Discussed in the article is the concept of «technopark» ideology in regional development. The article describes how this ideology is implemented in consumer co-operatives institutions of higher education, dwells on their innovative strategies, best practices and challenges they face. «Technopark» innovative concept is a system of social development ideas which rests on «the economy of competence» values. In Novosibirsk region (Russian Federation) this concept has been adopted as s landmark for its strategic development. This strategy is ensured by great scientific potential of regional universities and Academgorodok – a recognized and worldwide known scientific center. Its rich traditions should now be re-invented taking into account best international practices. The article describes best educational and project work practices of Siberian University ?f Consumers´ Co-operatives and its experience in creating innovative infrastructure. Outlined in the article are vital problems, which need to be solved to encourage competitiveness and provide dynamic development of consumer cooperatives universities.technopark innovative concept, innovation, innovative activities, business incubator, innovative competence, project, professional school.

Marina V. KHAYRULLINA

English

Research Papers in Economics

         Special Number 1/2011                         Review of International Comparative Management  386 
 
MANAGING INNOVATIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION 
 
 
Marina V. KHAYRULLINA 
Vice-Rector for Science 
Siberian University of Consumers' Co-Operatives, Russia 
 
 
KEYWORDS:  «Technopark»  innovative  concept;  innovation;  innovative 
activities; business incubator; innovative competence; project; professional school 
 
