Presentation for the 31st Annual Conference of the NUTN Network

1. Christine Geith, Ph.D.
Assistant Provost & Executive Director of MSUglobal
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan USA
NUTN Network 31st Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 17, 2013
Student Translational Scholars

2. About MSU
• U.S. Land-Grant University
• Research 1
• Top 100 World Ranking
• Research - $477 million in 2012–13
• 49,000 students (10,000 graduate)
• 5,000 faculty/academic staff
• 17 colleges

3. • Launched in 2000
• MSUglobal is an academic unit in the Office of the Provost
reporting to the Graduate School
We co-create with academic units to:
• increase off-campus revenue through business models
and products that use technology and innovative
learning concepts
• enhance their research agenda through use of
knowledge networks and other tools
• establish their reputation as the “go-to” place in their
field
About MSUglobal.msu.edu

4. Michigan
State
University
of
Nebraska
Iowa State
University
of
Minnesota
My Horse University

5. Alumni Association Knowledge Network

6. Food Safety Knowledge Network

7. Detroit Food Plus & Innoversity

8. Open Resources
Programs
Research
Product Suite Model
KnowledgeCollections

9. Scholarship
Learning &
Teaching
Impact on
Challenges
Translational Scholar Model
Student
Action
Research and
Knowledge
Outputs

10. Open Resources
Programs
Research
Integrating the two models
KnowledgeCollections
Scholarship
Learning &
Teaching
Impact on
Challenges
Student Action
Research and
Knowledge Outputs

11. Translational Scholars
10 September 2013 11
• change agents
• conduct research
• create open knowledge
A New Role for Students in Research at MSU

12. Open Knowledge
10 September 2013 12
• facilitate OER adoption
• create open data and open research
• create OER
Integrating Open Educational Resources (OER)
into Research

13. Knowledge Products
10 September 2013 13
• publishable research (thesis or contribution to
a paper)
• teaching case or example, including open
data, in print or video designed for use in a
specific curriculum
• training or information materials for the
community or setting in which they are doing
their research
Outputs of Research Project/Internship

14. • Offer support to students throughout process
– Training for creation and dissemination of OER
– Curation tools and processes
– Speakers series
– Technology support at MSU
• Competency development
• Knowledge platform
MSUglobal Support

15. • The AgShare project, funded
by the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation is working to
scale up the AgShare Method
of Translational Scholars by
embedding the model in
their participatory action
research teams.
September 17, 2013 15
OERafrica.org/AgShare
The AgShare Method

16. • AgShare Phase I was piloted during 2010-2012 at
four African universities in three countries:
• Makerere University, Uganda
• Haramaya University, Ethiopia
• Moi University, Kenya
• United States International University, Kenya
• AgShare Phase II is embedding the AgShare
Translational Scholar method into RUFORUM shared
degree programs and research teams.
September 17, 2013 16
The AgShare Method

17. • Students’ capacity to conduct
meaningful, high quality
independent research in the
research component of the
master’s degree
• More relevant and effective
student learning in the
coursework component of the
master’s degree
September 17, 2013 17
The AgShare Method Impact

18. • The way in which academic
university staff now conceptualize
their role as teachers and
researchers
• Farmers’ practices that lead to
improved quality and
productivity, and that position
them to begin moving away from
subsistence farming
September 17, 2013 18
The AgShare Method Impact

19. Global Center for Food Systems Innovation

24. Translational Scholar Competencies
• Knowledge
• Communication
• Entrepreneurial Skills
• Communication & Relationship Management
• Leadership
• Career & Professional Development
• Open Educational Resources
• Research Development & Integrity

25. • Background in domains
• Knowledge of the local contexts and conditions
• Ability to identify best practices and unmet needs
• Basic research skills i.e. to define an issue, build hypothesis, state
questions, implement a study, analyze data, and interpret findings
• Ability and skills to work in cross-disciplinary, multicultural and
multigenerational teams.
• Access to Internet and technology literacy including capability to use
cell phones to collect data
• Comfortable working in rural communities abroad
• Well versed in participatory research methods to ensure ownership of
solutions by local communities and sustainability of solutions
• To find mentors and others who may help connect with partners
• Interpersonal skills to communicate with other researchers, faculty
members, students, farmers, communities and policymakers.
Knowledge

26. • Basic audio/video/ graphic visualization/ writing, and editing skills
• Utilize technology and media to network, connect, and spread the work
of the GCFSI
• Identify and create materials for a specific target audience
• Awareness of cultural differences impacting effective communication
• Use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher or similar software products
• Good verbal and written communication skills across all levels
• Journalistic skills such as the ability to tell a good story
• Ability to curate content
• Good interview skills
• Ability to use social media, such as Facebook, twitter, and other forums
to connect with the larger community
• Ability to simplify the faculty language and develop straightforward
message
Communication

27. • Identifies and takes action to address problems
and opportunities
• Demonstrates resilience when faced with
challenges and obstacles
• Generates commitment and enthusiasm from
others to set and achieve challenging objectives
• Demonstrates the ability to complete even
unfamiliar tasks by adapting and utilizing
previously gained knowledge
Entrepreneurial Skills

28. • Provides necessary information and resources for TSC to accomplish their goals
• Actively listens and asks questions to confirm understanding and avoid
miscommunication
• Provides psychological support as needed
• Notices and shows appreciation when expected results and behaviors are
realized
• Shows enthusiasm for mission, goals, and objectives
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Adapts message, style, tone to accommodate a variety of audiences
• Encourages an open exchange of ideas and different points of view
• Openly addresses conflicts as they arise to ensure other team members are
able to meet commitments successfully and maintain strong relationships
• Takes a problem-solving approach to conflict and generates multiple practical
solutions to problems, focuses on the needs of all parties and generally
reaches agreements with win-win outcomes
Communication & Relationship Management

29. • Directing group activities towards accomplishment of stated mission/goals
• Mentoring others by providing guidance on a variety of issues,
• situations, and work processes
• Empowering others by being open to ideas and suggestions from all team members and
supportive of their efforts
• Effective project management by focusing attention on the critical few priorities;
executing against project timelines based on priorities, resource availability, and other
project requirements
• Leading by example by walking the talk and exemplifying the TSC core values
• Embraces ambiguity by modeling flexibility, adaptability, and patience because not
everything goes as planned and the course of action is not always clear
• Develops effective and viable solutions to problems
• Generates support for change initiatives and consistently gains active involvement of
relevant stakeholders
• Fosters an environment of continuous improvement by exploring opportunities for
enhancing, revising or modifying existing standards and processes
• Establishes metrics for measuring and tracking outcomes
• Humility – when something goes wrong and there is blame to be placed, the leader
must be the first to accept it; when accolades are appropriate, they should be spread
among the team
Leadership Skills

30. • Routinely provides meaningful performance
feedback to TSCs
• Actively coaches individuals and teams to
strengthen performance
• Openly shares knowledge with peers
• Engages in learning opportunities to further
develop skills and abilities and encourages
others to do the same
Career & Professional Development

31. September 17, 2013 31
Examples
• AgShare
• Global Center for
Food Systems
Innovation
• Human Resources
• One-Health

32. September 17, 2013 32
Thank You!
Christine Geith, Ph.D.
Assistant Provost & Executive Director, MSUglobal
Email: geith@msu.edu
MSUglobal.msu.edu
@christinegeith