2022 Cohort
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== Strategic #2:Project-based service learning ==
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Three of the five problems we found on our university that could be identified were the lack of I & E mindset, the university don't teach how to be entrepreneurs but to be employees, and the lack of work between faculties. So, when coming up with ideas and prototyping we get one project that involves a mix of these three problems.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">This prototype involves service learning courses where students from all careers create projects to provide better life quality to neighborhoods or villages in vulnerable contexts.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">To do this they must learn theory and apply the knowledge from a work of solidarity in a real context, depending on the needs of the community. Its purpose is that the learned contribute to an effective solidarity service. To explain this idea, I base myself on a book called “Manual para docentes y estudiantes solidarios ("Manual for solidarity teachers and students"). Which gave me tools to understand what this type of learning is all about and give my prototype a name.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">With this project it is intended that students have a theoretical basis but also apply it to reality in a project that has continuity, that is not deserted and that gives a contribution and real impact for the community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, to carry it out, we also need the support of companies that act as sponsors, thereby, it will be possible to obtain resources that without them we would not be able to obtain and therefore the initiation would be deserted since it would not be possible to carry it out in the proper way and have the desired impact.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">In addition, the university should provide a physical space for students develop and work on their ideas, for example a co-work. And, provide the theoretical framework and in turn provide tutors to guide the students in the idea, as well as technical assistance from experts such as lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">This must necessarily be interdisciplinary, so students of all careers connect and contribute each from their knowledge and discipline. This allows, therefore, that the problem we identified that the university does not work together with all the faculties can be solved as the frame of all this must be from the university and not a specific subject or faculty so that all the university will work together to carry this out, on the other hand, the assistance that is provided to students in their projects comes from different disciplines.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The benefits from the student side is that their academic ability will improve because they will be able to apply what has been learned and become involved with reality, having to think about solutions that improve the quality of people’s life, which also contributes to social awareness and sensitivity.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, in terms of E&I, students will be able to be innovative in their solutions and also to create projects that contribute to the purpose of the project, to be creative, to interact with different profiles and the educational community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">From the point of view of companies, being sponsors, will benefit from a marketing strategy, and have contributed to a social project for the benefit of the community improve their position and the image society have about them. Also, to link with the educational community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">And for the benefits from the University, it creates a link with companies, improve the training and capacity of their students, interaction between different faculties, and generates and promotes the I & E culture throughout the university.</p>
== Strategic #4:Mentors community ==
<p style="text-align: justify;">Even though we identified as a problem the lack of I&E culture or mindset, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that our students in general have that desire that motivates them to improve and to create. There was the missing part of where to dump and express all that creativity. Taking into account all that, we saw the opportunity and came with this prototype of a Community of advanced students (or even recently graduated ones) who can mentor those that don’t necessarily have their entrepreneurial ideas polished enough or need some kind of guidance.<br/>With the help of a council, the community assigns the best mentor for that particular student, so, for example, if the student comes with an idea somewhat around the developing of an app that helps you keep track of the amount of paper you have being waisting and help you reduce it, the council will select a mentor that fits the idea and the student best. In this case, maybe a graduated student of computer engineering with a small app developing company on the making.<br/>The council is also responsible of teaching and providing the tools for the mentors to become better at their jobs. Build the competences needed to mentor, to guide, to lead, and most important, to motivate the student to keep working and developing their ideas.<br/>This whole idea will not only benefit the student but also the mentor. Getting some kind of incentive for their work, the creditable experience of being a mentor of a project, the knowledge acquired through the mentor training…<br/>Working mechanics</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once the student arrives to the community and is assigned a mentor, they get to agree on a work schedule: a number of meetings (depending on the project) in which they will work together on the idea. After that period is finished comes the evaluation: feedback for the student and for the mentor as a form to keep improving in both their roles. There is the possibility to arrange more meetings if it is needed.