Looms
The Challenge
to universities
servicing
the private sector
and meeting
societal obligations
Who I am and what I do
© 2004 DR
• Full-time consultant at DR public
service broadcaster “to inform,
educate and entertain”
• Strategic planning, mainly digital
TV and broadband
• Teach postgraduate courses in
format development and strategic
issues related to digital content
Altid Sport
 the University of Hong Kong
 the IT-University of Copenhagen
 INA (National Audiovisual
 Institute, Paris, France)
 Institute of Interactive Digital TV
Research, Murdoch University, Perth,
Australia (October/November 2004)
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Returning to a previous presentation...
© 2004 DR
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The structure of my presentation
© 2004 DR
• The context - DR and ITU
• The current political debate
about education as a long-term
investment for economic
growth
• The response from universities
and companies
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The context
Denmark
My two employers:
DR (Danish Broadcasting)
ITU (IT University of
Copenhagen)
The Context
© 2004 DR
DENMARK
• 5.4 million people
• 44,00 square km
• GNP per capita of
USD 43,000 (2003)at current rate
• Ranks 5th on IT world list
(Hong Kong is 16th)
•5 multi-faculty universities
• 11 specialist universities
• ITU, the IT University of
Copenhagen is one of them
http://europa.eu.int/public-services/denmark/citizens/education/higher_education_en.htm
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The Context
© 2004 DR
DR Danish Broadcasting Corporation
• Founded in 1925
• 3,300 staff
• Annual operating budget
HKD 4.4 billion
• Funded by broadcast licence
• 2 TV channels
• Market share 38%
• 10+ radio channels
• Interactive media & services:
TTV, WWW, mobile, DTV,
wireless…
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The Context
© 2004 DR
ITU The IT University of Copenhagen
• Established by Danish Folketing in
April 1999 - opening its doors in
August 1999
• Students
2001 = 428
2003 = 627 person-years (15%
below target)
• Full-time staff
2001 = 37 person-years
2003 = 82 person-years excluding
external lecturers (part-time)
• Annual operating budget n.a.
• Postgraduate and PhD only
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© 2004 DR
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© 2004 DR
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The current
political debate
Education as an
investment for longterm economic growth
Denmark survives on its brains
© 2004 DR
Knowledge society successes in
the last few decades:
• 50% of world market for synthetic insulin
• 35% of world market for replaceable
energy (windmills)
• One or two major successes in digital
content (IO Interactive)
• Start-ups such as GIGA, Maconomy and
Radiometer sold to INTEL, Microsoft for
between 3-5 billion HKD each
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Denmark survives on its brains
© 2004 DR
Knowledge society problems in
recent years:
• Sales of IT and biotech start-ups ultimately
lead risk of R&D going offshore to where the
owners live
• Low underlying proportion of population
skilled and willing enough to set up their own
companies with high R&D profile
• Paying more than lip-service to life-long
learning and offering relevant opportunities
for upgrading human resources in the labour
market to nurture innovation and growth
(MMD, thruput, too few PhDs)
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Denmark survives on its brains
© 2004 DR
Knowledge society problems in
recent years:
• Government increasing spending on higher
education and at the same time making cuts
• Ill-defined expectations about investment in
education and economic growth
• Exhortations to become a major player in
niche areas of digital entertainment
- does it sound familiar?
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The response
Visions and Realities
Minister of Science,
Technology & Innovation
Chairman of
the Board
Managing
Director
© 2004 DR
September 26 2003: ITU received the University Start-up Award
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Statistics about innovators at ITU
© 2004 DR
• 11.5% of students go into
business while still studying at
ITU
• An additional 27% are
planning this on graduation
• Potential of 38.5% of which
just over half is currently
realised
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Strengths and weaknesses at ITU
© 2004 DR
• Realignment of research to focus on
fewer strategic areas in larger
teams now working
• Good links with industry (could be even
better in some fields; also teaching)
• Management and growth
• Weaknesses in teaching & learning
provisions for mature students
(culture, taught courses, performance criteria)
• Weaknesses as regards links with
other universities (need to work closer
with business schools?)
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• Can no longer deliver on 6-8% productivity growth per
annum just by working harder
• Moving DR to a new greenfield site
•”DR Byen” - the DR Media Village
• WE move as one of the last in 2006
© 2004 DR
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DR City /BR Byen
© 2004 DR
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© 2004 DR
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© 2004 DR
Burning our bridges
to ensure improved
flexibility and the ability
to cope with change
in 21st Century
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© 2004 DR
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Tango Dancers or a Ménage a Trois?
© 2004 DR
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© 2004 DR
• Discussion
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