Collaboration in Higher Education for Digital Transformation in European Business - CHEDTEB An Erasmus Plus Strategic Partnership project. Partners: Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences/D, Brno University of Technology/CZ, University of Tartu/EST Idea of this project Digitization is fast becoming a powerful driver of change in business and public life. Whilst the technologies in themselves are a major challenge for most European businesses, the underlying changes in company organisations, processes, skills requirements and business models are still, for most businesses, something of a white spot on the roadmap to the digital enterprise. The focus of this project is on assisting business and industry in addressing this specific challenge. The role of universities Universities are not the only, but an important stakeholder in this change in society and the economy. The following processes that they run in this context will serve digital change: Process 1: Universities drive and transfer innovation and reach out to society in this. Process 2: Universities design and deliver education and skills. Process 3: Universities reform themselves to increase their effectiveness Objectives of the proejct This project shared by the three partner universities Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences/D, University of Technology Brno/CZ and University of Tartu/EST aims to provide the framework for a future joint master's degree on Digital Transformation of Corporate Business. Key outputs that will provide the foundations of this future degree will be: - Benefit analyses, guidelines, implementation scenarios and tools focusing on core fields of digitization: finance, use of big data across sectors and company functions, new processes and change, new skill sets. - A curriculum reflecting the skills needs of industry, business and society at large - A blueprint for starting digital change at universities themselves These outputs are of a transferable nature and go beyond the specific need of the future master's degree. They are designed to support European companies in their efforts to actively approach digital transformation, thus increasing their competitiveness. Activities Working groups will produce, in co-operation with external partners from business and industry, NGOs and special interest groups, materials and tools that will be showcased at international conferences, fairs and other events. From early stage on, sharing results and campaigning over the project website, social media and internet platforms will disseminate results and generate feedback. In order to test and enrich the outputs produced, the consortium will run training courses on aspects of digitization (blockchain, big data, skills and curriculum design and digital university administration and marketing). Methodology The consortium will run a number of mixed working groups that will draw on diverse competences brought in by three universities and external partners. An open innovation approach will be taken in the production of outputs by enabling and encouraging working groups to communicate beyond their institutions with peers and interested groups. Exploitation of results and impact All results are open-access items and will be made publicly available, with reservations applying to strictly corporate intellectual property. The project will prepare the implementation of a master's degree open to excellent students from Europe and beyond. The corporate and other partners that support this preparation phase will continue to be involved in the delivery of the degree. The ambition of the project is to not only produce single-case materials but also to help activating the opportunities that lie in digital transformation for European businesses and society in general.
Context Digitalization forces businesses to transform but many lack understanding of how to redesign processes. Future staff need new combinations of skills to ensure a smooth transition towards the digital age. Universities' role in this: - changing teaching to provide students with the needed skill sets - assuming knowledge leadership to be drivers of digital change within local communities and corporate networks - transforming their own functioning As it is not clear under Digitalization, which competencies graduates need in the future and how they are acquired, business and universities need to work together sharing resources and experience, bringing together experts and setting up frameworks of co-operation. CHEDTEB addressed the digital challenge by a. providing education b. driving progress and innovation in local (business) communities c. proposing reform of university organisations Objectives • Promote digital transformation and support the competitiveness in regional areas • Enable universities and local communities to bundle resources, skills and ideas for digital transformation in order to - stimulate a common transnational learning process between companies and universities - set up an interdisciplinary Joint Degree in 'Digital Transformation' - develop new tools, case studies and teaching models in university-business collaboration - inspire international students by trialing innovative curriculum ideas - blueprint a transnational pilot project in higher education as a model for the universities involved Participants/Target Groups University staff: Partners’ research, teaching, admin staff, other HEIs involved, in total c500 Local companies, networks: SMEs, consulting, trade groups, associations, in total c200 University students: Business and Tech students, in total c220 Program’s attractiveness - Partners from one high-income and two low-income countries (limited exposure to international education and international business) - Intrinsic value to students, administrators and teaching staff from partner universities. - Learning, working and 'growing' with peers from international partner institutions - Affordable and accessible conditions - Access for skills and services to global markets, innovation and digital value chains - Carving out individual opportunities ('hidden' project agenda) - Corporate partners from emerging economies interacting with peers from developed areas Participation eased by - low travel costs and virtual mobility - mixing peer groups from partner institutions and local corporate networks - encouraging personal exchange - cross-cultural communication training - warm-up periods, social / cultural activities at workshops and multiplier events Offers to target groups - Corporate, NGO and public institutions: working groups, conferences, social media, surveys, interviews, webinars - Researchers and teachers: involvement in workflow, output, communication, dissemination and training, surveys, interviews, webinars - Admin staff of universities: specific working groups and phases, specific training courses, multiplier events, other dissemination and communication efforts, webinars, surveys - Students: specific workshops, idea lab, pitches, conferences, working groups, social media campaigns, surveys, webinars, training courses. Activities - Intellectual outputs: research, modelling, sharing, drafting, campaigning, publicizing, advocating - Courses: training, brainstorming, activating, pitching, debating, modelling, validating, organizing, campaigning - Multiplier events: presenting, sharing, transferring, debating, disseminating, validating, organizing, campaigning Results, impact - Laid foundations for future innovative joint degree on digital transformation - Elaborated instruments designed to help businesses and universities address digital challenges - Research papers, tools and products meant for wider use by agents of digital change in companies and universities - Designed joint degree (curriculum, principles, model of multi-university co-operation in teaching and learning) - Increased awareness of Digitalization with students, admin professionals and teaching staff - Tested learning content and project outputs - Supplied proposals for tackling digitization of universities with focus on internationalization Results were organized in 5 intellectual outputs: 1. Guide to implementing Blockchain and Smart Contract Technologies 2. Impact assessment of Big Data analysis & application cases 3. Toolbox for digital transformation management & curricular impact for higher education 4. Curriculum of a Master’s degree in Digital Transformation of Corporate Business 5. White paper on digital transformation of universities’ internationalization Longer-term benefits Outputs form a virtual centre of digital transformation. Partners’ and companies’ staff are now better qualified to act as innovation agents, educators / tool providers and implementers.