<br/>When that process is finished, the mentor is free to accompany the student in their journey as an entrepreneur now working with NEXO (the entrepreneurial center in UCU).<br/>How does the student get to know of this community?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We knew the communication of new resources in our university has always being an issue. Billboards, screens, mails… So making sure the teachers know about the existence of this community is crucial. They will be the biggest link between the students and the mentors in the first step of this process.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We also thought of using the existing resource of WebAsignatura, an online platform where all the students of UCU take part. Advertise the community through that, and through the app.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Asuntos estudiantiles, a department focused on students affairs, shall also take part.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The interdisciplinary part of this project is the common work with NEXO. The community and the entrepreneurial center must work together, referring students and shearing progress, to make this whole adventure more enriching.</p>
= STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE I&E ECOSYSTEM (2022) =<br /> == '''Strategy #1- CantINa INclusiva & INnovadora-IN^3- (Inclusive and innovative canteen)''' ==After meticulously analyzing the LAndscape Canvas we created, the fact that there was a very poor Innovation and Entrepreneurship culture among students caught our attention. Apart from that, we realized that this situation was even worse in the area of health of our University. We consider this to be something that needs to change, since innovation is something that every area of knowledge should be looking forward to, no matter what their object of study is. Our challenge: '''''How might we help the Faculty of Health students be more involved in the I&E Ecosystem, and incorporate it to their careers?''''' For our following idea, we also took into consideration a present problem in our University: the fact that the on-campus canteen has little to none inclusive foods. Taking this into account, this project would consist of a competition between groups of students from the Nutrition career. During the course of three days, each group would have to create a mock Startup which should be related to the food industry. They would have to come up with meal plans and recipes, considering all of the special diets students have, for example: gluten free, sugar free, Keto, vegan, vegetarian, etc. Selected judges would then vote and choose the best, most complete and inclusive Startup, and parts of their meal plans and some of their recipes would be added to the University canteen´s menu. '''We will follow the incoming steps:''' * '''Step #1:''' schedule a meeting with the person in charge of the University's canteen.* '''Step #2:''' interview the Nutrition career director (Margarita Núñez). * '''Step #3:''' interview the Student Affairs´ director. * '''Step #4:''' create a communication campaign aiming at the Nutrition students, and motivate them to be part of the activity. <br /> == '''Strategy #2- “Experience”''' ==Having investigated all the areas of the university, we could realize there are just a few instances where students apply what they learn in their specific subjects, working with partners from different careers. Our challenge: '''How might we help students to experience what their work will actually be like when they graduate?''' Everyone knows that when we graduate, we are not going to work just with people that studied the same as us, because of that we want to make them experience what is the reality when they become professionals. To make them realize it and knowing that new academic plans do not have exams, we propose to have challenges when classes are finished. In those challenges, undergraduates will work with students from other careers. '''We will follow the incoming steps:''' '''•Step #1:''' Talk with the vicerrector of academic programs '''•Step #2:''' Talk with the director of academic programs '''•Step #3:''' Brainstorm project ideas that could involve students from different majors '''•Step #4:''' Create the elective “experience”<br /> == '''Strategy #3- Entrepreneurship Splash''' ==Thanks to our own student experience and the interviews we had with Ithaka during week 3. We noticed that although the university has courses on innovation and entrepreneurship, in which practical work is carried out, there is no possibility of doing something in the real world (within what the course offers). Our challenge: '''The creation of an extracurricular program for students who want to know more about the entrepreneurial world from a more practical point of view''' So when we inquired about Ithaka's functions, such as the entrepreneurial project incubation program. We came up with the idea of creating an extracurricular program where students are given the opportunity to participate in meetings, talks, consultancies that the university has with real projects, so that they can acquire practical knowledge and help the entrepreneur and the consultant in whatever way they can. It will have a prior management process where the entrepreneurs will be consulted if they are willing to let the students participate in their talks (due to the degree of confidentiality). Then 2 or 3 students per proyect will be selected from a waiting list based on their average and what their major is, since the idea is to give the opportunity to students who are familiar with the project. In addition, they will be given prior training so that they are aware of what will be discussed in the meetings. In addition to the knowledge obtained, the student will obtain additional credits for his career '''We will follow the incoming steps:''' * '''Step #1:''' Have a meeting with the manager of the Ithaka incubator and with the director of Academic Programs where we will present our idea and what we want to achieve* '''Step #2:''' get to know the interest of the students for this new program to evaluate if it is worth continuing with the project, to make changes, etc.