DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH INITIATIVES

1. DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH INITIATIVES Professor Dr. Adel M. Sharaf, P.Eng. Electrical and Computer Engineering Department The University of New Brunswick Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3 E-mail: Sharaf@unb.ca

2. KEYWORDS • Issues • Mission • Scholarships (Scholarly Teaching) • Focused Vision • Graduate Studies & Research • Challenges • Approach • Extensions • Funding • The Candidate • Research Service Model • Key Research Areas • Research-Equation

3. ISSUES FACING HIGHER EDUCATION • Educational-Quality • Accountability • Competitiveness/Responsives • Collegial Work Environment • Learning-Outcome & Assessment (Mission, objectives, outcomes, Assessment)

4. UNIVERSITY MISSION • To foster innovation, Creativity, Discovery, Critical thinking through excellent graduate studies and research targeted to areas of importance to community, national and international markets. • Develop a research culture encompassing (Students, Faculty, Staff, Community). • Promote Research as a tool for Personal Growth, Economic-Prosperity and Gainful Employment • Provide full accessibility to educational resources and research services • Promote lifelong learning and retraining through innovative Graduate Studies & research programs and the Continuing Education/ Learning Center (CEC/CLC) • Establish Sustainable Links with Businesses and Industry through Internships, Cooperation, learning and mentoring programs

5. SCHOLARSHIPS(Scholarly-Teaching) • Ernest Boyer’s Model • Four Overlapping Scholarships • Discovery • Integration • Application • Teaching as an integrated scholar • Create Knowledge & • Disseminate Knowledge • Integrate Knowledge • Apply Knowledge

6. Focused-VISION • Accessibility of Graduate Programs • Innovative High Quality and Value-Added research Programs • Enhance Areas of strength • Build stronger partnerships with Government, Business, Community and Industry • Establish Pre-Eminence, Maintain Excellence • Use of Information Technology and Networking in Research • New Funding • Internationalizing Research Activities

7. GRADUATE STUDIES & RESEARCH (GSR) I- GOALS: • Attract, Train, and Retrain Highly Qualified Personnel • Basic & Applied Research as a catalyst to Economic Growth • Creation & Dissemination of Knowledge • Training & Continuing Education as a Tool to address titling Employment-Markets II- PROBLEMS: • Funding limitations • Faculty Research Overload – (Burden) • Need for Innovative Programs!

8. III- IMMEDIATE NEEDS: • Streamlining, New Interdisciplinary Programs (Arts & Science) • Major Initiatives and Emphasis in New Technology (CIT) • Short-Term and Long-Term Plan (Executive Advisory-Committee) IV- SUSTAINED CHALLENGES: • Massive Retirements in Academia (30-50%) expected in the next 7-10 years. • Innovation in Technology and new Tilting Employment Markets (Global- Competitive World-Economy). • Promotional Efforts are needed to alter the perception of Graduate- Studies and the value of the Graduate Degrees • Need to compete nationally and internationally • Internet based learning/web- Based learning/Tele learning • Need for on-line Diploma and Master programs (International-Ventures). • Role of Mentoring in Sustaining Research

9. APPROACH • New funding support from World Bank, CIDA, UNESCO in addition to NSERC and SSHRC, other AID-ORGANIZATIONS • Market New Flexible Innovative Master’s and Diploma / Certificate Programs (on-line Master/part-time Masters/Diploma) • Academic Channels/Academic Research Agreements (Developing countries, Middle East, South East Asia and Eastern-Europe) • Top-up Graduate Awards, Travel-Grants, Tuition Waiver/ Tuition Reduction as a tool to attract Top-NOTCH STUDENTS • Annual Research Competition and Research Forum / Workshops • New Areas of Innovative Research – Interdisciplinary (C.IT., Health, Medical Technology, e-Business, Energy, Environment, Economics, Business, Nursing, Education, Arts, etc…) • Quality-Assurance and Research Outcome Assessment Tools and Metrics (Goals, Objectives, Tasks,…) • Need to Market (GSR) as a Value-Educational Added Commodity (Education, Fairs, Exhibition, Shows,…)

10. Annual GSR Newsletter • On-line Web-Based Data Bank of (Research Capabilities/ Expertise)-Bank • Annual SGS-Report (Research-Summaries, Publication-Record, Awards, Scholarships, …) • GSR Acceptance Process automation • Research / Graduate Student Supervision should be considered as an integral part of Teaching Load for Faculty Members. • Need to Develop a Coherent-Research Culture • Role of Collaborative/ Inter disciplinary and Research and Inter-Faculty • Include Research Components in all Under-Graduate Teaching (Project-based learning, self-learning) • Scholarly-Teaching (Knowledge Creation & Dissemination)

11. EXTENSIONS • Faculty Research Seminars / Workshops/ Research Forums (Semi-Annually) • Annual Research-Competition (Research-Fair) • Feedback from Businesses and Industry on new requirements and expectations of future Employees/Researchers • Expand Research and Educational Resources • Provide Mentored Teaching and Research Experience to New Faculty Members and Graduate Students • Establish an active Consultative Advisory Committee (CAC) • Provide Full integration of GSR and University Research-Services

12. RESEARCH FUNDING • Strengthen the P3-Golden Rule (Private-Public-Partnerships) • Industrial Support For Market-Oriented R & D (Industry Initiated Specialized Research) • Establish Long-Term Academic Links/ with channels Developing Countries (Satellite Campuses) • New Funding Agencies (World Bank, CIDA, UNESCO, AID-organizations) • Strengthen Resources (Libraries, Computing Facilities, Specialized Laboratories, Resource Sharing Agreements, Software, ….) • New International Research Links & Academic Agreement in key areas (Energy, Medical Health, Community Development, Conflict Studies, Education, Nursing Cultural-Exchanges, Computers & Information Technology)

13. GSR-URGENT NEEDS • Need for Graduate School Promotional Annual (CD & Brochures) • Research Data Base/ Research-Consulting Bank • Annual Research Review magazine • Strengthen International Partnerships via Research Links/ Academic Exchange Agreements (S.E. Asia, Middle East, Africa, Eastern-Europe). • Promote Joint M.Sc. & Ph.D/ Diploma/Certificate programs (Inter-Faculty, Inter-University) Academic Inter nation channels. • Develop Graduate studies & Research Manual/ Code of Ethics • Graduate students-Research Annual University competition (Research-fair). • Research Prizes / Top-up scholarships as a tool to attract Top-Notch Graduate Students.

