Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Project FP7-REGPOT-2007-1: SISTER:...

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University

Project FP7-REGPOT-2007-1: Project FP7-REGPOT-2007-1: SISTER: SISTER: Strengthening the IST Strengthening the IST

Research Capacity of Sofia UniversityResearch Capacity of Sofia University

Dr. Roumen Nikolov

Project Coordinator,

Sofia University


Main GoalMain Goal

• The main goal of SISTER project is to develop FMI as a Leading Centre in SEE in research, innovation and training in the area of ICT and more specifically in Software and Services, and Intelligent Content and Semantics;


Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

• In order to achieve the main goal the following project objectives are defined:• to elaborate and further develop a strategic RTDI framework for

FMI future development; • to strengthen the research capacity of FMI by enhancing the

human resources capabilities of FMI and research integration with EU partners;

• to strengthen the capacity of FMI for business exploitation of academic results and cooperation with industry

• to improve the research environment of FMI;• to build a strong long-term collaboration of FMI with leading

research organisations and enterprises in EU and in SEE countries;

• to make FMI a well-known research and innovation centre in SEE.

• A number of measurable indicators for success were defined.


Groups of ActivitiesGroups of Activities

The work plan will concentrate on the following groups of activities:

• Developing and validating a RTDI Strategy for FMI;• Networking with other universities and research centres;• Hiring of new young researchers; • Renewal of ICT equipment; • Two-ways mobility visits; • Research and training seminars; • Summer schools;Workshops; Conferences; • Research and PhD web-based information system; • Sharing digital content;• other


WP WP InterdependenciesInterdependencies

WP5: Management and Control

WP4: Dissemination and promotion

WP2a: Strengthening the ICT research

capacity of FMI in S&S WP3: Strengthening the

interdisciplinary skills of FMI staff and the technology

environment

WP1: Definition of an ICT RTDI Strategy of FMI

WP2c:

Strengthening ICT research

capacity of FMI in ICS


Project Management GridProject Management Grid

Project Steering Board

Project partners

fromEU-MS and Bulgarian

universities,

research organizations and industry

Sofia University

Scientific Research Department

Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics

Project Coordinator

WP1 Leader

WP2* Leader

WP3 Leader

WP4 Leader

WP5 Leader

Technical and Quality Manager

University Collab. Manager

Researchers Mobility Manager

Scientific Manager

Event Manager

ICT Service Manager

Project Team


RTDI strategy of FMIRTDI strategy of FMI

• Definition of an ICT Research, Technology, Development and Innovation (RTDI) strategy of FMI: one of the main goals within the project SISTER

• The most considerable feature of this strategy is its scope – there exist a lot of successful ICT RTDI strategies for whole universities but we did not find any RTDI strategy for a particular faculty.


PhasesPhases

Three phases of the work:• identification of research competencies

of FMI, technology trends and ICT research needs;

• preparation and validation of ICT RTDI strategy for FMI;

• development of scenarios and elaboration of a detailed action plan for ICT research and training within SISTER.


First PhaseFirst Phase

• Analysis of the state-of-the-art in ICT, the needs and available resources. Methodology: Environmental scanning: Analysis of European and national

reports, web sites, scientific literature, media publications, etc. SWOT analysis: Special attention to the research competences

of FMI, the FMI positioning in the area of ICT in Bulgaria and the region, and the opportunities and threats for its further development and integration into ERA and European Higher education area.

Issue survey: A web-based survey in a significant number of enterprises, policy makers and local authorities in Bulgaria, among FMI researchers and ICT end-users in order to determine the large societal and economic needs for research and training in ICT.


Second PhaseSecond Phase

• Preparation of ICT RTDI strategy for FMI.The first Expert panel meeting: helped to

identify the strategic priorities and the related actions for RTDI in ICT at FMI

The second Expert panel meeting: helped to validate the RTDI Strategy and would support the definition of an Action plan for ICT development at FMI within SISTER project


Third PhaseThird Phase

• Will ensure a framework for implementation of SISTER activities and networking.

