INNOVATION and EDUCATION Prof.Dr. URAL AKBULUT RECTOR Middle East Technical University TURKEY

THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY The knowledge economy and society depends for its growth on the combination of four independent factors: production of knowledge transmissions of knowledge dissemination of knowledge use of knowledge in technological innovation Education system especially universities play an important role in these areas. INNOVATION and EDUCATION THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

Universities employ 34% of the total member of researchers in Europe Germany: 26% Spain: 55% Greece: 70% Turkey: 80% EU Publications INNOVATION and EDUCATION THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

ADULT LITERACY RATE Poland: 99.7 % Korea: 97.6 % Mexico: 91.1 % Turkey: 84.6 % World Bank Publications INNOVATION and EDUCATION THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

INFORMATION SOCIETY INDEX Korea: 22 Poland: 30 Mexico: 44 Turkey: 45 World Bank Publications Developing countries need to invest more on technology and education. INNOVATION and EDUCATION THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

TECHNOLOGY and EDUCATION INTEGRATION Public policies must ensure all students have access to technology based opportunities software and the Internet Technology is integrated into teaching and learning Technology transforms education practice by empowering students and individualizing learning Increase resources for teacher training as a critical component to ensure technology is appropriately and effectively integrated into the curriculum. INNOVATION and EDUCATION THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

Increased demand for higher education In Turkey alone, out of 1.9 million applicants only 0.4 million can be placed in higher education institutions. (2004) Deficit, both as regards teaching staff and researchers, limited financial capacity (which does not keep in line with requirements) Emerging employment fields require new human resource profiles. EXPECTATIONS FROM EDUCATION in KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY for DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION and EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS FROM EDUCATION in KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY for DEVELOPMENT

In 2020, 27% of the population in Europe will be over 65 years old. In 2020, 30 Million more manpower will be in demand in Europe The high ratio of young population is an advantage for developing countries in Eurasia, if adequate education opportunities could be provided. INNOVATION and EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS FROM EDUCATION in KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY for DEVELOPMENT

Develop effective and close cooperation between universities and industry Main mechanisms through which the knowledge and expertise possessed and developed by universities can flow directly to industry: licensing of university intellectual property, spin-off and start-up companies, industry based research INNOVATION and EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS FROM EDUCATION in KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY for DEVELOPMENT

The emergence of new expectations Alongside its fundamental mission of initial training, universities must cater for new needs in education and training stemming from the knowledge-based economy and society. an increasing need for scientific and technical education, opportunities for life-long learning close involvement in community life. INNOVATION and EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS FROM EDUCATION in KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY for DEVELOPMENT

Mobility of Students, Researchers/Teachers Compatibility and the transparency of the education systems whereby qualifications are recognized (core of the Bologna process of convergence), Mobility of teachers and researchers within and between countries in Europe is low. Student mobility, is still marginal in most countries. (In 2000, only 2.3% of European students were pursuing their studies in another European country) Number of resident international students in the world is around 1.5 Million. (2 %) USA : Europe : Australia: Turkey: EU Publications INNOVATION and EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS FROM EDUCATION in KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY for DEVELOPMENT

INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY Turkish education system must be reorganized to cope with these new expectations. In addition, there is a strong need to adjust the education system for innovative society INNOVATION and EDUCATION INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY

MAIN OBJECTIVES in EDUCATION 1. Introduce creative flexible innovative way of thinking in the society 2. Establish a system of Life-Long Learning for all citizens 3. Encourage schools to integrate new technologies into their curricula. 4. Increase the level of ICT literacy in society INNOVATION and EDUCATION INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY

Integrating ICT: Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education Increase the budget allocated for education Establish Internet connection for all schools Establish computer laboratories (Minimum one PC per 15 students) Secondary school livers should be computer literate (to be employed ICT workers) Provide basic ICT training for teachers INNOVATION and EDUCATION INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY

Higher Education Active participation of Turkey in international projects (e-Europe+) Developing e-resources in Turkish (new or translated) Forming new job descriptions in line with the requirements of the knowledge society. Ensuring that students in each discipline take a certain number of courses in ICT Preparation of national computer literacy certificate Mobility of researchers/teachers and students INNOVATION and EDUCATION INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY

Distance education Encouraging universities with adequate academic staff and infrastructure to pioneer in the field of distance education Supporting curriculum development in distance education Developing an accreditation system for distance education programs INNOVATION and EDUCATION INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY

Continuing Education Creating awareness in the computer technologies for all. (at site training) Provide computer literacy courses for the young generation during their military service. Provision of free of charge computer literacy courses to civil servants. Making use of distance learning methods for this purpose. INNOVATION and EDUCATION INNOVATION and EDUCATION in TURKEY

MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (METU) assists the students with their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. Undergraduate curricula enhances the development of following skills: Analytical thinking Team work Problem based learning Time management Decision making Leadership Participation Ethical values Risk taking Technological skills INNOVATION and EDUCATION MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

Mechanisms to support these skills development: Courses and certificate programs and for entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Center Career Planning Center Capstone group projects for senior students Ethic center INNOVATION and EDUCATION MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

