Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Project FP7-REGPOT : SISTER: Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Dr. Roumen Nikolov Project Coordinator, Sofia University

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Main Goal The main goal of SISTER project is to develop FMI as a Leading Centre in SEE in research, innovation and training in the area of ICT and more specifically in Software and Services, and Intelligent Content and Semantics;

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Project Objectives In order to achieve the main goal the following project objectives are defined: to elaborate and further develop a strategic RTDI framework for FMI future development; to strengthen the research capacity of FMI by enhancing the human resources capabilities of FMI and research integration with EU partners; to strengthen the capacity of FMI for business exploitation of academic results and cooperation with industry to improve the research environment of FMI; to build a strong long-term collaboration of FMI with leading research organisations and enterprises in EU and in SEE countries; to make FMI a well-known research and innovation centre in SEE. A number of measurable indicators for success were defined.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Groups of Activities The work plan will concentrate on the following groups of activities: Developing and validating a RTDI Strategy for FMI; Networking with other universities and research centres; Hiring of new young researchers; Renewal of ICT equipment; Two-ways mobility visits; Research and training seminars; Summer schools;Workshops; Conferences; Research and PhD web-based information system; Sharing digital content; other

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University WP Interdependencies WP5: Management and Control WP4: Dissemination and promotion WP2a: Strengthening the ICT research capacity of FMI in S&S WP3: Strengthening the interdisciplinary skills of FMI staff and the technology environment WP1: Definition of an ICT RTDI Strategy of FMI

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Project Management Grid Project Steering Board Project partners from EU-MS and Bulgarian universities, research organizations and industry Sofia University Scientific Research Department Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics Project Coordinator WP1 Leader WP2* Leader WP3 Leader WP4 Leader WP5 Leader Technical and Quality Manager University Collab. Manager Researchers Mobility Manager Scientific Manager Event Manager ICT Service Manager Project Team

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University RTDI strategy of FMI Definition of an ICT Research, Technology, Development and Innovation (RTDI) strategy of FMI: one of the main goals within the project SISTER The most considerable feature of this strategy is its scope – there exist a lot of successful ICT RTDI strategies for whole universities but we did not find any RTDI strategy for a particular faculty.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Phases Three phases of the work: identification of research competencies of FMI, technology trends and ICT research needs; preparation and validation of ICT RTDI strategy for FMI; development of scenarios and elaboration of a detailed action plan for ICT research and training within SISTER.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University First Phase Analysis of the state-of-the-art in ICT, the needs and available resources. Methodology: Environmental scanning: Analysis of European and national reports, web sites, scientific literature, media publications, etc. SWOT analysis: Special attention to the research competences of FMI, the FMI positioning in the area of ICT in Bulgaria and the region, and the opportunities and threats for its further development and integration into ERA and European Higher education area. Issue survey: A web-based survey in a significant number of enterprises, policy makers and local authorities in Bulgaria, among FMI researchers and ICT end-users in order to determine the large societal and economic needs for research and training in ICT.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Second Phase Preparation of ICT RTDI strategy for FMI.  The first Expert panel meeting: helped to identify the strategic priorities and the related actions for RTDI in ICT at FMI  The second Expert panel meeting: helped to validate the RTDI Strategy and would support the definition of an Action plan for ICT development at FMI within SISTER project

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Third Phase Will ensure a framework for implementation of SISTER activities and networking. The strategy and the action plan will provide guidelines for capacity strengthening in research and innovation. T They will also streamline the education activities of FMI team in ICT in accordance with the industry, economic and societal needs and the best practices.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Vision & Mission  FMI Vision: Create a Faculty community that becomes locally and internationally recognized in research, teaching and service, and recognized nationally for student excellence. This will establish a reputation of being more valuable to all stakeholders.  FMI Mission: To provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary environment for high quality informatics research and education using the innovation, latest technologies and world expertise. To achieve excellence in research and teaching within the university, country and international IT communities.  FMI Strategic Objectives: The Faculty mission and vision reflect on taking more stakeholders oriented decisions.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Key Priorities for FMI  Financial priorities: Ensure revenue growth for all activities Improve the cost structure at the Faculty Increase the foreign financing (EU / non EU) Enhance the industry support  Internal processes priorities: Facilitate the administrative operations Ensure support for collaborative activities in the Faculty Improve the collaboration with other SU structures and external organizations  Learning and growth priorities : Development of the competences of Faculty members Development of LLL culture Ensure equal access to technology and innovation  Focuses of ICT Education and Training in FMI: Curriculum improvement Optimization of existing education processes