* '''Step #3:''' Meet with the Practicum department to plan the prior management that will be done when assigning students to certain projects == '''Strategy #4- “SIF” (Society´s Innovation Fellows)''' ==After seeing all the courses and careers that our university has, we notice that just a few are committed to help the community, mostly elective ones, and in which the students always work on a structured project, with almost no time or possibility to innovate in the expected solution. Our challenge: '''''How can we implement innovative solutions for society's problems?''''' The SIF is a project where students can work on a specific real life problem, helping the society by innovating and bringing the “design thinking method” to them. We have a lot of courses, projects and instances where we can learn and show our innovation skills inside the University, but we should also put our knowledge into solving others problems. Sadly in our city we have a lot of things and places where we could work on and bring a solution, but not a simple one, but an innovative one, applying the design thinking method and other ideas to deliver a solution for the society. This project would not just help the people who live there, or the public image of the university, but everybody who’s involved, because it would be a challenge for the students, teachers and everyone working on the project to think, develop and implement an effective solution in a relatively short time (four months). '''We will follow the incoming steps:''' * '''Step #1:''' Create a presentation where we show all the society's problems we could solve by innovating and/or using the Design thinking method, how we would do it and what we need. Then present this project to the BERIT and IthaKa directors, and to the UCU authorities in order to know their opinion about it.* '''Step #2:''' Ask former BERIT courses students what they think about this project and if they would participate.* '''Step #3:''' Select a few (2-4) actual society’s problems and create an elective course where students can work on a solution for those problems. In order to promote the students participation we would create different promotions (via UCU university life Instagram, the WebAsignatura Portal, and in the campus spaces) of these courses. <br />= STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE I&E ECOSYSTEM (2021) =
Storytelling: Fostering Innovation & Integration at Catholic University of Uruguay - Link: youtu.be/nybO5zsxwpU
== <span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #1 - International I&E Start-ups Annual Fair</span></span> ==
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After taking a deep look at the Landscape Canvas we realized that the innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E)) ecosystem among university students is not as strong as it could be, given the fact that innovation nowadays is very present around the world. Although it is true that the I&E atmosphere in the University is growing, we believe it's not enough. </span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It may be either due to the fact that students are not inspired enough to come up with an innovative idea that can solve a problem or because they do not believe it can be such a scalable idea to carry out. </span></span></p>
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== <span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #2 - “Solv-IT” Innovation Workshops</span></span> ==
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Something that came to light while we analyzed the Landscape Canvas,was the lack of workshops and start-up weekends.Moreover, we realized that there weren't too many(or it did not exist at all) activities that would encourage interaction among students and in which they could meet new people. </span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge:
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== <span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #3: “INNOVAFTER”</span></span> ==
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Analyzing the Landscape Canvas and also hearing the students' thoughts, what we discovered was a lack of opportunities for students from different careers and departments to interact and get to know each other. As we know nowadays it is fundamental to have a multidisciplinary team so we can be more efficient and complete. To get to this is easier if students can have instances to create bonds and share time together. In addition to this, one of the fundamental missions of our University is to have a full academic and social experience so that students not only attend class but can generate a community. </span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge:
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== <span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #4: Innovation Marathon</span></span> ==
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After having immersed ourselves in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem of our university, one of the main problems that we were able to recognize is the lack of integration of students in the innovative and entrepreneurial area of our institution. So with this strategy we aim to foster an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in students by inviting them to join in activities that challenge them to think outside the box and use their creativity. </span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge:
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= STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE I&E ECOSYSTEM (2019) =
== <span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #1 - Boosting communication via webasignatura.</span></span> ==