• The strategy and the action plan will provide guidelines for capacity strengthening in research and innovation. T

• They will also streamline the education activities of FMI team in ICT in accordance with the industry, economic and societal needs and the best practices.


Vision & MissionVision & Mission

FMI Vision: Create a Faculty community that becomes locally and internationally recognized in research, teaching and service, and recognized nationally for student excellence. This will establish a reputation of being more valuable to all stakeholders.

FMI Mission: To provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary environment for high quality informatics research and education using the innovation, latest technologies and world expertise. To achieve excellence in research and teaching within the university, country and international IT communities.

FMI Strategic Objectives: The Faculty mission and vision reflect on taking more stakeholders oriented decisions.


Key Priorities for FMIKey Priorities for FMI

Financial priorities: Ensure revenue growth for all activities Improve the cost structure at the Faculty Increase the foreign financing (EU / non EU) Enhance the industry support

Internal processes priorities: Facilitate the administrative operations Ensure support for collaborative activities in the Faculty Improve the collaboration with other SU structures and external organizations

Learning and growth priorities: Development of the competences of Faculty members Development of LLL culture Ensure equal access to technology and innovation

Focuses of ICT Education and Training in FMI: Curriculum improvement Optimization of existing education processes


Priority Areas for ICT Priority Areas for ICT Research in FMIResearch in FMI

• Fundamentals of Computer Science• Intelligent systems (incl. Intelligent Content and

Semantics)• Information systems• Information security• IT services• Software intensive systems• Bioinformatics• Computer graphics• e-Learning


Scenarios as an Scenarios as an Exploratory MethodExploratory Method

Based on state-of-the-art, present trends and

possible events/decisions,what we could expect to happen in the future?

Alternative futures as a result from the multiple

pathwayspossible

WHAT IF…?

If we do this, what will happen?...

desirable/undesirable scenarios

realistic scenarios


Strategic frameworkStrategic framework


Approach for building scenariosApproach for building scenarios

Step 1: Identify the focal issues – start 'from the inside out‘ using interviews, questionnaires, other studies

• mission, core challenges, staff assumptions, etc.•Step 2: Key forces in the micro environment - those that have a direct influence on the university (desk research, etc.)

• sector trends• specific regulations for HE and RTD• new technologies in education

Step 3: Driving forces (macro environment) – broader and possibly global with impact on university (based on environmental scanning)

• Society• Technology• Economy• Ecology• Policy


Environments of an Educational Organization


Approach for building Approach for building scenariosscenarios

Step 4: Rank key factors/driving forces by importance and uncertainty• ICT developments• RTD policy• Bologna process• Industrial demand• Migration processes• Demographic changes

Step 5: Selecting scenario logics

Degrees delivered by a large range of institutions

Open & Lifelong

Diversity/ Disappear

Network

TraditionalEnterpreneurial

Free market

Lifelong Learning

Initial tertiary education

Degrees delivered by restricted number of institutions

source: OECD scenarios


Approach for building scenariosApproach for building scenarios

• Step 6: Fleshing out the scenarios – details of scenarios according macro and micro drivers• Plausibility: A scenario must be plausible. This means that it

must fall within the limits of what might conceivably happen.• Consistency: A scenario must be internally consistent. This

means that the combination of logics in a scenario must not have any built-in inconsistency that could undermine the credibility of the scenario.

• Differentiation: Scenarios should be structurally different, meaning that they should not be so close to one another that they become simply variations of a base case.

• Decision-making utility: each scenario, and all scenarios if they constitute a set, should contribute specific insights into the future that will lead to the decision focus that was selected.


Follow-up activitiesFollow-up activities

• Step 7: Implications of scenarios • high risk, feasibility, vulnerability for the organisation, etc.

