UIIN Podcasts

In this episode, we're joined by Maria José Herrero Villa, head of the International Unit for Research and Knowledge Transfer at Carlos III University of Madrid. We explore topics like attracting and retaining talent, the challenges of open innovation, and the future of European universities. Join us as we uncover strategies for accelerating entrepreneurship and driving regional growth, setting the stage for the upcoming UIIN Conference in Madrid.

Join us as we delve into this dynamic collaboration between TAFE, Macquarie University, UTS, Microsoft, and more. Hear from Yasminka Nemet, Future Skills Lead at Microsoft; and Matt Crocker, Strategic Advisor at University of Technology Sydney, as they share insights into creating this cutting-edge institute aimed at nurturing digital talent.

From stackable micro-credentials to industry-led curriculum development, learn how they're reshaping education and bridging the digital skills gap.

Step into the world of open innovation and strategic collaboration in this week’s episode, where we sat with Federico Matteini, Head of Strategic Foresight at Vega (EPFL) to talk about the KNOVA platform they have developed.

Explore with us how the KNOVA platform leverages its dynamic research and innovation ecosystem, where cutting-edge technologies meet real-world challenges, and discover how it bridges the gap between research and application, empowering companies to unlock new opportunities and drive growth.

This episode was recorded as part of our Building Successful Partnerships Training Program. You can find more information about it and our other professional development courses atuiin.org/training.

In this week’s episode, we delve into the intricacies of the engagement between small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and universities. Join us as we explore the strategies and challenges faced by experts Charlotte Bell (Senior Business Partnerships Manager) and Meghna Mathur(Business Partnerships Associate), from the University of Oxford's Medical Sciences Division, and discover how universities can create compelling collaborations with SMEs.

In this episode, we invited Gemma Alker, Director of Innovation Central Brisbane, to discuss about the unique partnership between Cisco and Queensland University of Technology.

Gemma offers insights into how this collaboration is driving innovation and collaboration in Australia's digital landscape, as well as the "CONNECT" methodology, a 7-step framework designed to foster effective partnerships and navigate the complexities of collaboration.

In our latest episode, we sat down with Brent Miller, Registered Architect and Managing Principal at HED, one of the oldest and largest architecture and engineering firms in the US. We discussed the future of educational spaces and effective facilities. With over 30 years of experience, Brent shared insights on working with higher education institutions to design spaces that foster collaboration, prepare students for industry careers, and integrate sustainability.

Join us for a conversation with Yogavelli Nambiar, social change strategist and founder of Niara Advisory for a conversation on social entrepreneurship, inclusion, and higher education.

We talk about the nuances in entrepreneurship education, the need for personalised approaches, the challenges women face in entrepreneurship and how to adopt entrepreneurial thinking to avoid shallow solutions.

We sat down with Hervé Harvard, Executive Director of Engineering and IT Solutions and Centre Director of UTS Rapido at the University of Technology Sydney, to delve into the establishment of UTS Rapido, an innovation hub redefining how universities support industry with R&D innovation strategies.

From addressing IP concerns to navigating cultural gaps, Hervé unveils the challenges faced in moving from research to commercialisation.

In this episode, we dive into the world of deep tech with Sally-Ann Williams, CEO of Cicada Innovations. Supported by four universities as its founding shareholders – ANU, UNSW, USYD and UTS –, Cicada Innovations is bridging lab-to-market gaps and helping shape Australia as a global leader in deep tech. Sally shares the common pitfalls deep tech founders face and how a pragmatic commercial mindset can make all the difference.

UIIN is going to South Africa! To prepare for the UIIN Forum in Johannesburg in April 2024, we have invited Andrew Bailey, Senior Manager Innovation at University of Cape Town, and former president of SARIMA, to bring valuable insights into the context of university-business collaboration in South Africa, dive deep into their challenges and opportunities, and share some success stories.

Dive into our conversation with Farshida Zafar, Director of the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship. The discussion spans crucial topics, including the challenges of navigating organisational politics for successful innovation, tips for educators to embrace change and foster critical thinking, and valuable advice for university leaders to support innovation without hindering creativity.

