University as a vehicle to enhance the role of science

centers in a knowledge based society

Dr. Mohamed Mamdouh AwnyDirector, Technology Management Program

Arabian Gulf UniversityKingdom of Bahrain3 November 2008

NAMES Network first General Assembly Meeting , 2-3 November 2008, Bibliotheca Alexandrina

UNITE:Research ,

Scholarship, and Teaching!!

Vann Bush

Supporting research in universities by the government is an investment in the education of the next generation

Stepping back only a few decades ago:

Universities were:• about intellectual pursuit, predominantly

for its own sake; • they educate a very privileged minority;• placed in cities but not really part of them;• activities were hidden- they were almost

abstract;• the academics were indulging in activities

that were above the daily pursuit of ordinary people

Shift :

• From high-cultural role of the elite university to a broader role for the contemporary mass university

• Yet in many places of the world, people still see universities as distant from, and not engaged in the present and future of their communities

• Gradually, universities have becoming more coherent with the market and society

World around us is changing at

tremendous speed

• It is characterized by the fast and diversified communications

• World is becoming borderless, interconnected, and interdependent

• Many believe that the rate of change of critical technologies may exceed 25% per year

• Therefore, education system has to cope with this fact, and

• Traditional long-term updates to academic curricula obsolete processes, also

• In addition to creating the new knowledge, universities' researchers make breakthroughs and innovations

• Impacts the way universities work, cooperate, and interact with the local and global communities.

• Students were allowed to select courses, which in turn becoming more specialized and job oriented.

New trends:

• Growing feeling amongst the business community that specialization has gone too far

• They prefer the liberally-educated "generalist" to the narrowly-focused specialist to suit their ever-changing needs

• The rapid change of critical technologies and market demands needs:

- educational programmes that involve close cooperation of industry;

- education for the job and life-long re-education

Entrepreneurship and universities

• The government reduction of its financial support to the universities has tempted the universities to be busy grooming themselves up to serve the industry both in re-education, in applied research activities of varying degrees of sophistication, and/or even run-of-the mill consultancy work

-The emerge of professor "entrepreneur" whose concern is raising funds

- Professors responsible for "business development" and promoting their institutions in the new and open market.

The possible drawbacks• One is scared that shifting to market, for

financial support, may become recognized means of supplementary inadequate staff incomes

• May have adverse impacts on academic interests and priorities, and particularly in teaching (time allocation, quality, etc.)

- Secretiveness may gradually replace peer review- commercializing universities' research

activities and providing what the industry wants rather than excellence or adding knowledge may dictate the universities' mission

Universities' main role is three folds

• Education: that creates human capital by fostering the new generations to posses knowledge, skills, and ethics;

• Research (both basic and applied): that creates knowledge;

• Servicing the society: by dissemination of knowledge and its implementations for the prosperity of the society.

Universities and Societies

• The role of servicing the society by dissemination of knowledge and its implementations is becoming of great importance

• We can now see almost all universities are having vice-chancellors for society services

• Most societies are changing from material-based societies to knowledge based ones.

• Knowledge based societies are those societies sharing knowledge reality. This is an act for the democratization of scientific knowledge.

Science Centers

• One of the proven effective tools for knowledge dissemination in societies

• Emphasize a hands-on approach, featuring interactive exhibits

• Encourage members of the society to experiment and explore scientific phenomena and technological product in an stimulating environment

• They develop positive attitudes and go through cognitive learning

Brief historical background

• First science museum was the Saint Louis Museum of Science in Philadelphia 1859

• First science centre was the Urania Science Centre which was founded in Berlin in 1888

• Science centers started to emerge at a considerable number all over the world in the 1960's

• Science Centers have assisted in the development and building of technology parks throughout the world

• May overcome some of the deficiencies in equipping the school laboratories in developing countries

Universities and Science Centers

• To accomplish their role as knowledge disseminators and services providers to the society

• Many science centers around the world are established, owned and operated by Academy of science, universities or education institutes

• Saint Louis Science Centre and the University City science centre in Philadelphia

• Will upgrade the level of students later enrolling the universities

Universities to participate in:

• Study and suggest the form, type, and role;• Design the detailed components and structure; • Identify its technical and financial feasibility;• Involve the university science and technology

staff in the realization of these designs;• Encourage their staff to embody their knowledge

and skills in physical exhibits;• Continuously update the exhibits with up-to-date

science discoveries and technologies;• Raising funds for the centers;• Running the centre.

Science Museum Centre at Arabian Gulf University

• Anatomy science museum has been established in Arabian Gulf University more than a decade ago

• The pre-medical students are the most beneficiaries of this museum

• The university is to expand this museum/science centre

An overview of the museum

Dr. Mohamed Mamdouh AwnyDirector, Technology Management ProgramArabian Gulf UniversityKingdom of Bahrain 3 November 2008