“The five-year collaboration with UCLA resulted in many innovative initiatives and activities connected with social entrepreneurship. I am happy that Russian and American partners have the common ground providing fruitful interaction,” noted Vladimir Vasilyev.
According to Nina Yanykina, head of Project Management and Innovation Department, this meeting was preceded by several joint activities. The delegates met with strategic partners, summarized completed projects and outlined forthcoming activities such as join accelerator programs, academic mobility projects and short programming trainings for American IT students.
“We continue to serve as a “hub.” It means that ITMO University is the main Russian innovative center, which manages startup projects throughout the country. This system also gives them an opportunity to enter American innovative arena and make contacts with UCLA`s partners,” said Ms. Yanykina.
Furthermore, Nina Yanykina shared new projects developed by ITMO University in alliance with the University of California. It is planned to launch an internship program for engineering graduate students of UCLA.
“In the fall 2014 we organized the program “Sertificate for Russian language for engineering student.” It aimed to attract American students` attention to training courses in Russia… This year three students are going to take part in this program,” mentioned Ms. Yanykina.
Philip Kazin, Dean of Department of Technological Management and Innovations, presented a new program of entrepreneurial education. It includes several special disciplines that help to obtain necessary skills. Thus during the first year students have to choose the most appropriate field. The “Life orienteering” is the main tool of vocational guidance. The second year of studying includes the subject called “Project Management.” To obtain hands-on experience students will take part in student social projects "People need you!" Third-year students follow “Entrepreneurship Fundamentals” course, which aims to teach how to predict risks and commercialize their ideas. Then students will be ready for entering SUMIT and Future Technologies accelerators based on ITMO University. As Mr. Kazin noted, their projects have to correlate with Bachelor and Master`s theses.
“Our American colleagues implemented the new educational standard called “Common core.” Universities following this trend pay more attention to humanitarian, social and entrepreneurial studies. ITMO University also plans to modify a degree program by adding new disciplines,” said Mr.Kazin.
The parties also arranged for the International Festival of Social Entrepreneurship, which will take place in St. Petersburg in December 2016. According to Philip Kazin, the organizers will use the experience of American experts. Thus the program of the festival will correlate with Social Enterprise Academy UCLA.
Apart from the UCLA`s delegation headed by Professor Kathryn Atchison, member of ITMO University`s International Board, the officials also met with representatives of Arizona State University (ASU) to discuss joint projects and student exchange activities.
Henry Etzkowitz, professor of Stanford University and the author of the Triple Helix model, also made a speech at the meeting. Mr. Etzkowitz supports the interaction of universities, government and business as well as develops metric system for entrepreneurial universities. Modern educational rankings don`t take into account entrepreneurial activities of universities providing business-oriented practices. Previously Henry Etzkowitz appointed ITMO University as supervisor of the international consortium of entrepreneurial universities. It will comprise universities from different countries that aim to increase the value of social and business activities in international rankings.