Let's Talk about .. Innovation and Entrepreneurship from MRA Univ. Relations Director's aspect

On November 17, 2014, through information from Prof. Junichi Iijima, I attended the Tokyo Tech Startup Weekend Follow-up Session. Many of my Thai and Japanese friends participated this talk as well.
It was a talk titled "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" by Dr. Tim Pan (University Relations Director of Microsoft Research Asia).

He started his talk with a big warning (but it's a fact) that there were two reasons people would make a startup: Rich and Freedom.

His warning was the fact that 90% of Startup failed and from his experience, there was no exact freedom at the beginning of the business establishment. The freedom seems to come after the business reaches the success.

He talked about his attractive Startup in 1997 when he started his business in Taiwan. It became successful and finally he sold it and moved to work with Microsoft since Microsoft, in his opinion, is the biggest Department of Computer Science in the world.

Let's go back to the topic. He introduced three books in his talk.

-"High-Tech Ventures: The Guide for Entrepreneurial Success" by C. Gordon Bell in 1991
-"Innovation and Entrepreneurship" by Peter Ferdinand Drucker in 1985
He summarized that the source of innovation consists of unexpected, process need,  new knowledge, and structural change. Actually there are more than these, but he chose the most important four ones. Among these, he said 'new knowledge' is the most important source.
-"The Innovator's Dilemma: Then New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail" by Clayton M. Christensen in 2000

In addition, we also introduced us some new products and services from Microsoft such as Skype Translator which is going to be launched in a few days and Microsoft Band.

Finally, his recommendation for the one who will go on StartUp.."Innovate on giants' shoulders!" would be a good way in the current situation which various technologies are rapidly moving.

Thank you very much Prof. Iijima for suggestion and Dr. Pan for the interesting talk.

Let's Talk about .. Tokyo Tech International Symposium on Education Reform

I have received information of this symposium from Prof. Junichi Iijima, my advisor, so I registered this symposium with the eager to see the education systems in MIT and UC Berkery and the plan of Tokyo Tech.

On March 14th, 2014, there was Tokyo Tech International Symposium on Education Reform at the 70th Anniversary Auditorium, Tokyo Tech Ookayama Campus, Tokyo, Japan.

The symposium is part of the education reformation plan of Tokyo Tech towards being one of the world top ten universities by 2030.

It was not allowed to take a photo or video in this symposium. Thus I wrote this summary based on my memory and my memo from the symposium.

The MC of the event was Assoc.Prof. Kayoko Nahara (Tokyo Tech). This symposium provided bilingual (English/Japanese) via the live audio receiver. It was started with the welcome address by Prof. Yoshinao Mishima, President of Tokyo Tech.

Keynote Talks: Education Systems at US Universities

First talk: "An insider's view of an MIT education"

by Prof. W. Eric L. Grimson, Chancellor for Academic Advancement, MIT (USA)

In summary, MIT now provides not only the indoor class, but also outdoor education that can increase other cross-disciplinary skills, which cannot be obtained from the traditional classroom such as leadership, for their students. Currently, 2/3 of MIT students are in engineering fields while the most popular fields (40% of that portion) appear to be in mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering.

Current students are likely to learn the real world context rather than the contents which are staying in the classroom. Also, they have an aim to make the impact of their interesting aspect (of global problems) or so-called global awareness.

As a result, he suggested that there are 4 must-develop things:

(1) "New delivery methods": new learning style;

(2) "New content": cross disciplinary content;

(3) "New living and learning settings": providing effective opportunities; and

(4) "Global leadership skills": the skills beyond the class

He suggested key elements of curriculum consist of:

(1) "Key elements of curriculum";

(2) "Seeing technical topics in context";

(3) "Hands-on, action based learning"; and

(4) together with some others such as leadership, art, athletics.

Moreover, he introduced some MIT's projects/programs:

MIT Public Service Center is a place that supports students who have motivation to make the impact to the world. Not only the benefits to society, but the students also can learn leadership simultaneously during doing the activity as a team;

MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition is a competition that lets the students practice the entrepreneurship. This program has created more than 130 companies around the world;

Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program;

MIT's Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP);

Internship program in 16 countries including Japan, China, Chile, etc.; and

MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

In addition, he introduced about the online course system founded by MIT, edX.

Lastly, he spoke of  the education plan that should be reformed. I feel they are quite fastinating. 