Join us in the first episode of 2024, as we explore the dynamic world of innovation and collaboration with Damjan Stamcar, Principal Technology Analyst and Research Award Program Manager at Sony.

Discover how Sony partners with academia and startups to unlock ground-breaking innovations, and gain insights into strategic collaborations and the fascinating stories behind Sony's Research Award Program (RAP).

Join us on a thought-provoking journey with Professor Xiaolan Fu, Founding Director of the Technology and Management Center for Development at Oxford University, as we delve into the intersection of technology, innovation, and education, and explore how academic research can shape a better world.

Discover the impact of technology on society and the economy, the challenges faced by low-income countries in the digital revolution, and the vital role education plays in bridging the gap.

Join us on this week’s episode for a hopeful conversation with Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, Chief Circular Designer for Circular Australia and founder of Disruptive Design, on redefining sustainability, design, and education.

Leyla will share her journey from industrial design to sociology, emphasizing the global impact of design decisions, her unique, ethical, and slow-growth approach to entrepreneurship.

This week, we invited Patrick Cannmo, Associate Dean of Education at Jönköping University in Sweden, to discuss the unique and innovative project initiated at their the School of Engineering. The project aims to enhance students' knowledge of methods and tools in the product development process. What makes it special is its collaboration with Husqvarna, one of the largest companies in the region.

So, settle in as we explore the journey of this project, its evolution over the years, the value it brings to both students and industry, and the skills it imparts.

Join us in the latest episode featuring our colleague Balzhan Orazbayeva, Manager Strategic Initiatives at UIIN.

Uncover the secrets of "Boundary Spanning" - breaking down silos and connecting internal and external networks for innovative collaboration.

Gain insights into how universities can better support boundary spanners, celebrating their role in driving collaboration and learn how to become a successful boundary spanning agent yourself.

Don't miss this dynamic discussion on the future of education and collaboration and be inspired to break boundaries!

In this episode, we talk about all things sustainability at Western Sydney University with Jen Dollin, Director of Sustainability Education and Partnerships.

Jen explains how WSU's sustainability strategies go beyond carbon neutrality, involving climate resilience efforts and commitments aligned with the UN SDGs, contributing to their top-ranking recognition in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. She also sheds light on WSU’s community engagement: From collaborations in urban research to mapping cool suburbs, the university is actively involved in shaping a sustainable future.

Join us in the journey towards transformative education and sustainability!

In this week’s episode, we have invited Paul Van Dun, General Manager of KU Leuven Research and Development (LRD) unit to tell us how it became a one-stop-shop, seamlessly integrating contract research, patenting, licensing, and more.

Learn from Paul's experiences as he addresses challenges, including building researcher openness and navigating the evolving landscape of legal and compliance issues.

Furthermore, you will gain insights into the delicate balance between creating societal impact and generating commercial outcomes, and the changing dynamics in university-business collaboration.

In this week’s episode, we are in for an enlightening conversation with Daria Cecchini, Associate Director of Industry Engagement at Swinburne University of Technology.

At the 2023 UIIN Conference, Daria and her team received the Strategic Partnerships Award for their ground-breaking framework aimed at identifying, strengthening, and managing strategic partners at Swinburne University.

Daria will delve into their motivations behind developing this framework, and the practical steps they took in its creation.

Join us as we gain valuable insights into the intersection of academia, the arts, and community engagement in this week’s episode with Dr. Rachel Morley, Associate Dean of Engagement in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts at Western Sydney University.

In this episode, we explore the impact of curatorial engagements, the value of arts and humanities education in a changing world, and the exciting future plans for the Research Creation Showcase, an innovative event that provides a platform for artists, scholars, and creatives to share their work and ideas with the wider public.

In this engaging episode, we delve into the world of circular technology with Maurits Burgering, Program Director for Thematic Technology Transfer Program: Circular Technology (TTT-CT) at Wageningen University and Research. The discussion centers on the innovative TTT Program, a collaborative effort involving four Dutch technical universities and Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).

