Thesis (doctoral)--University of Helsinki, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-187). Also available on the World Wide Web. Myös verkkojulkaisuna.

Thesis (MTech (Public Relations Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / Public relations (PR) scholars and industry partners continue to emphasise the importance of a sustainable relationship between PR disciplines and key industry iii partners. This relationship seeks to respond to stakeholders that remain despondent with the quality of engagement between the South African PR academia and industry. Existing literature in this field argues that PR departments at South African universities are experiencing adverse scrutiny by industry as many current academic programmes do not produce students who are industry ready. To address this critical concern, building and sustaining relations with key stakeholders is imperative. This study examines engagement strategies that the PR programme at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology uses to build and sustain relations with key industry partners. The research draws on two Public Relations theories: stakeholder theory and two-way symmetrical communication to make sense of the strategies used by this programme. It is based on a qualitative approach and an exploratory case study research design. Empirical data were collected through one-to-one interviews and focus group discussions with PR programme staffs, final year PR students and employees from two external PR consultancies. The data were coded and thematically analysed. The main finding of the study is that current engagement strategies are ineffective for relationship building purposes between the PR programme and key industry partners. To sustain mutually beneficial relationships, it is recommended that existing strategies be revised in order to improve relations between the PR department at Cape Peninsular University of Technology (CPUT) and its industry partners, as well as to promote the advancement of both PR as an academic discipline and a profession.

Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Economic recession and job scarcity has led to a decline in the demand for design services. Graduates in all fields are faced with the risk of unemployment beyond graduation, with youth unemployment rates in South Africa and globally at alarming levels. The evolving social and economic challenges of our times place increasing pressure on the responsibility of higher education institutions to design learning experiences that adequately prepare graduates for the world of work, whether in employment or in entrepreneurial self-employment. However, there is a significant gap between universities’ supply and industry’s demand for graduates with the desired attributes, which research shows include not only subject-specific knowledge and skills, but particularly ‘soft skills’ that make an employee effective at work. The paradox of students graduating without professional experience can be overcome through approaches such as work-integrated learning, which embed the lessons of professional practice into design education curricula. This research project examines a case study of work-integrated learning at a South African university of technology in order to develop an industry-responsive model of professional practice in Industrial Design education. The case examined is the “R5K project”, a year-long group project in BTech Industrial Design in which students are challenged – simulating the world of work - to design, develop, manufacture, market and sell a product, and earn at least ZAR 5 000. This research set out to assess the extent to which the project effectively prepared students for work.

Thesis (MTech (Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / This research study investigates the level of awareness of, and engagement with Design for Sustainability (DfS) among three categories of actors within the Cape Town communication design fraternity: design educators, design students and design professionals. It focuses specifically on the degree of application of DfS within three selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cape Town, while also interrogating the local industry’s need for students who are knowledgeable and skilled in this subject. To successfully practice DfS, communication designers need to be responsive to the possible environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of their work. This study argues for the early incorporation of principles of sustainability into communication design curricula in order to promote the uptake of DfS. An extensive review of literature facilitates the showcasing of practical examples of how communication designers can positively address sustainability through their design solutions. Further, it also unpacks the barriers and solutions to integrating DfS into both education and practice. The study employs a qualitative research approach. Using purposive sampling, rich data is gathered from the key informants through focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Activity Theory is used as an analytical lens through which to examine the dynamics between the three different actors who are involved in the activities of teaching, learning and practicing DfS in communication design. The findings identify major gaps in the teaching of DfS as the subject is typically considered to be applicable to environmental issues. There is also limited understanding of how to practically apply principles of sustainability. Along with proposing appropriate strategies and tools to enrich the education around DfS in a more holistic manner, the study highlights the need for proactive re-curriculation so as to effectively sensitise students to the responsibility of communication designers to tackle sustainability issues. A set of adaptable guidelines is proffered as a way of making DfS more accessible to students while training them to channel their unique skill set and enhance attributes of agility and resilience in preparation for professional practice and an ever changing world. Educators are seen as playing the most crucial role in effecting the proposed guidelines because they interface with both students and industry; as well as straddle the critical domains of research, pedagogy and professional praxis. Additionally, this study recommends establishing more robust, responsive and meaningful connections between academia and industry in order to develop contextually relevant industry standards that will promote and advance DfS best practice among the Cape Town communication design fraternity.