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After interviewing various students, we felt that there was a lack of effective communication. The courses were already created, but students were not aware of their existence. So the first step was already taken, now we want students to acknowledge the opportunities that are available to them. UCU currently sends emails in order to notify students that there is a workshop or a course, however due to the amount of activities there are, and the channel that is currently being implemented, it is not effective, and frequently sent automatically to spam. </span></span></p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e6c7afc4-7fff-53af-9634-bf6cfaa3a387"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge:</span></span>
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== <span id="docs-internal-guid-e3c4185f-7fff-9352-5743-8765ec965775"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #2 - One day networking event between students and teachers.</span></span> ==
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3c4185f-7fff-9352-5743-8765ec965775"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While analyzing the Landscape Canvas completed in Session 3, the team realized that although there are a bunch of resources regarding “Mentoring, advisory or business networks”, Ithaka is the only centre that provides this service inside the university. Also, Ithaka encourages entrepreneurs with start up ideas and helps them in the validation and the process of creating it. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3c4185f-7fff-9352-5743-8765ec965775"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what happens with students that have interests and ideas that do not necessarily match with beginning a startup or a business plan? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3c4185f-7fff-9352-5743-8765ec965775"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 11pt 0pt;">''<span id="docs-internal-guid-e3c4185f-7fff-9352-5743-8765ec965775"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can we provide students the possibility to contact teachers related to the topic they are needing help with?</span></span>''</p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-e3c4185f-7fff-9352-5743-8765ec965775"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to describe the project, we´ll give an example. Imagine Pedro, who is a Business Administration student interested in finances. Although he is still studying his degree and with a lot more to learn, he is interested in the stock market and has a lot of doubts. </span></span>
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== <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #3: OPITI Investigation</span></span> ==<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 11pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">After analyzing the landscape Canvas and by doing extensive research among students, we identified that there ́s a lack of content and investigations done by the university. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, students are not motivated to do research about topics that they are interested with. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 11pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fb3c6ed3-7fff-d51a-18fc-f43e98d03ef8"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">''How can we motivate students to make their own research and the creation of content related to I&E?'' </span></span></p><br/><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We came up with the idea that if a student wants to make research related to innovation, can also have the possibility to participate for credits.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">OPITI (Opportunities to Incentivate Tremendous Ideas) can be held from March until July, and in that period of time, students interested in developing content that matches to the bases and conditions of the program, can investigate and have an advisor while doing the investigation.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></font><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial;">When the deadline finishes (first week of July), students have to handle their investigation, and the assigned jury will have to correct the work done by the student.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are our allies? Academic Programs Department, Student Affairs Department, Investigation and Innovation Department, ÍthaKa Center.</span></p>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-fb3c6ed3-7fff-d51a-18fc-f43e98d03ef8"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We </span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will follow the incoming steps:</span></span></span>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 11pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 11pt; padding: 0pt 30pt 0pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"></p>
== <span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategy #4: Entrepreneurs Club in Campus Montevideo.</span> ==<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2e3df57d-7fff-3d77-9e69-c413e7e41eab"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While finishing week 4 of University Innovation Fellows training, after doing deep research of the university ecosystem, we identified that our team of prefellows was working and developing ideas that tried to satisfy everyone´s needs, rather than working and enhancing with the few people characterized as being change agents.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2e3df57d-7fff-3d77-9e69-c413e7e41eab"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know for sure that if this one is enhanced, relationships between all the stakeholders will be long lasting and in return will create a better academic environment. </span></span></p><br/>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-2e3df57d-7fff-3d77-9e69-c413e7e41eab"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our challenge: </span></span>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">''<span id="docs-internal-guid-2e3df57d-7fff-3d77-9e69-c413e7e41eab"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How might we broaden the quantity of students commited with UCU and activities related to I&E?