Maurits sheds light on TTT's pivotal role in nurturing young innovators, providing them with a fast-track route to transform their ideas into impactful ventures. Furthermore, the episode highlights how TTT's initiatives are making a substantial impact on sustainability and climate goals, challenging conventional calculations. It offers a glimpse into the promising future of circular technology and innovation, with a focus on real-world applications and tangible outcomes.

During the 2023 Conference, we had a fascinating discussion with Robert Giezendanner-Thoben, Director of Industry Affairs at EPFL, where we explored innovation, start-ups, and industry collaboration.

Learn how EPFL nurtures entrepreneurial mindsets, and discover the dynamic interplay between industry and education.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we invited Emily Davies, Head of Student Entrepreneurship at the University of Exeter, to discuss how their programs empower students to take their ideas from theory to real-world success. Join us as we discover the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and learn how the University of Exeter encourages a diverse student community to embrace entrepreneurship.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we had the chance to sit down with Philipp Gerbert, General Managing Director of TUM Venture Labs, to explore deep tech entrepreneurship, bridging talent gaps, and climate solutions.

Learn how university and industry collaboration can drive innovation and help shape a more sustainable future.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we had the privilege of sitting down with Diana El-Azar, the Senior Director of Strategic Communications at Minerva Project, a San Francisco-based education innovation company that is revolutionising higher education.

Join us as Diana takes us on a journey through Minerva Project’s groundbreaking approach to education, where they first created the most innovative university in the world (WURI 2022 & 2023) and now are partnering with other higher education institutions to transform curricula and pedagogies using cutting-edge technology.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we had an insightful conversation with Kelly Sexton, Associate Vice President of Research and Innovation Partnerships at the University of Michigan. Join us as we delve into the role of strategic partnerships in economic growth, and the vital influence of policies that can act as catalysts for fostering thriving university-industry partnerships.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Eleanor Kelly, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at UCD's Innovation Academy, as she shares her insights into the future of education and their ground-breaking Virtual Reality for Future Skills module.

Learn more about how UCD's Innovation Academy is reshaping education for the fourth industrial revolution, the importance of transversal skills and experiential learning in higher education and the need for inclusive and accessible education to bridge societal gaps.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we sat down with Jochen Barth, Group Leader of Networks and Transfer at Fraunhofer IWU, to discuss Serendipity Day: the innovative format that brings industry and research together to develop new ideas and applications.

Learn more about how Serendipity Day navigates the needs of both industry and academia in collaborative projects.

For this week’s episode, we have invited Søren Land, Head of Incubation and Enterprising at Southern Denmark University, to discuss about the university's entrepreneurship program and its unique approach and focus on employability. We will learn how they shape students' entrepreneurial mindset, highlighting the importance of resilience, skills development, and community building.

Stay tuned to gain insights into the future of entrepreneurship programs and their role in fostering growth and welfare in society.

Joining us this week is Ignacio Sanchez Díaz, a distinguished rector and professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. With a rich tapestry of roles in academia, he's a driving force in reshaping the future of education. Ignacio shares insights into navigating through political and pandemic challenges.

Listen in as we explore the evolution of education, the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the pivotal role universities play in fostering a more humane and compassionate society.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Sandra Marin Ruiz, the Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Business Development at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). She plays a pivotal role in connecting academia with regional economic developers to drive innovation and support small businesses in Florida.

Join us as we discover how these principles fuel groundbreaking innovation and shape the future of creative problem-solving.

In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Mullery, the Community and Impact Manager at IdeasLab, the student innovation hub at the University of Galway.

We will explore IdeasLab's mission to help students accelerate into the startup ecosystem and develop an entrepreneurial mindset, the Create Her initiative that empowers female students in entrepreneurship, and the challenges and successes of incubating student ventures.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we invited Anita Kocsis, Director of the Design Factory, Melbourne, from Swinburne University of Technology, to delve into the remarkable world of the Design Factory and its global network, unraveling the secrets behind their success: the art of collaboration, the enchantment of 'structured serendipity', and the boundless possibilities of cross-disciplinary work.

Join us as we discover how these principles fuel groundbreaking innovation and shape the future of creative problem-solving.