At post graduate level: Innovative research High quality leading edge research capacity Scientific proficiency International publications and networking Providing solutions for industrial problems. INNOVATION and EDUCATION MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

Support mechanisms: Industrial theses METU Technopolis and Incubation Center Faculty Development Program (ÖYP) Integrated National and International Projects (YUUP) Postdoctoral Fellowship EU projects INNOVATION and EDUCATION MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

METU disseminate knowledge Distance Learning Programs Containing Education Entrepreneurship Education for Public INNOVATION and EDUCATION MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

INNOVATION and EDUCATION UNIVERSITY - INDUSTRY COLLABORATION and TURKISH SMEs INNOVATION and EDUCATION UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

99 % of Turkish business enterprises are SMEs, and 53% of employment is in SMEs. The innovation ability of Turkish SMEs needs to be developed by university-industry relationship. The technoparks and incubation centers are vital tools for this collaboration and innovation. (KOSGEB 2005 Documents) INNOVATION and EDUCATION TURKISH SMEs

EDUCATION LEVEL of SME OWNERS INNOVATION and EDUCATION TURKISH SMEs

EDUCATION LEVEL OF SME MANAGERS INNOVATION and EDUCATION TURKISH SMEs

Export : 43 % of SMEs Trademark, patent: 56 % of SMEs INNOVATION and EDUCATION TURKISH SMEs

ICT Infrastructure INNOVATION and EDUCATION TURKISH SMEs

Consultancy INNOVATION and EDUCATION TURKISH SMEs ConsultancyPercentage Sale, advertisement2.69 Sale, distribution1.82 Management/Organization2.71 Human Resources1.79 TQM4.56 Production Planning and Control3.00 Foreign Trade / Export1.89 Computer Systems3.81 Regular Maintenance1.92 Financial Management2.76 Administrator education1.78

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ZONES (TDZ) TDZ Law (July 2001) promotes the establishment of science and technology parks under the guidance and lead of universities. The Law aims: to create technological know-how for export, to introduce innovations in products and production methods, to raise the quality or standards to support entrepreneurship, to enable SMEs to adapt to the new and advanced technologies, to create opportunities of investment in technology intensive areas to help the transfer of technology to provide the technological infrastructure which will facilitate the entry of the foreign capital. INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

METU-Technopolis is the most developed science and technology park in the Region. 1991: The METU-SMIDO Technology Development Center was founded. Until today, 70 companies are graduated from the incubation center and over 95% of them are successful 2001: METU-Technopolis established INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

METU-TECH (Facts and Figures) square meter land square meter office space 20 million USD investment 480 R&D projects 200 Faculty members participate in projects 40 companies are involved in joint projects with the university hosts 137 companies employing over 1750 researchers, majority of the companies are technology based SMEs dealing with ICT and software products and services. INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

2004 exports of METUTECH companies 12 Million USD The export markets of the companies are countries like USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Holland, Russia, Germany, England, etc. Companies conducting 6th Framework research projects together with academicians. METU Technopolis is the coordinator of IRC-Anatolia, which assists SMEs to enhance their technological development through technology transfer. METU Technopolis provide technological support to Mediterranean Region via regional development project (RIS-Mersin: the first regional innovation planning project) INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

LESSONS LEARNED Creating of awareness The success of METUTECH and the TDZ in general has increased the awareness of public and industry, towards research and technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship. More and more companies are paying attention to collaboration with universities: Technological level of products and services, the level of ICT involvement in production processes improved Most managers have now realized that research and innovation is the key to compete in global markets. INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

Sensitization of policy makers and key constituencies: The reservations and hesitations from the policy makers with regard to tax incentives faded away. Proper incentives given for the development of the knowledge economy will pay off immediately by increasing the technological competitiveness of the country. INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

Changes in university community: involvement of the university community within industrial based research projects has increased after METUTECH. attitudes in favor of basic research has shifted toward the applied research and technology development leading to innovation. IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights) have become a major concern of the researchers in the university. More researchers are establishing spin off companies Curricula are modified in accordance with the requirements of the companies. Entrepreneurs and researchers in METU Technopolis and Incubator became new role models for the students. Student demand for courses and certificate programs on entrepreneurship increased Spin-off companies of new graduates boomed. INNOVATION and EDUCATION METU TECHNOPOLIS

INNOVATION and EDUCATION FUTURE PERSPECTIVES The countries in the region can enhance their development by innovating and exporting technology products. Governments must support development of innovation culture by: Encourage creative thinking in schools Embedding ICT usage into curricula of schools at all levels Create public awareness on the importance of life- long learning Allocate seed financing and provide incentives for risk capital and angel financing companies INNOVATION and EDUCATION FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

METU offers its expertise and know-how to Eurasian countries in order to develop new technoparks and incubators. METU is setting up Eurasian Technoparks Network to enhance innovative cooperation and to create synergy in the region. INNOVATION and EDUCATION FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

INNOVATION and EDUCATION Prof.Dr. URAL AKBULUT RECTOR Middle East Technical University TURKEY