Renovation of higher education and academic science in Russia calls for 
consolidated  innovative  activities,  adoption  of  new  academic  and  managerial 
techniques  and  reinforces  the  need  for  new  set  of  competencies  developed  in 
educational institutions. These problems being solved, a university obtains a steady 
position  in  educational  market  and  its  graduates,  consequently,  get  competitive 
advantage in the labor market. 
In Novosibirsk region  higher  educational  institutions (universities)  work 
out  their  development  strategies  within  the  framework  of  “The  Conception  of 
Innovative Development of Economic and Social Sphere in Novosibirsk Region” 
and “technopark ideology”.  
Innovative  “technopark  ideology”  is  a  set  of  social  development  ideas 
based on competence economy. It suggests: 
  Consolidation of innovative mentality which is oriented at knowledge 
accession,  effective  implementation  of  scientific  potential  and  creativity  and 
emphasizes knowledge accession per se as a core value. 
  Adoption  of  innovative  standards  and  mentality  by  producers  and 
consumers. 
ABSTRACT 
Discussed in the article is the concept of «technopark» ideology in regional 
development. The article describes how this ideology is implemented in consumer co-
operatives institutions of higher education, dwells on their innovative strategies, best 
practices and challenges they face. «Technopark» innovative concept is a system of 
social  development  ideas  which  rests  on  «the  economy  of  competence»  values.  In 
Novosibirsk region (Russian Federation) this concept has been adopted as s landmark 
for its strategic development. This strategy is ensured by great scientific potential of 
regional  universities  and  Academgorodok  –  a  recognized  and  worldwide  known 
scientific center. Its rich traditions should now be re-invented taking into account best 
international practices.  
The article describes best educational and project work practices of Siberian 
University  оf  Consumers´  Co-operatives  and  its  experience  in  creating  innovative 
infrastructure. Outlined in the article are vital problems, which need to be solved to 
encourage  competitiveness  and  provide  dynamic  development  of  consumer 
cooperatives universities. 
. 
 Review of International Comparative Management                              Special Number 1/2011  387 
  New life quality, attractive investment opportunities in the region for 
its present and prospective residents. 
“Technopark ideology” is a sound choice for Novosibirsk region. In the 
National contest of leading scientific schools (2008) the region ranked third (9%) 
following only Moscow (53.7%) and St. Petersburg (10.6%). In Siberian Federal 
District, Novosibirsk region accounts for 54% of granted patents.  
To  effectively  accomplish  its  strategic  tasks  the  Region  is  creating 
innovative infrastructure which involves higher educational institutions. Its main 
features are as follows: 
  Organizational  aspect:  “technoparks”,  innovative  centers,  industrial 
base, “business incubators”, technologies transfer centers; 
  Financial  aspect:  banks,  venture  funds,  direct  investment  funds, 
technological development funds, etc; 
  Informational aspect: libraries, databases, networks and archives; 
  Legal aspect: laws and legislative regulations. 
Other  contributions  are:  consolidated  recourses  of  academic  institutions 
(affiliated with the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science), Vector – a 
research-production  association,  numerous  applied  research  centers  as  well  as 
strong  research  divisions  in  universities  and  R&D  departments  of  enterprises 
located in the region.  
To reinvent staff training, a system of permanent scientific and technical 
education has been established and expanded to include primary, secondary and 
higher education. 
An important role in staff training and developing “technopark ideology” 
belongs  to  innovative  businesses  located  in  Novosibirsk.  About  100  leading 
innovative  firms  are  affiliated  with  business  associations,  notably 
SibAcademInnovatsiya  and  SibAcademSoft  (a  non-profit  partnership).  In  2009 
their total product output was estimated at $270 million, the number of employed 
amounted to 3 thousand qualified workers, including those awarded an academic 
degree. 
These  innovative  firms  are  residents  of  Novosibirsk  technopark.  The 
annual  proceeds  exceed  $360  million,  with  37%  accounting  for  IT,  19%  for 
instrument engineering, and 15% for bioengineering. Science intensive industries 
in  the  region  show  higher  rate  of  development  than  other  sectors.  This  is 
encouraged by the support of various financial funds, e.g: 
  Novosibirsk Regional Fund for Science and Innovations; 
  Regional  Venture  Fund  for  Investment  in  Small  Science  Intensive 
Business in Novosibirsk Region; 
  Science and Innovative Development Fund of Novosibirsk Region; 
  Development Fund for Small Business; 
  Support Fund for Youth Initiatives; 
  Investment development agencies for Novosibirsk region; 
  Novosibirsk Regional Mortgage Lending Agency. 
An important element of regional innovative infrastructure is technologies 
transfer. In Novosibirsk region it is accomplished by numerous agencies. One of          Special Number 1/2011                         Review of International Comparative Management  388 
them is Koltsovo Innovative Center – a branch of Russian Technologies Transfer 
Net (RTTN). Its mission is to promote innovative engineering projects designed in 
Novosibirsk universities. Other contributors to list here are: academic, corporate 
and  applied-research  agencies;  small  and  middle  innovative  companies, 
engineering and consulting firms. 
As a result of their joint efforts, innovative business in Novosibirsk now 
obtains  consolidated  managerial  teams  which  can  efficiently  perform  in  market 
economy and are ready to recognize and satisfy specific market needs, conduct 
operational development and bring research projects to commercial use. 
But  this  is  insufficient  to  effectively  fulfill  strategic  tasks.  Most  of  the 
young still show low creativity, poor project proficiency and lack of strategic and 
marketing vision. 
To remove these shortcomings some universities have recently introduced 
new  methods  to  reinvent  their  current  educational  practices,  e.g.  Creativity 
Development  Centers,  Youth  Creative  Workshops,  Development  Centers  for 
Innovative Competences, “business incubators” and technological sites. The aim of 
this change is training innovative staff and promoting startups. 
As  a  contribution  to  innovative  infrastructure  and  personnel  training, 
Siberian  University  of  Consumer  Cooperatives  (SUCC)  has  established  an 
Innovative Competences Center. Its mission is to promote innovative standards in 
university  culture,  encourage innovative activity  of students, post-graduates and 
lectures,  master  science-intensive  business  methods  in  production  and  service 