In this episode, we have Jane O'Dwyer, CEO of Cooperative Research Australia, sharing her expertise on the unique role and impact of cooperative research centers in Australia's innovation ecosystem.

Join us as we explore successful collaborations, effective partnership management, and long-term evaluation of these transformative initiatives.

Get ready for a thought-provoking discussion that will inspire and empower researchers at all stages of their career.

With a background in anthropology and a career spanning academia and industry, our guest Prof. Genevieve Bell, Director of the School of Cybernetics and the 3A Institute at the Australian National University, brings a unique perspective to the conversation. Genevieve shares her experience and insights on the challenges and opportunities facing academia, the future of impactful research, and the importance of curiosity, community, and bravery in scholarly pursuits.

Join us as we delve into the dynamic world of higher education with Melora Sundt, Chief Academic Officer for Noodle Partners. Melora discusses her role at Noodle Partners and explores the ever-evolving landscape of universities. From addressing the challenges of commoditization and maintaining a competitive edge, to finding the balance between quality and affordability, she provides valuable insights for institutions seeking sustainable growth.

Discover how universities can adapt to the changing needs of students, embrace agile campus models, and deliver exceptional learning experiences in the digital era.

Join us as we explore the transformative power of research and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this episode of the Pathway to Impact Podcasts series, we were joined by Victoria Galan-Muros, Chief Research and Analysis UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education, who will highlight how research intersects with the SDGs, uncovering the connection between academia, policy, and practice that makes a lasting impact on our planet and future generations.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference, we had a captivating conversation with Roberta Malee Bassett, Global Lead for Tertiary Education at the World Bank. We delved into the crucial role of education in driving global development and the World Bank's endeavors in promoting educational equity worldwide.

You can read more about this topic in the World Bank's report, Steering Tertiary Education: Toward Resilient Systems that Deliver for All (2022), by Nina Arnhold and Roberta Malee Bassett.

We hope you enjoy the discussion.

During the 2023 UIIN Conference in Budapest, we spoke with Monroe France, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Tufts University, about how to champion the principles of DEI across all levels of an institution, including in strategic partnerships approaches.

University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Animal Logic Academy is a world leading animation and visualisation school built on the firm belief that industry should lead education. In our recent Fireside Chat, Balzhan Orazbayeva (Manager Strategic Initiatives, UIIN) sat down with Ian Thompson (Head of UTS Animal Logic Academy) to discuss how UTS has created a ground-breaking model for their master’s program that provides graduates with an opportunity to directly develop critical, industry-focused and professional skills.

If you want to learn more about UTS Animal Logic projects, click here.

In this rapidly changing world, there is an increased recognition that higher education institutions across the globe should enhance their contribution to society.

For universities, it has therefore become crucial to find the most effective ways to capture and communicate the impact that they make. However, it is a very complex exercise that requires a holistic approach to performance management, and many factors and types of indicators must be considered.

In today’s episode, we have invited Rosie Lavis(UKRI), Johan Kostela(Dalarna University), Joanne Curry (Simon Fraser University) and Isabel Roessler (CHE Centre for Higher Education) to discuss different frameworks and approaches to effective engagement impact evaluation.

We have invited Dr. Cameron McCoy, Provost of Shenandoah University, to explore universities as a platform rather than a process and discuss how to move away from sit time and counting credit hours, recognise learning where learning occurs and turn education into an infinite, life-long experience.

We hope you enjoy the discussion.

In today’s episode, the discussion revolves around the perceived challenges to commercialisation and valorisation and the different support mechanisms to overcome these challenges while sharing some examples of valorisation in practice, and specifically in social sciences, humanities and arts.

For this discussion, we have invited Dr. Emma Salgard Cunha, Commercialisation Manager (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) at Cambridge Enterprise at the University of Cambridge; and Sean Farran, Global Innovation Lead at London School of Economics and Head of Marketing and Communications at Aspect.

Today’s episode is the second and last part of our conversation with Gregory Harper(Business Development Director at the University of Melbourne), Cindy Mahler(Director of University Innovation at Boeing), and Brandon Schneider(Manager of Project Affairs at University of California, Berkeley).

