First Training Module: Strategic Implementation of University-Industry Cooperation
The first of a series of 4 training modules planned as part of the capacity building activities of the MEDINNOALL project took place in Oran, Algeria, between 18-21 October 2010, hosted by the Ecole Normale Supériore d’Enseignement Technologique d’Oran .
With almost 40 people in attendance from partner universities and business associations from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, the module focused on training knowledge transfer professionals and business link advisors on the particularities of the strategic implementation of university-industry cooperation. Specifically, the topics of this training included the importance of adopting an innovation culture in higher education institutions, mechanisms for the enhancement of university-industry links, the responsibilities of technology transfer offices, intellectual property rights and valorisation of research results. Best practices and diverse case studies were presented to better illustrate the subject matters. Presentations were combined with practical exercises and group discussions to adapt the module content to the idiosyncrasy of northern African universities.
The meeting included institutional presentations on innovation and university-industry collaboration by Mr. Ali Benamar and Mr. Tawfik Benabdallah (ENSET) and the participation on the Inauguration of the new office of the ENSET at the Oran Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Additionally, one of the training days was spent at the nearby city of Mostaganem, were partners and invited media witnessed the signature of an institutional collaboration agreement between the University of Mostaganem and the enterprise Agro Consulting International. Also, partners visited one of the factories of Metidji Group, a successful local enterprise with international presence that constitutes an strategic industrial partner for the University of Mostaganem.
The last day of the training module there was a consortium meeting where a report on the status of running activities and a description of upcoming tasks were presented.