industries, find young people capable to generate ideas and perform innovatively. 
The center has three main tasks: education, marketing and innovation.  
Every  year  a  number  of  events  is  held  in  SUCC  for  students  and  post-
graduates to experience main stages of innovative activity. They include the following: 
  Innovative projects contest among students and post-graduates (grant 
support provided); 
  Managing Innovations – a training program; 
  IDEA NEXT – an international educational exhibition (grant support 
provided); 
  Siberian Venture Fair – an international exhibition; 
  SELIGER – a national students forum; 
  INTERRA – an international innovative forum; 
  SIBPOLYTECH – an international industrial exhibition (grant support 
provided). 
The chief aspect is innovative project work. Innovative projects in SUCC 
fall  into  three  main  groups:  engineering,  consulting  and  PR,  IT-projects. 
Engineering  projects.  Engineering  departments  of  the  University  provide 
opportunities for young lectures, post-graduates and students to carry out project 
work in engineering. For example: 
  “Nanotechnologies  in  growing  and  storing  potatoes”.  At 
SIBPOLYTECH  –  2008  the  project  had  a  third  award  nomination  for  “Actual 
Innovative Idea”; Review of International Comparative Management                              Special Number 1/2011  389 
  Grain crops cultivation method based on seed quality improvement and 
soil restoration; 
  Innovative  method  of  improving foodstuffs for school catering. The 
project was nominated for “Actual Innovative Idea” and won a University grant. 
A few examples of consulting and PR projects: 
  “Students advertising and PR agency”; 
  “Consulting  and  auditing  agency  for  innovations  promotion”.  This 
project proved its consistency. The designers got an order to develop economic and 
financial aspects of an innovative enterprise to raise investment from the Venture 
Fund  and  Technopark  (Kazan,  ETpeyd).  This  project  team  ranked  first  in  the 
National Organization Economics Contest held in the South Federal University. 
The  SUCC  Innovative  Competences  Center  is  a  site  for  “Personnel 
Training  and  Retraining  Program  for  Service  Industries  and  Innovation 
Promotion”. This is a complex module task-oriented program which suggests basic 
and  advanced  programs  of  personnel  training  and  retraining.  It  is  specially 
designed  for  promoting  innovation.  The  program  is  based  on  Microsoft    IT-
Program, team building principles; it attracts the expertise of specialists working in 
science intensive industries, IT-business and regional innovative agencies.  
A few examples of IT projects: 
  Compiling university schedule based on electronic data acquisition; 
  Logon system for MSDN AA users; 
  Auto generating statements system for the university library. 
As a contribution to career guidance for secondary school students, SUCC 
has set up a training school where students can learn the basics of business and 
service. The  overriding  goal  of the project  is to create comfort and stimulating 
learning  environment  for  secondary  school  students  and  thereby  encourage 
reinvention and change in basic professional education and career guidance. 
A few events held by SUCC and partner secondary schools: 
  Classes  within  educational  programs  looking  into  theoretical  and 
practical issues of business and service industry in Russia; 
  A conference for higher and secondary school students; 
  A line of contests consolidated under the heading “Young people and 
Business”; 
  “No-boundaries Ideas” – a line of business games; 
  “Creating your brand” – a line of contests and workshops. 
The  training  school  also  provides  some  complex  educational  programs 
(perceptively – in correspondence computer-aid format): 
  A course for a young innovative entrepreneur: from A to Z; 
  IT in present-day business; 
  Marketing basics; 
  Landscape design; 
  Advertising and public opinion management; 
  Office management and business etiquette.          Special Number 1/2011                         Review of International Comparative Management  390 
These  practices  are  expected  to  encourage  students’  and  lecturers’ 
creativity and develop their innovative competences. They will also contribute to 
the reinvention of business education with emphasis on IT-based innovations. 
The  advantages  encouraging  successful  implementation  of  innovative 
educational programs in SUCC are as follows: 
  Developed  infrastructure,  e.g.  university  resources  centers  such  as 
Innovative Competences Center along with multiple access (shared) resources centers; 
  Rich  experience  and  developed  methods  of  students  selection  and 
support; 
  Developed practices and expertise in post-secondary technical training. 
On  the  other  hand,  innovative  process  in  SUCC  is  impeded  by  the 
following bottlenecks: 
  Low creativity of students and post-graduates; 
  Low motivation and competence shown by a part of the teaching staff; 
  Lack of innovative vision: both students and lectures fail to recognize 
an innovative idea, justify its advantages and convey it to investors; 
  Invalidity of most projects in the eye of investors; 
  Failure to integrate academic practices and innovative research work; 
  Project work failure to meet time limits as a result of poor integration 
and academic planning; 
  Lack of financial and material resources; 
  Other. 
The problem of financial and material resources is at the bottom of the list. 
In fact, reasonable resources are available to finance innovative projects (except 
major “global” ones). What we really lack is challenging  innovative  ideas with 
good commercial perspective. There is also a lack of innovative teams to put the 
idea into practice. 
SUCC’s experience is an evidence for reinvention of higher education in 
Russia.  It  needs  integration  with  academic  science  and  innovative  business. 
Innovative business vision should be cherished from secondary school. 
To  conclude,  Russian  economy  now  needs  human  resources  with 
developed innovative competences and non-trivial vision, capable to give a jump-
start  to  their  organization.  Unfortunately,  such  workers  are  in  little  demand  in 
consumer cooperatives. A very small percentage of SUCC students are supported 
and  then  recruited  by  cooperative  organizations  with  this  number  annually 
decreasing. 
Consumer cooperative universities should develop their academic programs 
and practices within strategic development framework for national education. The 
universities  need  to  integrate  with  employers  and  regional  innovative  agencies, 
build  up  innovative  infrastructure  and  reinvent  their  academic  and  research 
practices.  This  will  provide  competitive  advantage  and  support  growing  points, 
encourage creativity and eventually form a new generation of qualified innovative 
managers. 

Managing Innovations in Higher Education

http://rmci.ase.ro/no12vol1s/Vol-12_No-1S_Article-60.pdf

Managing Innovations in Higher Education

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