Academic knowledge and technology transfer has been growing in importance both in academic research and practice. A critical question in managing this activity is how to evaluate its effectiveness. The literature shows an increasing number of studies done to address this question; however, it also reveals important gaps that need more research. One novel approach is to evaluate the effectiveness of this activity from an organizational point of view, which is to measure how much knowledge and technology transfer from a university fulfills the mission of the institution. This research develops a Hierarchical Decision Model (HDM) to measure the contribution values of various knowledge and technology transfer mechanisms to the achievement of the mission. The performance values obtained from the university under investigation are applied to the model to develop a Knowledge and Technology Transfer Effectiveness Index for that university. The Index helps an academic institution assess the current performance of its knowledge and technology transfer with respect to its mission. This robust model also helps decision makers discover areas where the university is performing well, or needs to pay more attention. In addition, the university can benchmark its own performance against its peers in order to set up a roadmap for improvement. It is proved that this is the first index in the literature which truly evaluates the effectiveness of university knowledge and technology transfer from an organizational perspective. It is also the first method that incorporates hard data of university technology transfer and expert judgments into the evaluation of the effectiveness of the activity. Practitioners in the area of academic technology transfer can also apply this evaluation model to quantitatively evaluate the performance of their institutions for strategic decision making purposes.

Collaborative academic-practice partnership (CAPP) positions make it possible for nursing educators to stay current with evolving practice issues and enable nursing practitioners to stay in touch with trends in contemporary nursing education. The purpose of this qualitative, collective case study was to explore the experience of registered nurses who occupy collaborative academic-practice partnership positions within a Canadian nursing context. Study sample consisted of registered nurses (n=10) employed in type of collaborative partnership between a health care agency and academic institution. Triangulation of data was achieved through interviews (two per participant) over several months, review of archival documents, and researcher‟s reflective fieldnotes. Findings revealed three emergent themes: Foundations, Actualization, Challenges and Benefits of the CAPP position. This study supports development of future CAPP positions to provide opportunities for growth, professional development, and career paths for nurses, while addressing university and agency requirements and quality patient care. These findings can play an important role in influencing change by way of strategic alliances in nursing education and practice. / xi, 155 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Originally presented as the author's thesis: Universität zu Kiel, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar o processo de transferência de tecnologia entre Universidade-Indústria nos NITs das universidades públicas do Estado do Paraná, bem como analisar o fluxo da transferência de tecnologia do Brasil. A metodologia caracterizou-se como exploratória e descritiva, sendo constituída como aplicada, sendo realizado um estudo de caso em um dos NITs pesquisados. No primeiro momento foram coletados dados no Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial (INPI), no Banco Central do Brasil (BACEN), e nos Diretórios dos Grupos de Pesquisa do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Posteriormente foram pesquisados os NITs do Estado do Paraná através do Octógono da Inovação e questionários semi-estruturados elaborados para coleta de dados. O Brasil vem recebendo tecnologias de grandes potências econômicas como Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Japão, França, Itália, Reino Unido, Suíça, Canadá e Espanha, tendo um considerável aumento neste período mesmo depois do início da crise econômica em 2008. Ao passo que também exportou mais tecnologias do que importou nos últimos 12 anos. As barreiras de cooperação entre universidade-indústria ainda são muito presentes, atualmente existem 27.523 grupos de pesquisa em todas as áreas do conhecimento, mas somente 0,31% desenvolvem atividades relacionadas com transferência de tecnologia, e 58% não estabelecem relações com indústria. Por meio do diagnostico da ferramenta octógono da inovação foi possível verificar os cenários dos núcleos de inovação tecnologia das universidades publicas do Estado do Paraná. Foi possível identificar que os núcleos tem uma equipe de profissionais com excelente nível de capacitação e com diferentes áreas de formação, porém com dificuldades para estabelecer relacionamentos internos