First, the "competency-based assessment" throughout the semester should be used instead of just waiting what the students will answer in the final exam at the end of the semester; the changing of the traditional classroom to be online classroom and letting the class being the laboratory or problem-solving classes; the dormitory should be changed from just a place to sleep to be a place to learn, and the traditional library should be changed to a "Making space" where students can make or invent something together.

Second talk: "Tradition and Innovation in Higher Education through Shared Governance"

by Prof. Ronald Gronsky, Special Faculty Assistant to the Chancellor for International Relations, UC Berkeley (USA) 

There were many interesting stories Prof. Gronsky mentioned such as many interesting statistical facts especially the amount of financial support for students which are nearly the amount of support of all Ivy League.

"Shared governance" is the idea introduced and suggested by him. In UC Berkeley, there is a systematic structure. For example, the promotion of academic position which follows the step of evaluation (there are many steps inside Asst.Prof., Assoc.Prof., and Prof.).

The evaluation of faculty is based on teaching, researching, professional activity, and university and public service.

Keynote Talk: Education Systems at Tokyo Tech

by Prof. Yoshinao Mishima, President, Tokyo Tech (Japan)

Mainly, Prof. Mishima talked about goal that Tokyo Tech will be part of the world top ten research universities by 2030. He mentioned about the formation of the committee and reformation plan that is going to be reviewed and start using in spring semester of Academic Year 2016.

PS. If I did any mistake, please feel free to inform me or share your idea in the comments.

Ref.

[1] Tokyo Institute of Technology. (2014, March 14). Tokyo Tech International Symposium on Education Reform: Best Practices for Realization of World-Class Science and Engineering Higher Education Systems. Tokyo: Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Let's Talk about .. UK-Japan Symposium on Engineering Education-Past, Present and Future

On March 11th, 2014, I participated in the UK-Japan Symposium on Engineering Education - Past, Present and Future at Kuromae Hall, Tokyo Tech Front, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan. It has been organized by 6 members universities of the Russell Group (University of Cambridge, Bristol University, University of Southampton, University of Leeds, Imperial College London, and University College London) and all member universities of the Eight-University Engineering Association (Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Kyushu University)

First of all, I would like to thank Ms. Seiko Oya from Energy & Advanced Technology, Science & Innovation Section, the British Embassy Tokyo, who introduced me about this event when we had a meeting together at the embassy with Assoc.Prof. Anawat Suppasri and Dr. Ingrid Charvet.

This symposium is an event in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Choshu Five's departure for the UK.

I took a note and summarized only the points I am interested in as follows.

Opening Remarks
Chair: Assoc.Prof. Kayoko Nohara (Tokyo Tech)

The first opening remark was done by Prof. Kikuo Kishimoto, Dean of the Graduate School of Engineering and School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology.

First Open Remark

Choshu 5 (Japanese: 長州五傑) consists of

• Prince Hirobumi Ito, "The Father of the Japanese Constitution & Parliamentary Government in Japan; Japan's first Prime Minister";
• Marquis Kaoru Inoue, "The Father of Modern Japanese Diplomacy";
• Viscount Yozo Yamao, "The Father of Japanese Engineering";
• Viscount Masaru Inoue, "The Father of Japanese Railways"; and
• Mr. Kinsuke Endo, "The Father of the Modern Japanese Mint"

And the second opening remark was presented by Ms. Elizabeth Hogben, Head of Science and Innovation, British Embassy Tokyo.

Second Open Remark

Next, the Keynote Lecture was provided by Prof. Roderick A. Smith (Imperial College London and Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport)

Keynote Lecture by Prof. Roderick A. Smith

Session 1 International Education (Overseas study and student mobility)
Chair: Assoc.Prof. Tom Hope (Tokyo Tech)
Keynote Speaker: Mr. Shigeharu Kato, Director-General for International Affairs [Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)]

Keynote Speaker by Mr. Shigeharu Kato

Currently, the majority of foreign students in Japan is from Asia such as China, Korea, and Thailand. 

Through "Abe Education", the Policy Agenda has been set to Global Human Resources Development, Economic competitiveness, and aiming to Double students’ mobility by 2020.