</span></span>''</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea is to gather change agents (Fellows, PreFellows, student leaders, students that participated in I&E events) and create a Club that promotes and encourage social interactions between them. A really good aspect to point out, is that there is already an existing Entrepreneurs Club in Campus Punta del Este.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So after talking with the organizers of Punta del Este´s Club, we agreed that in order to strengthen links between campus, we purpose the creation of the club that allows them to gather to talk about development ideas on UCU, participate on UCU events, help with communicating existing and next activities and projects, brainstorming about opportunities to develop and enhance, etc.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Activities held by the club will vary depending on the needs of the students participating, and will help to encourage students sense of belonging with UCU, because their actions will be leaving a lasting footprint in the rest of UCU community.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align: justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p>
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= <span style="color:#000000;">STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE I&E ECOSYSTEM (2018)</span> =
== <span style="color:#000000;">Stategy #1: Transform the ''"Co-Work"'' into a makerspace</span> ==
<span style="color:#000000;">'''''<span style="font-size:medium;">Malena and Agustina will lead this project.</span>'''''</span>
*<span style="color:#000000;">'''Step #6: '''Come up with ideas for the promotion of the new space.</span>
== <span style="color:#000000;">Strategy #2: Organizing exisiting I&E activities ''-Passport to Ithaka-''</span> ==
<span style="color:#000000;">'''''<span style="font-size:medium;">Maite and Brian will lead this project.</span>'''''</span>
*<span style="color:#000000;">'''Step #3: '''Make a team of advanced Computer Science students to design the website.</span>
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== <span style="color:#000000;">Strategy #3: Cross-curricular subject ''”Innovate in Your major”''</span> ==
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;">'''''Josefina and Paola will lead this project.'''''</span></span>
== <span style="color:#000000;">Strategy #4: After class Friday meetings</span> ==
<span style="color:#000000;">'''''<span style="font-size:medium;">Malena and Brian will lead this project</span>'''''</span>
*<span style="color:#000000;">'''Step #3:''' Empatize with first year students to design and define the best way to promote the activity in a creative and effective way.</span>
*<span style="color:#000000;">'''Step #4:''' Organice a meeting with Martín Pérez, Director of Students Affairs, to present the proyect and endorse the proposal.</span>
<div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>= STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE I&E ECOSYSTEM (2017) =
== <span style="font-size: x-large;">'''<span id="docs-internal-guid-48364397-db40-547a-3fef-3e3a9f5fe45e"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strategic #1: Launch an I&E Fair</span></span>'''</span> ==
[https://youtu.be/Cca4cGx90PE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cca4cGx90PE&feature=youtu.be]
<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the opportunities we found at our campus was the lack of I&E culture among students and staff, regarding what it is and what the university has. In response to this, we worked on developing a 3 days long I&E Fair. The fair itself counts on three big sectors:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Starting with who has no clue of this and what is going on at the university, at “Discover and Learn” will be shown all the courses and activities regarding I&E that the university has to offer. Each one with their own stand, and someone to assist who approaches. (“Look all the cool things you can do and learn!”)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For those who already have an idea, but are a little scared on working on it, “Inspiration” stands will show different projects, at different stages, that are being carried out by students, graduates or staff. Some of them giving the possibility for people to join the team if it’s needed. (“We are doing it, so you can do it too!”)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And having in mind the ones who already are thinking of starting with their project, “Support” will have different incubators and support funding stands to bring them closer to a support system, and show them where they can develop their ideas. (“Now if you have a project, we can help you.”)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Every stand must have a playful and interactive side to be more attractive for those whose interest is yet to be awaken. As well as a diversity of disciplines among projects’, and curses’ stands, so everyone can find something interesting for them.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The fair will also have a Collaborative Project Stand, where people can do something (like a drawing for example) that the project needs in order to help them. An Ideas! Wall will also be found, where a problem is proposed (regarding the university) and whoever wants can come up with a solution and add it on a post it note. Likewise, Canti and feedback walls will be held.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the same time, a cycle of talks will be held on some particular moments. It will count with an inspirational keynote speaker, and some smaller talks that give attendants tools and skills regarding I&E.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The fair itself, along with the talks, will catch people attention by it’s infrastructure (a big tent, music, colour lights…) and the place where they are made. That way, students and staff getting the info about the fair won’t be a major problem. </p>
*Select the best date.