entre seus membros e demais professores e grupos de pesquisa da universidade. E também, encontram dificuldades para desenvolver os pontos externos, compreendendo no estabelecimento de novas redes de pesquisadores, estudantes, outras universidades e até mesmo lideranças no setor produtivo para gerar e refinar novas ideias, e possuem processos internos falhos. Dos cinco núcleos pesquisados, apenas o NIT 1 obteve melhores pontuações, o que elevou a ser o melhor núcleo do Estado. Por meio da pesquisa, verificou-se que o NIT 1 estuda e implementa mecanismos que transformam conhecimento em inovação, o trabalho realizado pelo núcleo visa contribuir para o desenvolvimento científico, tecnológico e socioeconômico da sociedade brasileira. Contudo, a oferta de tecnologia deve depender excepcionalmente do processo de difusão tecnológica, da adoção de tecnologia pela sociedade por meio do aprendizado contínuo, possibilitando incremento no desempenho de serviços, processos e produtos produzidos no mercado. / This research aims to analyze the process of transfer of technology between Industries and Public Universities, specifically at Innovation and Technology Centers (known as NIT in Brazil), as well as analyze the technology transfer in Brazil. The methodology was characterized as exploratory and descriptive, being constituted as applied, and conducted as a case study at one of the surveyed NITs. At first data were collected at the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazilian Central Bank (BCB), Directories and Research Groups of the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq). NITs in Parana State were subsequently surveyed through Octagon Innovation methodology and semi-structured questionnaires designed to collect data. Brazil is getting technology from major economic powers like the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Canada and Spain, with a considerable increase even after the economic crisis which began in 2008. Meanwhile Brazil has exported more technologies than imported them in the last 12 years. Barriers to cooperation between universities and industries are still very present. There are currently 27,523 research groups in all areas of knowledge, but only 0.31% of them develops activities related to technology transfer, and 58% do not establish relationships with industry. Through the diagnostic tool, octagon innovation, it was possible to verify the scenarios of core technology innovation of public universities in the state of Paraná. It was possible to identify such Center has a team of professionals with excellent level of training and different training areas, but it is experiencing difficulties in establishing internal relationships among members and other teachers and university research groups. Difficulties were also found in the process of developing external contacts, including establishing new networks of researchers, students, other universities and even leaders in the productive sector to generate and refine new ideas in order to prevent internal failures to processes. Among the five surveyed NITs, only one, got better results being the best in the state (NIT 1). Through research, it was found that the NIT 1 studies and implements mechanisms which transform knowledge into innovation. Its work aims to contribute to the scientific, technological and socioeconomic Brazilian society. However, it is possible to detect problems since technology depends on the process of technological diffusion, adoption of technology by society through continuous learning, enabling increased performance of services, processes and products produced in the market.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar o processo de transferência de tecnologia entre Universidade-Indústria nos NITs das universidades públicas do Estado do Paraná, bem como analisar o fluxo da transferência de tecnologia do Brasil. A metodologia caracterizou-se como exploratória e descritiva, sendo constituída como aplicada, sendo realizado um estudo de caso em um dos NITs pesquisados. No primeiro momento foram coletados dados no Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial (INPI), no Banco Central do Brasil (BACEN), e nos Diretórios dos Grupos de Pesquisa do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Posteriormente foram pesquisados os NITs do Estado do Paraná através do Octógono da Inovação e questionários semi-estruturados elaborados para coleta de dados. O Brasil vem recebendo tecnologias de grandes potências econômicas como Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Japão, França, Itália, Reino Unido, Suíça, Canadá e Espanha, tendo um considerável aumento neste período mesmo depois do início da crise econômica em 2008. Ao passo que também exportou mais tecnologias do que importou nos últimos 12 anos. As barreiras de cooperação entre universidade-indústria ainda são muito presentes, atualmente existem 27.523 grupos de pesquisa em todas as áreas do conhecimento, mas somente 0,31% desenvolvem atividades relacionadas com transferência de tecnologia, e 58% não estabelecem relações com