Creating Collaboration Between College of Engineering and the College of Business

Priorities:

Collaboration- “Bridging the Gap”- between the College of Engineering’s Innovation Institute and Heavener School of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
“UFund” Kick-starter Platform.
Starting Early: Implementation of Entrepreneurship and Innovation principles and experiential learning into fundamental courses for undergraduate engineers.
Spreading the Word: Increasing marketing efforts for existing programs and resources.

Implementation Plan

Spring 2015

Initial research
Initial campus analysis (as first Fellows)
Begin discussions with individual college leaders for CEI and COE collaboration
- Dean of College of Engineering, Director of Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Director of COE Innovation Institute, faculty, stakeholders
Begin creation of UFund model, record how-to steps for other schools to follow
Get stakeholders on board with each project/ be open to feedback
UFund website and necessary logistics all set up
Solidify UIF as permanent program at UF, seek out next UIF’s
Complete business model for increased cross-functional collaboration between COE and CEI; have at least 1 constant marketing approach to inform engineers of existing programs

Fall 2015

Roll out UFund and try to get BEC organizations, design teams, and CEI start ups interested
Later in semester, officially roll out program to alumni and industry
- Work with UFAA for alumni, CRC maybe for industry during spring showcase
Increase engineering participation in existing events by 25%; Co-sponsor existing events
- ex: UF Innovation Summit (with COE Innovation Institute and CEI)
- potential additional resource: ELI Student Leadership Advisory Board
Create incentives, marketing programs or competitions to bring together engineering and business I & E organizations
Begin discussion on curriculum modifications to include CEI and COE students in I & E classes
Increase marketing efforts to motivate more COE students to pursue Entrepreneurship Minor (offered by CEI) and/or certificate (offered by COE Innovation Institute)

Spring 2016

UFund established entity with COE and CEI (mostly I & E focused) projects first to be advertised/hopefully funded.
UFund expansion to other projects and schools around the university
Tangible event/program/experiential course that was planned since Fall between COE & CEI is held
Re-analyze campus landscape for I & E (new landscape canvas)

Fall 2016

UFund widely available resource for UF organizations, discuss with stakeholders any next steps possible
CEI and COE relationship has been solidified, continue to work on merging curriculum, creating collaboration between students/organizations
CEI and COE begin to include Levin College of Law and College of Health and Sciences in existing events.
Expand I & E opportunities at UF to include other schools, become REGIONAL beacon for I & E efforts (summit?)

Spring 2017

Expand I & E opportunities at UF to include other schools, become NATIONAL beacon for I & E efforts (summit?)