==Strategic #2:Project-based service learning==
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Three of the five problems we found on our university that could be identified were the lack of I & E mindset, the university don't teach how to be entrepreneurs but to be employees, and the lack of work between faculties. So, when coming up with ideas and prototyping we get one project that involves a mix of these three problems.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">This prototype involves service learning courses where students from all careers create projects to provide better life quality to neighborhoods or villages in vulnerable contexts.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">To do this they must learn theory and apply the knowledge from a work of solidarity in a real context, depending on the needs of the community. Its purpose is that the learned contribute to an effective solidarity service. To explain this idea, I base myself on a book called “Manual para docentes y estudiantes solidarios ("Manual for solidarity teachers and students"). Which gave me tools to understand what this type of learning is all about and give my prototype a name.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">With this project it is intended that students have a theoretical basis but also apply it to reality in a project that has continuity, that is not deserted and that gives a contribution and real impact for the community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, to carry it out, we also need the support of companies that act as sponsors, thereby, it will be possible to obtain resources that without them we would not be able to obtain and therefore the initiation would be deserted since it would not be possible to carry it out in the proper way and have the desired impact.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">In addition, the university should provide a physical space for students develop and work on their ideas, for example a co-work. And, provide the theoretical framework and in turn provide tutors to guide the students in the idea, as well as technical assistance from experts such as lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">This must necessarily be interdisciplinary, so students of all careers connect and contribute each from their knowledge and discipline. This allows, therefore, that the problem we identified that the university does not work together with all the faculties can be solved as the frame of all this must be from the university and not a specific subject or faculty so that all the university will work together to carry this out, on the other hand, the assistance that is provided to students in their projects comes from different disciplines.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The benefits from the student side is that their academic ability will improve because they will be able to apply what has been learned and become involved with reality, having to think about solutions that improve the quality of people’s life, which also contributes to social awareness and sensitivity.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, in terms of E&I, students will be able to be innovative in their solutions and also to create projects that contribute to the purpose of the project, to be creative, to interact with different profiles and the educational community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">From the point of view of companies, being sponsors, will benefit from a marketing strategy, and have contributed to a social project for the benefit of the community improve their position and the image society have about them. Also, to link with the educational community.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">And for the benefits from the University, it creates a link with companies, improve the training and capacity of their students, interaction between different faculties, and generates and promotes the I & E culture throughout the university.</p>
*Define in which institutional framework this course will be developed (If it depends on a vice rectory, department, etc.)
*Have a bag of companies with which a link is generated and with which they will work as sponsors for the projects.
*Define in which academic year it will take place.
