Experts Address Series (2003-04)

Peter Olaf Looms

The Challengeto universities servicing the private sector and meeting societal obligations

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© 2004 DR

Who I am and what I do

Altid Sport

• Full-time consultant at DR public service broadcaster “to inform, educate and entertain”• Strategic planning, mainly digital TV and broadband• Teach postgraduate courses in format development and strategic issues related to digital content the University of Hong Kong the IT-University of Copenhagen INA (National Audiovisual Institute, Paris, France) Institute of Interactive Digital TV Research, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (October/November 2004)

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© 2004 DR

Returning to a previous presentation...

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© 2004 DRThe structure of my presentation

• The context - DR and ITU• The current political debate

about education as a long-term investment for economic growth

• The response from universities and companies

The context

DenmarkMy two employers:DR (Danish Broadcasting)ITU (IT University of Copenhagen)

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© 2004 DRThe Context

DENMARK• 5.4 million people• 44,00 square km• GNP per capita of USD 43,000 (2003)at current rate

• Ranks 5th on IT world list (Hong Kong is 16th)•5 multi-faculty universities• 11 specialist universities• ITU, the IT University of Copenhagen is one of them

http://europa.eu.int/public-services/denmark/citizens/education/higher_education_en.htm

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© 2004 DR

DR Danish Broadcasting Corporation

• Founded in 1925• 3,300 staff • Annual operating budget HKD 4.4 billion• Funded by broadcast licence• 2 TV channels • Market share 38%• 10+ radio channels• Interactive media & services: TTV, WWW, mobile, DTV, wireless…

The Context

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ITU The IT University of Copenhagen

• Established by Danish Folketing in April 1999 - opening its doors in August 1999

• Students 2001 = 4282003 = 627 person-years (15% below target)

• Full-time staff 2001 = 37 person-years 2003 = 82 person-years excluding external lecturers (part-time)

• Annual operating budget n.a.• Postgraduate and PhD only

The Context

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The current political debate

Education as an investment for long-term economic growth

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© 2004 DRDenmark survives on its brains

Knowledge society successes in the last few decades:

• 50% of world market for synthetic insulin• 35% of world market for replaceable energy

(windmills)• One or two major successes in digital

content (IO Interactive)• Start-ups such as GIGA, Maconomy and

Radiometer sold to INTEL, Microsoft for between 3-5 billion HKD each

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© 2004 DRDenmark survives on its brains

Knowledge society problems in recent years:

• Sales of IT and biotech start-ups ultimately lead risk of R&D going offshore to where the owners live

• Low underlying proportion of population skilled and willing enough to set up their own companies with high R&D profile

• Paying more than lip-service to life-long learning and offering relevant opportunities for upgrading human resources in the labour market to nurture innovation and growth (MMD, thruput, too few PhDs)

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© 2004 DRDenmark survives on its brains

Knowledge society problems in recent years:

• Government increasing spending on higher education and at the same time making cuts

• Ill-defined expectations about investment in education and economic growth

• Exhortations to become a major player in niche areas of digital entertainment - does it sound familiar?

The response

Visions and Realities

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Minister of Science, Chairman of Managing Technology & Innovation the Board Director

September 26 2003: ITU received the University Start-up Award

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© 2004 DRStatistics about innovators at ITU

• 11.5% of students go into business while still studying at ITU

• An additional 27% are planning this on graduation

• Potential of 38.5% of which just over half is currently realised

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© 2004 DRStrengths and weaknesses at ITU

• Realignment of research to focus on fewer strategic areas in larger teams now working

• Good links with industry (could be even better in some fields; also teaching)

• Management and growth• Weaknesses in teaching & learning

provisions for mature students (culture, taught courses, performance criteria)

• Weaknesses as regards links with other universities (need to work closer with business schools?)

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© 2004 DR• Can no longer deliver on 6-8% productivity growth per annum just by working harder• Moving DR to a new greenfield site•”DR Byen” - the DR Media Village• WE move as one of the last in 2006

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© 2004 DRDR City /BR Byen

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© 2004 DR

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Burning our bridges Burning our bridges to ensure improved to ensure improved flexibility and the flexibility and the ability to cope with ability to cope with change in 21st change in 21st CenturyCentury

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© 2004 DRTango Dancers or a Ménage a Trois?

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• Discussion