• Step 8: Selection of leading indicators and signposts• for future monitoring and control

• Step 9: Feed the scenarios back to those consulted• Step 10: Discuss the strategic options• Step 11: Agree the implementation plan • Step 12: Publicise the scenarios


FMI survey resultsFMI survey results

Relationships with Students Industry and Society

41% 41% 45% 50%32%

32% 32% 23%27%

41%

14% 14% 14% 5% 9%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

FMI has adoptedsystematic approachfor identif ication of

needs, expectationsand satisfaction of

students, industry andsociety

FMI is informed aboutthe specif ic demands,

expectations andpriorities of students,industry and society

Reglamentedproceedure for

feedback collection andanalyzes of students,industry, and society

Information receivedfrom students, industryand society regularly isanalyzed and used forimprovement of the FMI

activities

FMI is engaged w ith itscommunication,

netw orking, and imageimprovement among

students, industry andsociety .

Weak Average Strong


5% 5% 5%

0%5% 5%

0%5% 9%

0%0% 14%

32% 27% 14%

27% 36% 23%

5% 5% 23%

36% 18% 23%

36% 23% 23%

36% 18% 27%

23% 32% 27%

23% 9% 32%

27% 23% 32%

23% 27% 32%

18% 32% 32%

14% 32% 32%

23% 18% 36%

18% 27% 36%

23% 5% 45%

9% 23% 55%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Project management

Program products

Technology transfer

Organizational skills

Know ledge management

Research management and teamw ork

Teaching methodologies

Strategic planning

New technologies

Communication techniques

Teamw ork

e-learning

ICT methodologies in teaching

Applications

Quality management

Telew ork

Research skills in the f ield of IT

Lecturing skills

Individual skills

other

Needs for additional training

Weak Average Strong


WP4: WP4: E-E-visibility of FMIvisibility of FMI researchresearch

Objectives • To make the research and innovation

activities transparent• To support

• scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing;

• knowledge and technology transfer between University and industry in Bulgaria and abroad


StatusStatus

• Information• Partial• In pieces• Not regularly

updated • Not structured

• Problems• Non-transparent• Non-searchable


ApproachesApproaches

• To start from scratch

• To follow existinggood practices


PracticesPractices

• Science Research - public gateway to science information provided by US Government and publishers.

http://www.scienceresearch.com/search/


PracticesPractices

• Kauffman Foundation - Entrepreneurship Research Portal

http://research.kauffman.org/cwp/appmanager/ research/researchDesktop


PracticesPractices

• Open University of the Netherlands


ToolsTools

1. DSpace• Free open source software;• Customizable to meet the needs;• Can manage & preserve different type of

content;• Used by educational, government,

private & business institutions


ToolsTools

2. Fedora Commonshttp://www.fedora.info/

• Do more with your digital collections

• Built on flexible, extensible, modular architecture


Proposed SolutionProposed Solution

• Research portal /digital repository for research results/• Papers• Ph.D.Theses• MSc. Theses• Patents• Events• Case studies• Licences• Projects


Proposed SolutionProposed Solution


PrototypePrototype

http://research.it.fmi.uni-sofia.bg


European e-Competence European e-Competence FrameworkFramework

• September 2008 were published the European e-Competence Framework - e-CF (v. 1.0) and the user guidelines for its application;

• The e-CF is focused only on the ICT practitioner Skills and would make possible creation of a long-term human resources and competence development strategies for the European ICT community;

• structured from four dimensions which reflect different levels of business and human resource planning requirements in addition to job/work proficiency guidelines


UUse of the se of the e-CFe-CF inin ICT ICT oorganisations rganisations

European e-CF dimensions ---- Employee management processes in the company/ institution


EU e-CF application by ICT education, training EU e-CF application by ICT education, training

and certification institutes (public and private)and certification institutes (public and private)


Need of multi-stakeholder Need of multi-stakeholder partnership partnership

The European e-CF provides a framework for a multi-stakeholder partnership between universities and companies since it represents the competence needs of the ICT industry which could reflect on designing and refining the academic programs


Thank you for your attention!

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Project FP7-REGPOT-2007-1: SISTER:...

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