Current and Past Good Practice Models for Knowledge Science

Centers

Knowledge Sciences Symposium Webinar 1 – July 24, 2013

Hosted by Kent State University

Welcome!

Welcome to the first in a series of five webinars intended to foster a discussion around the design of a knowledge sciences center

While the immediate discussion will inform Kent State University’s effort to establish a center in North East Ohio, we hope the conceptual model that emerges from the Symposium will support the establishment of other centers across the country

The discussion that launches today will culminate in two on-site events – in Canton Ohio and in Washington DC

5 Webinars

Webinar Topic 1: Current and Past Good Practice Models - July 24, 2013

Webinar Topic 2: What kinds of knowledge science products and services should the Center support? July 31, 2013

Webinar Topic 3: Knowledge Sciences Center Activity Models – August 7, 2013

Webinar Topic 4: Intellectual Property and Capital Models - August 14, 2013

Webinar Topic 5: Knowledge Sciences Center Presence, Resources and Access - August 21, 2013

On-Site Symposium

September 4-5 in Canton Ohio – Kent State Stark Campus

September 10-11 in Washington DC at the Department of Transportation Library

Two-day events

Day 1 is devoted to listening to stakeholders, to thought leaders and to considering a proposal

Day 2 is devoted to brainstorming, sharing ideas and blueprinting a knowledge sciences center

Ideally the design that results will be adoptable by any state or region that wishes to establish such a center

Participants and Participation

Open and free to anyone who is willing to act as a representative of a stakeholder group

Remote and in person participation

Representative of all five stakeholder communities

Intention is to break into stakeholder groups on Day 1 but to network across groups throughout the two days

Goal of Today’s Webinar

Launch a discussion about the goals and objectives of an open community-focused knowledge sciences center

Provide a glimpse into what we’re thinking about and how we think an agricultural extension service model might work

Hear from you regarding successes and lessons learned from other similar endeavours, new ideas about how to design, engage, and serve the community and general brainstorming

Agricultural Extension Services Model

Transitioning to a New Economy

The change and the turbulence in the economic system around us is in part a reflection of a shift from an industrial to a knowledge economy

At the early part of the 20th century, we experienced a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy

Underlying these kinds of economic shifts is a change in the factors of product and the kinds of capital that produce wealth

In shifting to a knowledge economy, knowledge or intellectual capital is the primary factor of production and the primary generator of wealth

Represents a shift from financial and physical capital

Transitioning the Whole Community

A healthy knowledge economy is one in which the whole community makes a successful transition

Knowledge economy rests on a broader foundation than just that of business organizations

We cannot expect business and industry to carry the full burden of helping a community, a city or a state to make this transition

I believe that academia has a role to play – the question is what role should they play?

Extension Models

We have built our vision around the earlier agricultural extension model where agricultural research and knowledge was extended to farmers and rural communities

These programs helped to promote the work of universities beyond the campus and its immediate memberrs

An extension agent was one who developed and delivered knowledge that furthered the agricultural economy and supported the prosperity and well-being of agricultural communities

Pillars of Agricultural Extension Programs Technology Transfer – top-down delivery of new practical

ideas

Advisory Work – provided in response to farmers problems and questions, practical problem solving, new research topics

Non-Formal Education – university provided training generally as outreach to poor communities, movable schools, demonstration learning, publications, short courses, study trips

Empowerment Facilitation – farmer-to-farmer exchanges, interactive and situational learning among farmers, collaborative engagement

Advocacy – extension services were also important sources of agricultural policy formulation and adoption, and capacity building for more successful farming practices

Common Goals – Agricultural and Knowledge Economy

1. Achieving National Food Security

2. Improving Community Livelihoods

3. Improving Natural Resource Management

4. Making new agricultural technologies available to farmers

1. Achieving Intellectual Capital Security

2. Improving Community Livelihoods

3. Improving Intellectual Capital Management and Growth

4. Making new technologies understandable and accessible

Proposed Vision for the Knowledge Sciences

Center (and Network….)

Purpose of the Knowledge Sciences Center

Purpose of the Knowledge Sciences Center is to

• support advising and consulting• facilitate collaborative engagement• advocate for the advancement of the

knowledge economy for the whole community• provide non-formal teaching and learning to

advance the workforce of the 21st century• support applied research that is either not

profitable or affordable for business and industry

Learning and

Teaching

Advising and

ConsultingAdvocacy

Research and

Development

• Virtual & Onsite Institutes

• Annual Symposia

• Webinars and Seminars

• Skills Building Workshops

• Faculty Learning

• Student Learning

• New Course Development

• Industry-Academia Learning

• 1-on-1 Business

Engagements

• Research Partnerships

• Sector Wide R&D

• Business Focus Groups

• Business Community

Engagements

• Business Requirements

& Needs Promotion

• Knowledge Management Standards

• Semantic

Standards Development

• Knowledge Challenge Markets

• Knowledge Economy Projects

• Semantic Practice Teams

•

• Exploratory Knowledge Research

• Applied Research

• New Technologies Reviews & Evaluations

• Semantics Funded R&D

• Visiting Scholars Program

• Developing new IC

accounting methods

Outreach and

Partnership

• Social Networking

• Targeted Problem Solving

• Student Projects

• Convening Community

Groups

• Business and

Funding Proposal

Development

Knowledge Sciences Center Five Pillars

The Academy(Teaching, R&D,

Advocacy, Advising,Innovation

Knowledge Sharing)

Technology R&D (R&D, Consulting,Sales & Marketing,

Customer Feedback)

Labor Force(Learning, Skills Development,

R&D, Innovation)

Business and Industry

(Knowledge enriched processes, expertise,

competitive role in market)

Civil Society (Cultural, civic, religious,

and community organizations)

The Center’s Five Stakeholder Groups

Vision

Physical space on the main campus of Kent State University in Kent Ohio

We envision the Center as a place to convene, a place for all five stakeholder groups to gather

We see the virtual aspect of the Center being the source of the pillars that supported agricultural extension service model

To support outreach and engagement we need a strong virtual presence

Given this vision, what advice can the community offer?

Key Questions Requiring Your Advice

Today, the Knowledge Sciences Center is a vision waiting to be defined. Kent State University seeks the advice and guidance of the public sector, private sector knowledge businesses and organizations, the knowledge

sciences academic community, the general workforce, technology industry, and civil society organizations to help us define this vision.

Key Questions Today

Are the 5 Pillars appropriate to today’s needs? Have we overlooked some? Are some not appropriate for a center like this?

If you had access to such a center, how would you use it? What would you contribute?

What activities should the Center support?

Do you think we could build our vision on the agricultural extension model?

Key Questions Today

Will one model work for all five pillars?

What have others tried that we should not try again?

Have we identified the right set of stakeholders? If not, how should we adjust the model?

Thank you! Please continue to share your ideas on the KSS LinkedIn

site. All comments, all advice are very much appreciated.