indústria. Por meio do diagnostico da ferramenta octógono da inovação foi possível verificar os cenários dos núcleos de inovação tecnologia das universidades publicas do Estado do Paraná. Foi possível identificar que os núcleos tem uma equipe de profissionais com excelente nível de capacitação e com diferentes áreas de formação, porém com dificuldades para estabelecer relacionamentos internos entre seus membros e demais professores e grupos de pesquisa da universidade. E também, encontram dificuldades para desenvolver os pontos externos, compreendendo no estabelecimento de novas redes de pesquisadores, estudantes, outras universidades e até mesmo lideranças no setor produtivo para gerar e refinar novas ideias, e possuem processos internos falhos. Dos cinco núcleos pesquisados, apenas o NIT 1 obteve melhores pontuações, o que elevou a ser o melhor núcleo do Estado. Por meio da pesquisa, verificou-se que o NIT 1 estuda e implementa mecanismos que transformam conhecimento em inovação, o trabalho realizado pelo núcleo visa contribuir para o desenvolvimento científico, tecnológico e socioeconômico da sociedade brasileira. Contudo, a oferta de tecnologia deve depender excepcionalmente do processo de difusão tecnológica, da adoção de tecnologia pela sociedade por meio do aprendizado contínuo, possibilitando incremento no desempenho de serviços, processos e produtos produzidos no mercado. / This research aims to analyze the process of transfer of technology between Industries and Public Universities, specifically at Innovation and Technology Centers (known as NIT in Brazil), as well as analyze the technology transfer in Brazil. The methodology was characterized as exploratory and descriptive, being constituted as applied, and conducted as a case study at one of the surveyed NITs. At first data were collected at the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazilian Central Bank (BCB), Directories and Research Groups of the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq). NITs in Parana State were subsequently surveyed through Octagon Innovation methodology and semi-structured questionnaires designed to collect data. Brazil is getting technology from major economic powers like the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Canada and Spain, with a considerable increase even after the economic crisis which began in 2008. Meanwhile Brazil has exported more technologies than imported them in the last 12 years. Barriers to cooperation between universities and industries are still very present. There are currently 27,523 research groups in all areas of knowledge, but only 0.31% of them develops activities related to technology transfer, and 58% do not establish relationships with industry. Through the diagnostic tool, octagon innovation, it was possible to verify the scenarios of core technology innovation of public universities in the state of Paraná. It was possible to identify such Center has a team of professionals with excellent level of training and different training areas, but it is experiencing difficulties in establishing internal relationships among members and other teachers and university research groups. Difficulties were also found in the process of developing external contacts, including establishing new networks of researchers, students, other universities and even leaders in the productive sector to generate and refine new ideas in order to prevent internal failures to processes. Among the five surveyed NITs, only one, got better results being the best in the state (NIT 1). Through research, it was found that the NIT 1 studies and implements mechanisms which transform knowledge into innovation. Its work aims to contribute to the scientific, technological and socioeconomic Brazilian society. However, it is possible to detect problems since technology depends on the process of technological diffusion, adoption of technology by society through continuous learning, enabling increased performance of services, processes and products produced in the market.

Collaboration between academic and corporate entities has increased in recent years. On many occasions Government actors (e.g. federal laboratories) will participate in these collaborations, especially when advanced technologies are involved. The following inquiry considers the degree to which the federal entities add (scientific) value to University-Industry partnerships and how this value is spatially mediated. Quantifying degrees of the value that Government actors induce across the spectrum of University-Industry collaborative arrangements is useful for identifying scales at which intervention by federal agents is more effective and/or justified. It is anticipated that the value-added by federal agents in University-Industry collaboration is not spatially uniform but will exhibit greater profitability across specific scales of interaction. Comparing these against actual scales of interaction provides room for discussion on whether Government actors engage Universities and Industry at scales that optimize the value they introduce to these partnerships.