Blogs

Community of Practice

Published: 05/15/2023  Author(s):  Dr. Jennifer Atchison & Joselyn Morales E.

Communities of Practice (CoPs) refer to groups of people who share a common interest or passion and come together to learn, collaborate, and exchange ideas. CoPs are valuable for individuals and organizations alike, as they foster knowledge-sharing and innovation, build social connections, and enhance individual and collective capabilities. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of Communities of Practice in more detail and discuss some of the key benefits of participating in or creating a CoP.

What are Communities of Practice? 

Communities of Practice are groups of individuals who share a common interest, profession, or domain. They come together to learn from each other and develop their knowledge, skills, and expertise (Figure 1). CoPs are characterized by their shared goals, mutual engagement, and a shared repertoire of tools, techniques, and language that enable members to communicate and collaborate effectively. CoPs can take many forms, from informal groups of friends or colleagues who meet regularly to more structured and formalized communities supported by organizations or online platforms.

Figure 1 Diagram the essential features of a Community of Practice.  

One of the key features of CoPs is their ability to foster learning and knowledge-sharing. Members of a CoP are able to learn from each other’s experiences, share best practices, and co-create knowledge that can be applied in their shared domain. It is this co-creation aspect of CoPs that sets them aside from ‘faculty learning circles’, ‘knowledge networks’, or other similarly-named communities.  CoPs are also valuable for building social connections and relationships, which can lead to increased collaboration and innovation.

Benefits of Communities of Practice 

Participating in or creating a CoP can offer a range of benefits for individuals and organizations alike. Some of the key benefits of CoPs include:

Creating and Sustaining a Community of Practice 

Creating and sustaining a CoP requires careful planning and management. Some key considerations for creating and sustaining a CoP include:

Defining the purpose and goals of the CoP: It is important to clearly define the purpose and goals of the CoP and to ensure that they are aligned with the interests and needs of the members.

Establishing a governance structure: CoPs require some form of governance structure to ensure that they are well-managed and sustainable. This may include the establishment of leadership roles, decision-making processes, and guidelines for participation.

Developing a communication and collaboration plan: Effective communication and collaboration are critical to the success of a CoP. It is important to develop a plan for how members will communicate and collaborate and to ensure that there are opportunities for both online and in-person interaction.

Creating opportunities for learning and knowledge-sharing: CoPs should provide opportunities for members to learn from each other and to share their knowledge and expertise. This may include the development of training programs, workshops, and other learning opportunities.

The goal for Project Unlock CoP

Our goals is to build a community of Strategic Doing practitioners dedicated to transforming their Advisory Boards into Partnership Boards that engage more deeply with undergraduates to provide opportunities to build Curiosity, create connections, and ultimately create value.  This CoP will learn together and continuously improve the manner in which institutions and their partnership boards interact.


​​References  

​​Adrianna Kezar, S. G. (2015). Communities of transformation and their work scaling STEM reform. Pullias Center for Higher Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California.  

​Adrianna Kezar, S. G.-S. (2018). Communities of Transformation: Creating Changes to Deeply Entrenched Issues, Vol. 89. THE JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION, 832-864.  

​Heather Buckley, Y. S. (2019). When I say... community of practice. Medical Education, Vol. 53, 736-765.  

​Wenger, E. C., & William M. Snyder. (2000). Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier. Harvard Business Review.  


Entrepreneurial Mindset

Published: 05/30/2023  Author(s): Dr. Jennifer Atchison & Joselyn Morales E.

The entrepreneurial mindset (EM) is a skill that aids in problem-solving and innovation. Fostering entrepreneurial thinking among students requires cooperation between educational institutions and industries. By reinforcing students' knowledge and capabilities, future generations of engineers can be better prepared for industry challenges.