If you haven’t already listened to the previous episode, make sure to check it out.

Continuing the discussion from the previous episode, our guests will share insights around transforming personal relationships into strategic ones, different tracking systems they use, and some tips on what to focus when setting up an external engagement unit.

We hope you will enjoy the discussion.

In this episode, we bring you a conversation between Cameron McCoy, Provost at Shenandoah University, and Scott McKinley, Founding Partner of McKinley Hodge Group and former Global lead of the Proserve Academy at Amazon Webservices.

In today’s discussion, Cameron and Scott will explore how universities need to adapt to cater to the changing skills needs of employers and provide examples on how to future-proof the universities.

Recorded on March 2nd, 2021.

Today’s episode is the third and final part of the discussion with Marguerite Evans-Galea (Women in STEMM Australia), Jetty van Ginkel (Care for Impact) and Chris Fellingham (Oxford University Innovations).

If you haven’t already listened to the previous episodes, make sure to check them out!

Building on the previous discussion, our speakers address the importance of impact in research and the role collaboration plays, as well as some of the differences between research valorisation in STEM and in Social Sciences.

For this episode, we have invited Gregory Harper(Business Development Director at the University of Melbourne), Cindy Mahler (Director of University Innovation at Boeing) and Brandon Schneider (Manager of Project Affairs at University of California, Berkeley), to provide their insights into different ways of structuring external engagement units.

They will share their experiences, including common practices and strategies that they apply within their organisations to engage with external stakeholders, and specifically those related to structuring the units dedicated to engagement and partnering.

Today’s episode is the second and last part of our conversation with Santiago Iñiguez, President of IE University and Todd Davey, Associate Partner at UIIN.

Building on the previous discussion, also available on our Spotify channel, we continue to delve into the importance of lifelong learning and what benefits the personalisation of education will bring to the current and future generation. We hope you will enjoy the conversation and in-sights from Santiago and Todd.

Today’s episode is the second part of the discussion with Marguerite Evans-Galea (Women in STEMM Australia), Jetty van Ginkel (Care for Impact) and Chris Fellingham (Oxford University Innovations).

If you haven’t already listened to the first part, make sure to check it out!

Continuing with the discussion around valorisation and commercialisation, we now delve into what characteristics and knowledge individual researchers require to be able to successfully create impact from their work.

Today’s episode is the second part of the discussion with Arturo Pizano, Program manager, University Collaboration at Siemens, Georgia von Guttner, Director of Innovation Precincts at the University of Melbourne, Robert (Denny) Lorentz, Director, Strategy and University Engagements at 3M’s Corporate Research Laboratory andLeah Burton, Director of the Partnership Office at NC State University.

If you haven’t already listened to the first part make sure to check it out.

In this second part, our speakers discuss how proximity and colocation drive innovation, and how they coordinate, track and measure their connections and partnerships.

This inspiring (two-part) fireside chat was conducted with Santiago Iñiguez exploring the future of higher education and giving you practical tips and insights for designing and reinventing higher education programs and implementing digital technologies. Iñiguez touches on the move towards ‘Liquid Learning’ at IE University in Spain, the pivotal role universities play in community leadership and much more!

In this episode, Marguerite Evans-Galea (Women in STEMM Australia), Jetty van Ginkel (Care for Impact), Chris Fellingham (Oxford University Innovations) and Sarah Jaber (UIIN) discuss how universities can enhance the entrepreneurial mindset within their institution to drive research excellence and innovation, while exploring different commercialisation pathways and overcoming barriers.

Recorded on November 11th, 2021.

In this episode, Arturo Pizano (Siemens), Georgia von Guttner (University of Melbourne), Robert D. Lorentz (3M) and Leah Burton (NC State University) explain how their organisations engage and interact with their stakeholders to create meaningful partnerships. Facilitated by Sarah Jaber (UIIN).

Recorded on November 2nd, 2021.

In this episode, Carolin Plewa, Pro Vice Chancellor (Researcher Education and Development) and Dean of Graduate Studies; together with Pascale Quester, Vice-Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology; explore how the pandemic has affected Higher Education Institutions and what the future holds for universities.