Seminar on University Issues and Policy

2003 Seminar

Seminar on University Research Development and Technology Transfer

TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

November 10 – December 12, 2003
 

I. Background

Leadership training for university leaders is an important part of the overall effort to improve the quality of universities in China.  The National Academy of Educational Administration (NAEA) is the institution under the Ministry of Education (MOE), China that has the responsibility of organizing training activities for leaders of Chinese universities.  The President of NAEA is the Minister of Education.  NAEA has recently launched a three-year overseas training project for leaders (current and prospective leaders at the president’s level) from the 75 universities under the direct jurisdiction of MOE.  These universities are the major national research universities in the country.  The first seminar of this training project will be held in fall 2003 in the United States.  Teachers College Columbia University, through its Center on Chinese Education, is the organizer of this seminar. 
 

II. Goals and Contents of 2003 Seminar

The 2003 seminar, “University Research Development and Technology Transfer,” will focus on university research organization and management as well as technology transfer.  With the increasingly rapid development of the knowledge economy and economic globalization, the university is becoming a core organization of social advancement and sustainable economic development.  How to effectively organize resource, increase research effectiveness, and promote research commercialization are challenging issues confronting higher-education institutions.  The objective of this seminar is to deepen university leaders’ understanding of university research organization and management as well as research commercialization and to learn advanced experience of effectively organizing research and promoting research commercialization from renowned world-class universities outside of China.  Through exchange and cooperation with international counterparts, Chinese university leaders will develop their ability and reflect on new measures on university research development and commercialization in China.  Specific contents may include: university research development and strategic planning, balancing basic research and applied research, research project acquirement and management, professional and academic integrity, technology transfer mechanism, incentive and performance evaluation, university-industry-government relationship, etc.
 

III. Participants and Structure of Seminar

The seminar has 17 participants: 13 president-level leaders of major Chinese universities, and four leaders from other education organizations.  It will run from November 10 to December 12.  There are three sets of activities:

• Professional Course (November 10-21, 2003): This two-week course will cover the important contents on university research development and commercialization.  The contents will be delivered by academics, university administrators, as well as leaders from industry and government with expertise in this subject.  The course will be held at Teachers College Columbia University. 
   
• Field Study in Washington, DC (November 24-26, 2003): All the participants will be in DC to visit NSF, NIH, and selected congressional offices dealing with university research.
   
• Field Study at Major Research Universities (December 1-12, 2003): The participants will be divided into groups to visit three major research universities (Columbia University, MIT, and Stanford University) in the United States to better understand the practice of university research development and technology transfer.  The groups will meet again at Columbia University to share and compare their field study.
   

IV. Calendar of Events

Dates	Activities
November 9	Arrival in New York City
November 10-14	First week of course
November 17-21	Second week of course
November 22	Travel to DC
November 24-26	Field study in DC
November 29	Travel to university
December 1-9	Field study at university
December 10	Return to New York City
December 11-12	Discussion of field study
December 14	Departure from New York City