14. HOW TO BUILD A RESEARCH CULTURE • Establish Research Guide lines & Code of Ethics • Promote Research as an Integral Part of Scholarly Teaching • Remove Barriers, Streamline the Research Process. • Establish a Sense of Coherence (Graduate Students, Faculty, Administration, Staff as one living-organ) • Establish a Winning Image & Project this Image both nationally and internationally • Market Research Excellence “ Success breeds Success” • Establish an Active Advisory Committee/ Secure feedback/(Duplix) Two-way Communications

15. NEW RESEARCH FUNDING • How Stress the Mutual Benefits of Research Innovation to Industry & NGO. • Stress Value Targeted of research (Market-Value Added Research). • Long-term Research –Park and Incubation centers as a source of Funding. • Strengthen International Partnerships (Joint Programs, Satellite Campuses) • CIDA, World-Bank, UNSECO other Aid Organizations as a source of Funding (Developing Countries) • NGO, Industry/ Business Liaison as a key requirement for securing Future Funds. • Value-Added Research (Royality)/ Market-JVC • Establish Short Term Consulting Services as an Extra Funding Research Tool.

16. THE CANDIDATE • Dynamic Leadership & Vision. • Planning- Skills. • Management & Business Skills. • Communications & Interpersonal Skills. • Salesmanship & Marketing Skills. • Responsiveness/ Flexibility

17. RESEARCH-SERVICES MODEL I- FUNCTION: • Develop, Promote, Deliver & Sustain Effective Research Services. • Attract New funds to ensure Sustainability and Competitiveness of University Research/ Graduate Studies. II- IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS: • Effective Policies dealing with Intellectual-Property and Rights. • Confidentiality and Contractual Rights & Obligations. • Infrastructure (Research Facilities, Faculty Use of Graduate-Students, Shared Resources and Facilities) • New Funding ( New Innovative Sources : Community, National, International Aid Agencies).

18. III- RESEARCH-CLASSIFICATION: • Focused Product/Service • Driven-Research (Applied Research) • Health Energy, Environment, Privatization, Materials, Nano-technology, CIT, Biotechnology, Biometrics, Biomaterial, Nursing,…) • Interdisciplinary-Research and Inter-Faculty. • Tangent Basic Research/Applied Research with potential for Commercialization/Marketing) • Consulting Services (Short-Term, Long-Term).

19. IV- MANAGEMENT-MODEL: • Management Style: (Goal-Driven, Collegial Collaborative Decision Making, Group-Consultations and Feedback). • Classification of Research Services (Short-term Consulting, Product Development Market-driven, Specialized Development, Concept- Validation).

20. V- HOW? • Build Partnerships based on Mutual Expected Benefits. • Full Government-Liaison (NSERC, CFI, CRC ,Chair of Excellence, EMR, IRAP, NRC,…). • NGO, Industry and External Business Funding. • External Agencies and International (CIDA, CIDA-INC., World Bank, UNSCO, Aid Agencies). • International Partnerships, Academic / Research Links with Developing Countries (SE Asia, China,East Europe, Middle East), Universities, Research Centers/Laboratories (nationally and internationally) • Full International-Partnerships and Joint Programs (Health, Wellness, Environment, Energy) • International-Satellite Campuses as an Image Builder and Funding Source.

21. OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES (ORS) VI- TECHNOLOGY/ PRODUCT TRANSFER CYCLE: • Concept • Prototype • Validation / Certification / Patenting • Marketing & Commercialization. • Shared Benefits (Royalties, JVC, Spin-off Business Holdings, Research Park, Technology Transfer fees, etc…).

22. SAMPLE KEY RESEARCH AREAS • Medical, Biomedical, Biometrics • Energy • Environment / Pollution Abatement • Medical, Biometrics & Biotechnology • Food / Nutrition • Nano-Technology • Materials • CIT (Computers & Information Technology) • Business & Privatization. • Art/ Computer Science (MMI, Well based learning, …..)

23. ICT-Information & Communications • Health Sciences and wellness. • Education reform. • Conflict studies Third World & North-South issues • Fine Arts / Culture • Sustainable Development • United Nations Development Program (UNDP) • Economic & Social Studies for the Environment • Disaster Planning • Public policy & International Development. • Women/Child

24. RESEARCH-EQUATION RESEARCH EXCELLENCE  EQUALS: • Commitment • Resources/Infrastructure • Focus • Innovation • Relevance • Links • Image • Marketing • Cross-Research/Multi-Disciplinary • Coherent Research Culture • Research in the classrooms (Scholarly-Teaching)

25. RESEARCH PROMOTION Requires Six Investments: • Invest in R & D Innovation / Targeted Research • Invest in People • Invest in Mentorship • Invest in Research Environment • Invest in Partnerships (NGO, Government, National, International) • Invest in Collaboration Interdisciplinary – (Art-Science) – (Science-Engineering), Health science-Engineering, Health Science-Computer Science.