In details, 

- (To be) 300,000 international students in Japan;

- (To be) 120,000 Japanese study aboard;

- (To be) 10 Japanese universities in world top ten universities

Presentation 1: "International Education Program at Hokkaido University"
by Prof. Takemi Chikahisa, Vice Dean of Faculty of Engineering (Hokkaido University)
In Hokkaido University, they provide the English Engineering Education Program (e3) where the students can choose the courses to study in English. The curriculum has the same number of Japanese courses and English courses.

Presentation by Prof. Takemi Chikahisa

Prof. Chikahisa also mentioned his opinion that the challenges of doing international education program were the heavy loads for both faculty and students, limited period of financial support, and the large amount of passive opportunities for students which might in turn reduce the ability of challenging the unknown world by themselves.

Presentation 2: "Cambridge/MIT partnership"
by Prof. Simon Guest, Engineering Deputy Head (University of Cambridge)

Presentation by Prof. Simon Guest

University of Cambridge's Engineering Department is a single Department that covers all branches of engineering.

He talked about one notable person, Prof. Sir James Alfred Ewing, who served as professor of mechanical engineering at Tokyo Imperial University (currently The University of Tokyo) in 19th Century.

Also, he introduced the Cambridge-MIT Exchange program, and talked about the students' problems/challenges found from the program such as the difference between home and host, difficulty in academic change, they cannot impose a home rule on the host university, necessary to need at peer relationships; staffs' such as dealing with students with different background, losing best student for a year; and institions' such as cost/administrative load to keep the exchange alive. 

Presentation 3: "International Joint Education in Tohoku University"
by Prof. Hiroo Yugami, Vice Dean in Education (Tohoku University)

Presentation by Prof. Hiroo Yugami

Prof. Yugami introduced us various international programs at Tohoku University such as RENKEI Program; the Exchange Programs: Tohoku University Cooperative Laboratory Study Program (COLABS), International Program in Liberal Arts (IPLA); Summer Program (TESP-Robotics); Junior Year Program in English (JYPE); Direct Enrolment Education Program (DEEP); and Double degree program with Ecole Centrate Group (France), INSA de Lyon (France), KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Presentation 4: "Scientific Empowerment Program for International Students-How does it work?"
by Prof. Kiyoshi Fujita (Osaka University)

Presentation by Prof. Kiyoshi Fujita

Osaka University has various international programs such as the English cafe, English for Engineering I and II which provide simulation as international conference poster presentation in the course, Short-term study aboard at Monash University (Australia), UC Davis (USA), Frontier Lab@OsakaU, and Handai AIC

Presentation 5: "Student Mobility in International Engineering Education"
by Prof. Koichiro Watanabe, Deputy Dean of Faculty of Engineering (Kyushu University)

Presentation by Prof. Koichiro Watanabe

Kyushu University has 16 programs related to international education such as the RENKEI Program, Double degree with Lund University (Sweden), ASEAN- (AJ-BCEP), Engineering Leasers English Program (ELEP) in Silicon Valley, USA, and International Internship Program esp. Mining Engineering.

Also, since it was the 3rd Memorial Day of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, we had one-minute silence during the first session.

Special Lecture: Prof. emer. Sadayuki Ujihashi (Tokyo Tech)

Special Lecture by Prof. emer. Sadayuki Ujihashi

Prof. emer. Ujihashi gave us a lecture about what we learn from Choushu 5 ("What Choushu five learned in UCL to bring up innovative young generation?"). The lesson learned from them includes the expanding the view as they recognized huge difference in social system, military force and science as well as creating desire to found the modern new Japan.

He also mentioned about Prof. Alexander W. Willianson, who is the most respectful leader as he took care and educated Choshu 5 at UCL.

He “accept[ed] diversities and harmonize”

“Watch by yourself anything new”

Williamson monument has been founded in 2003.

Among many messages, there was one..
ききれば　かたりきるこえ　しじまより (or if you carefully hear, you can hear a voice of silence).

Session 2 University-Industry Cooperation
Chair: Prof. Jeffrey S. Cross (Tokyo Tech)
Keynote Speaker: Mr. Kenji Toda, Senior Managing Director (Health Care Science Institute)

Keynote Speaker Mr. Kenji Toda

Presentation 1: "University Coalition on Engineering Education and Industry Cooperation in Tokyo Tech"
by Prof. Tetsuya Mizumoto, Vice president for Education (Tokyo Tech)

Presentation by Prof. Tetsuya Mizumoto

Prof. Mizumoto introduced the University Coalition on Engineering Education (UCEE) which is a Non-profit organization and University-industry Cooperation in Tokyo Tech as the role of the Office of Industry Liaison (OIL) in Tokyo Tech.