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Priority Areas for ICT Research in FMI Fundamentals of Computer Science Intelligent systems (incl. Intelligent Content and Semantics) Information systems Information security IT services Software intensive systems Bioinformatics Computer graphics e-Learning

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Scenarios as an Exploratory Method Based on state-of-the-art, present trends and possible events/decisions, what we could expect to happen in the future? Alternative futures as a result from the multiple pathways possible WHAT IF…? If we do this, what will happen?... desirable/ undesirable scenarios realistic scenarios

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Strategic framework

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Approach for building scenarios Step 1: Identify the focal issues – start 'from the inside out‘ using interviews, questionnaires, other studies mission, core challenges, staff assumptions, etc. Step 2: Key forces in the micro environment - those that have a direct influence on the university (desk research, etc.) sector trends specific regulations for HE and RTD new technologies in education Step 3: Driving forces (macro environment) – broader and possibly global with impact on university (based on environmental scanning) Society Technology Economy Ecology Policy

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Environments of an Educational Organization

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Approach for building scenarios Step 4: Rank key factors/driving forces by importance and uncertainty ICT developments RTD policy Bologna process Industrial demand Migration processes Demographic changes Step 5: Selecting scenario logics Degrees delivered by a large range of institutions Open & Lifelong Diversity/ Disappear Network Traditional Enterpre neurial Free market Lifelong Learning Initial tertiary education Degrees delivered by restricted number of institutions source: OECD scenarios

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Approach for building scenarios Step 6: Fleshing out the scenarios – details of scenarios according macro and micro drivers Plausibility: A scenario must be plausible. This means that it must fall within the limits of what might conceivably happen. Consistency: A scenario must be internally consistent. This means that the combination of logics in a scenario must not have any built-in inconsistency that could undermine the credibility of the scenario. Differentiation: Scenarios should be structurally different, meaning that they should not be so close to one another that they become simply variations of a base case. Decision-making utility: each scenario, and all scenarios if they constitute a set, should contribute specific insights into the future that will lead to the decision focus that was selected.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Follow-up activities Step 7: Implications of scenarios high risk, feasibility, vulnerability for the organisation, etc. Step 8: Selection of leading indicators and signposts for future monitoring and control Step 9: Feed the scenarios back to those consulted Step 10: Discuss the strategic options Step 11: Agree the implementation plan Step 12: Publicise the scenarios

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University FMI survey results

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University

WP4: E-visibility of FMI research Objectives To make the research and innovation activities transparent To support scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing; knowledge and technology transfer between University and industry in Bulgaria and abroad

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Status Information Partial In pieces Not regularly updated Not structured Problems Non-transparent Non-searchable

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Approaches To start from scratch To follow existing good practices

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Practices Science Research - public gateway to science information provided by US Government and publishers.

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Practices Kauffman Foundation - Entrepreneurship Research Portal research/researchDesktop

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Practices Open University of the Netherlands

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Tools 1.DSpace Free open source software; Customizable to meet the needs; Can manage & preserve different type of content; Used by educational, government, private & business institutions

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Tools 2.Fedora Commons Do more with your digital collections Built on flexible, extensible, modular architecture

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Proposed Solution Research portal /digital repository for research results/ Papers Ph.D.Theses MSc. Theses Patents Events Case studies Licences Projects

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Proposed Solution

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Prototype

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University European e-Competence Framework September 2008 were published the European e-Competence Framework - e-CF (v. 1.0) and the user guidelines for its application; The e-CF is focused only on the ICT practitioner Skills and would make possible creation of a long-term human resources and competence development strategies for the European ICT community; structured from four dimensions which reflect different levels of business and human resource planning requirements in addition to job/work proficiency guidelines

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University

Use of the e-CF in ICT organisations European e-CF dimensions ----  Employee management processes in the company/ institution

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University EU e-CF application by ICT education, training and certification institutes (public and private)

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Need of multi-stakeholder partnership The European e-CF provides a framework for a multi-stakeholder partnership between universities and companies since it represents the competence needs of the ICT industry which could reflect on designing and refining the academic programs

Strengthening the IST Research Capacity of Sofia University Thank you for your attention!