An entrepreneurial mindset (EM) is an ability that facilitates problem-solving and design. Specifically, cultivating a habitus of developing a discipline of curiosity, looking for connections, and creating value for your company, society, and the world. To thrive in an entrepreneurial mindset is necessary to question, adapt, and be willing to change by:                 

Figure 1 Entrepreneurial mindset aspects

Keen outlines curiosity, connections, and value creation as the fundamental pillars of an entrepreneurial mindset. In our rapidly interconnected world, current knowledge became rapidly obsolete because of fast technological development. So, engineers require a constant search for new technologies and innovative approaches, which is fueled by curiosity. Simultaneously, establishing meaningful connections enables access to information that fosters valuable insights, blending seamlessly with existing knowledge to generate novel solutions. Ultimately, this dynamic interaction generates immense value, forming the very essence of entrepreneurship. 

Acquiring these skills is crucial for maximizing the power of EM. However, they are not sufficient to unlock the potential perspective required to address present-day social issues. To truly innovate and revolutionize the innovation process, it is essential to foster a mindset that embraces the creation of opportunities and meaningful impact (Figure 2). Doing so can pave the way for transformative change and reshape how innovation is approached and executed.

Figure 2 Entrepreneurial mindset approaches

The skill of identifying opportunities of potential market possibilities and shaping effective business strategies. A successful value creation plan necessitates a thorough evaluation of factors such as technical feasibility, social impact, customer satisfaction, and investment considerations. Entrepreneurs must also stay informed about the policy and regulatory landscape that governs industry standards to navigate potential challenges.

Design is integral to entrepreneurship, enabling idea diversification, thorough requirement analysis, and the pursuit of optimal solutions. The incubation and design phase focuses on technical aspects, effectively developing innovative technologies. This meticulous process results in tangible prototypes that undergo rigorous testing, paving the way for transformative advancements.

Impact skills are essential for EM to assess their endeavors' profound societal, economic, and market implications. Entrepreneurs can drive meaningful change through innovation by fostering alliances and leveraging expertise. Additionally, entrepreneurs have a responsibility to protect their intellectual property rights, ensuring that their ideas are safeguarded, and their contributions acknowledged.

Developing entrepreneurial thinking in students relies on collaboration between educational institutions and industries. By reinforcing students' knowledge and capabilities, future generations of engineers can be better prepared for industry challenges. To achieve this, engineering organizations and educational institutions must work together, prioritizing student engagement to enhance entrepreneurial mindsets (EM). Here are some strategies for thriving students’ problem-solving skills:

Project-Based Learning

Students can put into practice the course’s concepts. As well as that associates establish the format and standards for the project. These opportunities are mutual benefits for high institutions, industry, and students in knowledge acquisition. 

Conference-Seminars

The partnership between industry and universities can lead to conference opportunities, where help students can discover new approaches to real case scenarios, and change concepts and applications.

Communication - Constant feedback

Entrepreneurship requires constant learning, adaptation, and up-to-date knowledge of market conditions, consumer demands, and business trends. You can learn from others’ experiences, get feedback, gather knowledge, and adjust your methods as necessary with the help of effective communication.

Internship/Co-op

Offering a platform to gain hands-on experience in a specific industry area allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, enhancing their understanding and skills. Likewise, it will refine various skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and adaptability.

Collaboration between educational institutions and industry cultivates entrepreneurial thinking in students, preparing them for industry challenges through project-based learning, internships, and effective communication. These strategies foster continuous learning, adaptation, and market awareness, nurturing a new generation of well-prepared engineers.

References

Amy Gillett, K. B. (2022, 02 25). How to Inspire Entrepreneurial Thinking in Your Students. Retrieved from Harvard Business School Publishing Education: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/how-to-inspire-entrepreneurial-thinking-in-your-students

L. B. Bosman, M. P. (2022). Integrating the Entrepreneurial Mindset Into the Engineering Classroom. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION, VOL. 65,.

Lindberg, E., Bohman, H., & Hultén. , P. (2017). Methods to enhance students’ entrepreneurial mindset: a Swedish example. European Journal of Training and Development, Vol. 41, 450-466.

Unleashed, E. (n.d.). ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET. Retrieved from Why the engineer of today needs it: https://engineeringunleashed.com/mindset