Presentation 2: "Opportunities for industrial experience within and alongside the curriculum"
by Prof. Anna Barney, Associate Dean (Education) in Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (University of Southampton)

Presentation by Prof. Anna Barney

Prof. Barney talked about her university's "Consultancy Module" which the students can do real piece of consultancy work for a local company or organization by up-to-6-students team with lectures plus 3 company site visits.

Presentation 3: "University-Industry Collaborative Education to Promote Innovation"
by Prof. Takehiko Kitamori, Vice president (The University of Tokyo)

Presentation by Prof. Takehiko Kitamori

Prof. Kitamori presented about the failure of Japan in innovation. He introduced the "3rd Dearth Valley Lying on R&D". The solution of this problem is creating the initial market where users, buyers, and sellers are Ph.D. As a result, it will be "Knowledge-based Economy".

Presentation 4: "Integrated Workplace and University Education"
by Prof. Barry Clarke (University of Leeds)

Presentation by Prof. Barry Clarke

Presentation 5: "Industry-Cooperated Education Programs at Nagoya University"
by Prof. Akihiro Sasoh, next Vice Dean of Graduate School of Engineering (Nagoya University)

Presentation by Prof. Akihiro Sasoh

Nagoya has the largest industry cluster in Japan. There are many large-scale manufactures and companies in that area. Nagoya University provides NU Research Internship (1-6 months for Master and Ph.D.); 6 programs in Leading Graduate School program; Summer Intensive Program "Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering"; and Aircraft Development Global Project Leader Training Seminar.

Session 3 Ph.D. Education and Transferable Skills
Chair: Assoc.Prof. Kayoko Nohara (Tokyo Tech)
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Haruyoshi Kumura, Fellow (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)

Keynote Speaker by Dr. Haruyoshi Kumura

In summary, there is no absolute linear in the innovation. The necessary transferable skills consist of (1) "Execution skill", (2) "Conflict-resolution skill" to switch constrained issues to performance, and (3) "System Dynamics skill".

Presentation 1: "The purpose of doctoral education in the 21st century"
by Prof. Nick Tyler (UCL)

Presentation by Prof. Nick Tyler

The "grand challenges" contain "Global Health", "Sustainable Cities", "Intercultural Interdisciplinary", and "Human Wellbeing", and engineering features in all challenges.

The current Ph.D. is different from the traditional Ph.D. The traditional one may considered only as a path to go on the academic pathway while the current one aims to prepare to a career in industry (research and management), then academic career following a career in industry, "research towards discovery".

Presentation 2: "Collaborating Across Cultures: The 2013 RENKEI Researcher Development School in Bristol and Kyoto"
by Prof. Tetsuo Sawaragi, Assistant to Executive Vice-President for International Affairs (Kyoto University)

Presentation by Prof. Tetsuo Sawaragi

Unfortunately, I could not attend the last 2 presentations.

Presentation 3: "Education for Cross-Boundary Innovation"
by Prof. Kosuke Sato, Head of Associate Dean (Osaka University)

Presentation 4: "EPSRC Doctoral training"
by Prof. Caroline Batchelor (EPSRC)

It is a great opportunity to join and listen to the history of engineering in Japan, current situation and programs of Ph.D. in many universities, and opinion from professors from Japan and UK.

Let's Talk about .. Check a toilet in Japan

Yesterday (December 2nd, 2013) I attended Science and Technology for Society class by Prof. Masahisa Seguchi. His lecture was about Universal Design. One part of his lecture was about Check a Toilet (developed by NPO Check), a web-based and mobile application providing map of toilet in Japan.

I think this web and app are interesting and very useful for everyone in Japan. It provides both Japanese and English versions. You can check the nearby toilets from your current location. Not only the map, but it also provides the information of that toilet such as photo, equipments  emergency call buttons, baby seat, usable hours), and others (distinction, barriers, door, space, handrail, seat).

It allows everyone to share the photo, information, report of any toilet in Japan in order to create larger and larger database of toilet.

You can download Check a toilet iOS application here, and android application here.

Note. I have no financial benefit or business relationship with Check a toilet. I just think it is useful app.

