Professional development of Russian HEIs' management and faculty in CDIO standards application

The paper presents the approach to complex training of managers and faculty staff for system modernisation of Russian engineering education. As a methodological basis of design and implementation of the faculty development programme, the CDIO (Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate) Approach was chosen due to compliance of its concept to the purposes and tasks of engineering education development in Russia. The authors describe the structure, the content and implementation technology of the programme designed by Tomsk Polytechnic University and Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology with the assistance of Chalmers University of Technology and KTH Royal Institute of Technology and other members of the CDIO Initiative. The programme evaluation based on the questionnaire results showed that the programme content is relevant, has high practical value and high level of novelty for all categories of participants. Therefore, the CDIO approach was recommended for implementation to improve various elements of the engineering programme such as learning outcomes, content and structure, teaching, learning and assessment methods. Besides, the feedback results obtained through programme participants’ survey contribute to identification of problems preventing development of engineering education in Russia and thus serve as milestones for further development of the programme.     

Bringing equity to underserved communities through STEM education: implications for leadership development

ABSTRACT

STEM Education is sweeping the United States, prompted primarily by the recent adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards. The surge in interest in STEM Education is beneficial for local schools and communities, and promises to positively impact students, teachers, school leaders, community members, and the future workforce. Unfortunately, inequitable hegemonic structures and practices limit urban students’ access to knowledge, resources, and a comprehensive and fair educational experience. This article explores the STEM activities in place at the Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE), at a local university in greater Los Angeles. From a historical context, CISE data show that an approach to STEM education that focuses on serving underrepresented populations by creating a pipeline, can serve as an example for K-12 schools, universities, and educational leaders seeking equitable practices in the field of STEM education. We identify implications for leadership development for school leaders, teacher leaders, and districts.     

产业集群理论及其对工业园区发展的指导作用

近年来,我国各地各种类型的工业园区大量涌现出来,为推动区域经济的发展起了重大作用。但也存在大量问题,制约了其发展,很多工业园区开始出现停滞甚至萎缩趋势。产业集群理论可以为工业园区的发展提供一些理论和政策上的指导来促进工业园区的良性发展。     

Outcomes for engineering students delivering a STEM education and outreach programme

University science outreach programmes are used to encourage more school students to select science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in further education and pursue science-related careers. The benefits of science outreach programmes are often espoused from the perspective of programme participants. Little attention, however, is given to what university students delivering the programmes gain from the experience. This paper seeks to illustrate the benefits of engineering students delivering STEM outreach programmes in schools. It reports on a qualitative case study of the experiences of two STEM Education and Outreach team members from a regional university in Australia. Content analysis of interview data highlighted not only the participants’ motivations and perceived benefits of being involved in the STEM programme but also revealed the skills and attributes honed throughout the experience. Involvement in the STEM outreach programme resulted in the development of social and personal responsibility generic graduate attribute skills, evidenced through their motivations to be involved, the demonstration of understanding of teaching and learning, and application of science communication skills. This study demonstrates that designing and delivering STEM outreach programmes assists in the development of skills that will be beneficial when pursuing careers in engineering in the future.     

优化产业结构是实现工业强市的必由之路

从近几年洛阳市产业结构发展变化的趋势来看,要实现工业强市,调整优化产业结构是必由之路,而且其取向应该是稳定第一产业,调整优化第二产业,尤其是大力提升传统产业,同时积极发展第三产业。目前和今后一定时期,都不应动摇促进第二产业特别是工业发展的信心。     

The rights to educational self-determination under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

ABSTRACT

The United States Senate's unwillingness to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) notwithstanding, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) contains significant safeguards protecting the rights of students with disabilities, acknowledging their participation rights in decisions about their futures. In the first of just two examples, as students ‘age out’ of special education, they participate in developing individualised transition plans guiding their movements to post-school activities. Second, the IDEA transfers parental access rights to students, granting them sole control over their educational records on turning 18 unless they are adjudicated incompetent under state law.

Against this background, this paper opens by considering the U.S. Senate's reluctance to ratify the CRC. The paper next reviews the history of rights in the U.S. before examining how the IDEA affords students with disabilities considerable opportunities to participate in planning their futures both through transition planning and taking control over their educational records. The article ends by reflecting on how the IDEA comports with the CRC in protecting the rights of students with disabilities to self-determination.     

Industrial R&D as a national policy: Horizontal technology policies and industry-state co-evolution in the growth of the Israeli software industry

The Israeli software industry has been an indisputable success since the 1990s. This paper utilizes the development of the Israeli industry to empirically explore the argument of the horizontal technology policies (HTP) framework on the impact of neutral science and technology policies on industrial development. The paper micro-analyzes the Israeli software industry and compares its unique historical development pattern with other emerging countries. It describes (1) the rise of this industry as one outcome of the development of the entire IT industry in Israel; (2) the reasons behind the industry's ability to conduct and focus on intensive R&D activities; (3) the industry's success in becoming an integral part of the American financial and IT industrial sector. It argues that only by understanding the intricate co-evolution of state-industry relations and the specific HTP regime employed in Israel can we understand the current behavior, conditions, business models, and capability of the industry. Therefore, the argument is that Israel's industrial science and technology developmental agencies did not aim at creating a software industry, but rather at the development of novel products R&D-based industry. However, the software industry has been significantly influenced throughout its development by the specific system of innovation which these policies fostered. Thus, the paper argues that public policy is one of the main reasons why the industry has focused almost entirely on product R&D activities. In addition, the paper suggests that the state's science and technology industrial policy has propelled the industry into its intimate relationship with the American financial sector.     

Searching high and low: what types of firms use universities as a source of innovation?

This paper examines the factors that influence why firms draw from universities in their innovative activities. The link between the universities and industrial innovation, and the role of different search strategies in influencing the propensity of firms to use universities is explored. The results suggest that firms who adopt “open” search strategies and invest in R&D are more likely than other firms to draw from universities, indicating that managerial choice matters in shaping the propensity of firms to draw from universities.     

广西产业结构与就业结构协调发展研究与对策

近年来,随着我国产业结构的逐步优化升级,对就业结构的协调发展提出了新的要求,产业结构与就业结构是否能够发挥相互利导作用,将直接影响我国经济的稳健发展,故必须重视促进产业结构与就业结构的协调发展。针对产业结构与就业结构的概述入手进行分析,分别对于广西产业结构及就业结构的现状、广西产业结构与就业结构协调发展存在的问题进行阐述,并作出促进广西产业结构与就业结构协调发展的对策。     

铜川市产业结构重塑的思路与政策建议

铜川是我国西部地区典型的矿业型城市 ,历经半个多世纪的煤炭资源开发 ,如今正面临着资源短缺、环境严重污染和经济效益低下等问题。产业结构调整 ,培植新的经济增长点已经成为当前重要的任务。该文在分析产业结构现状特点与存在问题的基础上 ,对造成本市目前产业发展困境的内外部原因进行了深入探讨。作者认为 ,过分的依赖“资源开发”的经济发展思路 ,人才短缺和企业体制改革滞后等因素是造成铜川产业结构调整惰性大的主要因素。最后 ,从区域比较优势和可持续发展的角度 ,提出了未来产业结构调整的目标、重点和基本思路 ,以及政策性建议