== Strategic #3:Foster Multidisciplinary work based on the concept “Time Bank” -''Canti Cowork'' ==<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Create a web platform in which students and graduates search for some particular skills for a specific problem they are having. Students or graduates who are interested in solving these problems, can accept the work and contact each other. Based on the concept of "Time Bank", that is a system of social relationship in which time is exchanged for time. On other words, the currency would be the time but in my case the exchange is a service (specific problem of the student / graduated) by time (hours). The accounting of working hours will be handled by a coordinator at Cowork who will be responsible for administrating the working hours of each student who decides to provide a service.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Example of case: A student (Carlos) from Business Administration, needs to create a logo for his / her entrepreneurship. He doesn’t know the tools of Photoshop and Illustrator to design a logo, therefore it will resort to CANTI and will post its specific problem. He will write his name, career, cell phone number and the skills required to solve the problem. Manuel from Communication saw the post and as he met with the requirements, he contacted Carlos and decided to help him. The work Manuel lasted 3 hours. When he finished, he went to Cowork and counted his working hours to the coordinator.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><br/>'''''Benefit from Canti:'''''</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The hours accumulated by the students can be exchanged in courses, workshops of your choice and credits.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Positive Characteristics:</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">-It will promote social relations within the Universidad Católica del Uruguay.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">-It will create a meeting platform where people will meet and exchange knowledge, skills and experiences covering needs for help and learning.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">-Strengthens cooperation and intercultural coexistence by promoting knowledge, interaction and mutual respect.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><br/>Justification:</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Universidad Católica del Uruguay has 7 faculties with 35 degrees. There is so much knowledge and variety within the University that I want to promote and advance the crosses between the degrees, through multidisciplinary work.</p>
*Convincing the authorities (vice-rectorate, departments ) so as to implement the benefits of Canti. Have to get through bureaucracy.
*Have a web designer make the landing page
==Strategic #4:Mentors community==
<p style="text-align: justify;">Even though we identified as a problem the lack of I&E culture or mindset, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that our students in general have that desire that motivates them to improve and to create. There was the missing part of where to dump and express all that creativity. Taking into account all that, we saw the opportunity and came with this prototype of a Community of advanced students (or even recently graduated ones) who can mentor those that don’t necessarily have their entrepreneurial ideas polished enough or need some kind of guidance.<br />With the help of a council, the community assigns the best mentor for that particular student, so, for example, if the student comes with an idea somewhat around the developing of an app that helps you keep track of the amount of paper you have being waisting and help you reduce it, the council will select a mentor that fits the idea and the student best. In this case, maybe a graduated student of computer engineering with a small app developing company on the making.<br />The council is also responsible of teaching and providing the tools for the mentors to become better at their jobs. Build the competences needed to mentor, to guide, to lead, and most important, to motivate the student to keep working and developing their ideas.<br />This whole idea will not only benefit the student but also the mentor. Getting some kind of incentive for their work, the creditable experience of being a mentor of a project, the knowledge acquired through the mentor training…<br />Working mechanics</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once the student arrives to the community and is assigned a mentor, they get to agree on a work schedule: a number of meetings (depending on the project) in which they will work together on the idea. After that period is finished comes the evaluation: feedback for the student and for the mentor as a form to keep improving in both their roles. There is the possibility to arrange more meetings if it is needed.<br />When that process is finished, the mentor is free to accompany the student in their journey as an entrepreneur now working with NEXO (the entrepreneurial center in UCU).<br />How does the student get to know of this community?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We knew the communication of new resources in our university has always being an issue. Billboards, screens, mails… So making sure the teachers know about the existence of this community is crucial. They will be the biggest link between the students and the mentors in the first step of this process.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We also thought of using the existing resource of WebAsignatura, an online platform where all the students of UCU take part. Advertise the community through that, and through the app.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Asuntos estudiantiles, a department focused on students affairs, shall also take part.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The interdisciplinary part of this project is the common work with NEXO. The community and the entrepreneurial center must work together, referring students and shearing progress, to make this whole adventure more enriching.</p>
*Define in which institute, department of vice rectorate will be in charge of the community.
*Create the links between departments to make sure this idea works as it is supposed to do, as it is something that crosses all faculties.
*Give a speech at Plaza de encuentros presenting the community, have some of the mentors show their enterprises.
*Encourage students to present ideas, even the craziest ones
<div><br/></div><div><br/></div>== Related Links ==
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Universidad_Cat%C3%B3lica_del_Uruguay Universidad Católica del Uruguay Campus Overview]</br>
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Paola_cabrera Paola Cabrera]
<br/>'''Fall 2019 Fellows'''
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Gianni_martinelli Gianni Martinelli]
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Julieta_mossian Julieta Mossian]
<div><br/></div>
[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]
[[Category:Student Priorities]]
