New Developments in AURIL's Membership and Communications Platforms |
| Posted by Katie Fleming (katie) on Mar 03 2010 at 12:59 PM |
The Association for University Research and Industry Links' (AURIL) core mission has always been to Create Connectivity and Partnerships between Universities & Industry and Society. It is:
- Founded by merger 1995 of pre and post 92 Knowledge Transfer (KT) organisations;
- The professional association that represents all practitioners within institutions involved in knowledge creation, development and exchange between researchers and industry in the
UK and Ireland - to ensure that new ideas, technologies and innovations flow from their organisation into the market place; - Committed equally to delivering economic and social impact;
- The largest knowledge and technology transfer association in
Europe, with more than 1600 members from universities, NHS Trusts and public sector research establishments.
We note that KT and innovation are now central planks of government policy, with huge expectations placed on Higher Education and the public sector research base.
We are increasingly aware of pressures on all forms of public funding and the economic difficulties that may lie ahead.
AURIL has made great strides in making the case for and establishing KT as a permanent stream of funding and it has contributed considerably to helping embed KT within Institutions.
AURIL notes that the KT landscape has changed significantly. KT within institutions has developed massively in the last few years and as well as offices growing in size the individuals involved in KT are no longer just confined to the KT office but are spread right across the institution, be it in administration, innovation, commercialisation, enterprise or in academic areas.
Breaking Down Barriers - Membership
- From
1st April 2010 AURIL is extending membership benefits to ALL employees in subscribing institutions quadrupling the number of knowledge transfer professionals in the association and creating a huge KT network. - The Cap of 10 or 20 members, depending on the fee paid, will be removed.
- The annual fee will not increase.
Why are we doing this?
- We believe passionately that Innovation is a social process! That it is no longer a sole activity.
- The distinctions between the KT professional, KT academic or KT intermediary are increasingly meaningless. Innovation is spread right across an institution and involves many players.
- Knowledge Transfer does not stand still - so models for KT organisations need to move forward and develop.
- This leads us to AURIL 2.0 which is an all embracing OPEN model.
- We believe that in the current economic climate AURIL and all KT related individuals within an institution will have a key role to play in driving the economy forward into growth.
Communications
We are revising our communications platform - to be called “MyAURIL” which will build on our existing social network. This will allow all members to:
- Create their own KT space with both internal and external KT contacts built round areas of KT of interest to them.
- Form or join new groups themselves - including their own institutional ones.
- Post Articles, papers (both practitioner based and academic) and more importantly comment!
- Interact and connect with others with similar interests and thereby stimulating debate on KT, Innovation and enterprise.
- We aim for the “MyAURIL” space to be the central
HUB for all KT activity and communications.
This exciting development was approved at the October 09
Further information on the mechanics and operational elements will be issued by the AURIL office shortly.
Philip Graham
Executive Director
Mobile 07711126638
Quotes
1. “Universities
2. 'Higher education faces two challenges. To play a strong role in the growth and recovery of the
HEFCE has acknowledged the important role that knowledge exchange professionals have played in stimulating and supporting the economic and social contributions of HE. To do more, knowledge exchange needs to be embedded throughout HEIs, integrated with research and teaching.
HEFCE then welcomes and strongly supports AURIL's decision to open up its membership to be inclusive of all those who engage and create impact. This is an important step forward towards embedding of knowledge exchange in the core mission of HEIs.'
Alice Frost HEFCE
3. "Intuitively we've understood that increased social capital and a open approach to knowledge transfer stimulates innovation - but the value of connectivity in making an impact is becoming clearer. Moreover there's growing research evidence to prove that connectivity makes us smarter and that it improves the rigour or research, as well as its impact. So its clear that organisations like AURIL need to support the development of these links with business and between knowledge transfer practitioners - academic or non-academic. Social media is the natural next step in this! The days of solo innovation on the Da Vinci model are long gone!"
Brian McCaul
AURIL and