Let's Talk about .. Refresh Surface 2/Touch Cover

Yesterday I tried to connect the Touch Cover to Surface 2. The touch pad was work well, but the keyboard was not. After checking from the solution from Microsoft website at Troubleshoot your surface cover: (1) check the connection between Surface and the cover, (2) restart Surface, (3) install Surface and Windows updates, and (4) check its setting; I followed these suggestion, but my keyboard was still not able to use.

Surface 2 with Touch Cover

It is possible that some of the setting may be changed during my usage. Therefore, I tried to refresh it.

Refresh
Refresh means reinstall Windows but keep all the personal data, preinstalled applications, and those application downloaded from Windows Store.
And finally, I can use it.

Instruction to refresh Surface

• Connect the Touch Cover
• Swipe (from) the right side
• Tap Settings
• Tap PC Setting
• Tap Update and recovery
• Tap Refresh
• Tap Get started
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Update and recovery menu

In fact, I found this suggestion (Microsoft's Refresh or reset Surface RT or Surface 2) after I did refresh. So, if your keyboard on your touch cover has problem


Ref.
[1] Microsoft. (2013). Refresh or reset Surface RT or Surface 2. Retrieved November 2013 from http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-th/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/refresh-or-reset-surface
[2] Microsoft. (2013). Troubleshoot your Surface Cover. Retrieved November 2013 from http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-th/support/hardware-and-drivers/troubleshoot-surface-keyboards

Let's Talk about .. IMPAC-T Final Workshop

During November 11-13, 2013, I received a fruitful invitation to join the Final Workshop of IMPAC-T at Sendai, Japan, through the kind help from Assoc.Prof. Shinjiro Kanae (Tokyo Institute of Technology), Assoc.Prof. Daisuke Komori (Tohoku University), and Asst.Prof. Shinichiro Nakamura (the University of Tokyo), as well as Mr. Weerayuth Pratoomchai (Ph.D. student at Tohoku University), who introduced this project to me.

                                               

Along the way to the workshop

Registration of the workshop

IMPAC-T stands for Integrated study on Hydro-Meteorological Prediction and Adaptation to Climate Change in Thailand. It is a project established since 2008 with the support from SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development). It is a collaborative projects between JICA, JST, the University of Tokyo, Kasetsart University with the researchers from many organizations such as Kasetsart University, KMUTT, Chulalongkorn University, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tohoku University, etc.

Prof. Taikan Oki (The University of Tokyo) gave an opening speech

This workshop is the final one before the final public symposium, IMPAC-T International Symposium “Coping with Climate Change Effects by Science and Technology” during January 27-28, 2014 at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand. Thus, this workshop is not open to public and is considered to be one of preparation for the symposium.

Through these 3 days, not only seeing various new research from both Japanese and Thai researchers, I can make some networking and contacts with people in this area via the help of Dr. Chaiwat Ekkawatpani (KMUTT).

My seniors at Tohoku University and me

Let's Talk about .. Design Workshop

Today (October 31st, 2013), halloween day, there was the International Workshop Participatory Methods for Co-design Approach at Tokyo Institute of Technology. This workshop was organized by Assoc.Prof. Celine Mougenot (Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering) and Assoc.Prof. Naoya Abe (Department of International Development Engineering).

Due to my schedule, I can attend only the morning session. It was hands-on session called "Design Principles for Non-Designers" by Ms. Victoria Gerrard. She is an executive director of O(Opportunity)-Lab, SUTD-MIT International Design Center, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore.

Ms. Victoria in hands-on session

She started with showing many products of banana leaf. I can understand many things related to design in that session. 

Design is understanding

First, "design is understanding". We should not be aggressive to the environment, but we should understand it. We can design although we do not know how it will be.

Who should design?

The answer is everyone. We can find design every where. Design can also be professional and universal. 

Learning from failure

Through the activity she asked us to design, we can learn that failure can be the lesson to have a good design. Many times we started with too complex idea, but it might not be OK to implement. Once we know failure, we can change, improve, or modify it.

Rich picture

It is another activity we tried. We drew our design which expressed something. I did my work as the disaster management rich picture as it is what I am interested in.

Discussion on our Rich Picture design

Although I cannot attend the full program, thank Ms. Victoria Gerrard, Assoc.Prof. Mougenor, Assoc.Prof. Abe, and all organizers for setting this workshop.