MMU's effort for research impact - a multidisciplinary research program called Digital Futures Research Hub

1. Digital Futures Research Hub:
A Multidisciplinary Research
Program for Impactful Research
Prof. Dr. H.A. Abdul-Rashid et. al.
Vice President (Research & Innovation), Multimedia University
4th MENA-HELF Higher Education Leadership Forum, Dubai
25th – 27th, February 2020

2. Contents
• Background
• What triggered
• What was done
• Outcomes
• Lessons learnt
2

3. Malaysia’s
First Private
University
Pioneers of the new frontier
of the K-economy… 3

4. Our Vision
Transforming society through innovation
• Niche ICT
• Industry TRENDSETTER
4

5. MELAKA | 1996
CYBERJAYA | 1999
JOHOR | 2014
13,000 students
Engineering
Computing & Informatics Management
Creative Multimedia
Applied Communication
Engineering & Technology
Info. Science & Tech.
Business
Law
Applied Communication
Cinematic Arts
10 Faculties 5

7. What triggered it?
7
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
SCOPUS Publications

8. What triggered it?
8

9. What is ImpactFUL RESEARCH?
Underpinning
research (ideally
formally
monitored and/or
evaluated)
Engagement with
stakeholders
beyond
academics
Strong
demonstrable
effect on
understanding,
behaviours, beliefs
and systems
Impactful
Research!
Impact = The ability to generate an outcome through an activity
Source: Brunel University London

10. Theory of Change (TOC)
Identify a long-
term goal to
solve a social
problem
Work backwards
to identify key
challenges in
achieve the goal
Identify the
actions needed
to address the
challenges
Develop
indicators to
mark progress
towards goal
Input  Activity  Output  Outcome  Impact

11. What was done?
11

12. MMU RESEARCH HUB FOR DIGITAL FUTURES
The MMU Research Hub for Digital Futures is a multi-
disciplinary platform for research on the digitalization
of our society. The goal is to foster innovative, cutting-
edge multi-disciplinary research, and to provide
outstanding training for talented young scholars and
students through 8 research institutes
The hub is a community and industry centric entity,
with 20 professor chairs that brings together
universities, governmental and industrial research
organizations, as well as state and federal governments.

13. MODEL
Key Research
Labs
Research
Specialists
Centre of
Excellence
Research
Clinic
FACILITIES TALENTS PLATFORM CONSULTANCY & MENTORING
Faculties
Commercial Arm
Teaching & Supervision
Leadership Advice
Programme Development
Consultancies
Trainings
IP Commercialization
Inventions (IP)
Recognition (Branding)
Publications
External Funded Projects
Endowments
SpinoffServices Outcomes
Academic “Celebrity”
Commercial Revenue

14. Structure VICE PRESIDENT
(Research & Innovation)
RMC
(Director)
CIC
(Director)
EDC
(Director)
D-Lifestyle
(Director)
D-Futures
RESEARCH HUB
D-Expression
(Director)
D-Connectivity
(Director)
D-Education
(Director)
D-Enterprise
(Director)
D-City
(Director)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MMU R&D Sdn. Bhd.
(CEO)

15. Digital Futures Research Hub
VICE PRESIDENT
(Research & Innovation)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
D-City
(P.Koo)
D-Futures
(XXX)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
D-Enterprise
(P.Heng)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
D-Education
(P.Mai)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
D-Lifestyle
(P.Sara)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
D-Expression
(P.Ho)
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
D-Connectivity
(P.Yus)

16. What was done?
• Senior academics seconded from Faculty to Research Institutes
• Reports to the Director, Research Institutes
• Research programs were initiated according to the Research Institutes
focus areas
• 45 different research programs led by senior academics
16

17. DIGITAL FUTURES RESEARCH HUB
8 RESEARCH INSTITUTES (multidisciplinary)
RC RC RC RC RC
RMC
Research
management
CIC
Collaboration
IP management
TTO
EDC
Entrepreneurship
development
MMU PRESS
Publication
R&I Value Chain
Proposal -> Project Management -> Output Management -> IP Management -> Commercialization/ Entrepreneurship -> Impact
FACULTIESUNIVERSITY
STRATEGY->POLICY->GUIDELINE->TACTICAL
MMU RESEARCH & INNOVATION FRAMEWROK

18. 18
RMC
Research
management
CIC
Collaboration
IP management
TTO
EDC
Entrepreneurship
development
MMU PRESS
Publication
R&I Value Chain
Proposal -> Project Management -> Output Management -> IP Management -> Commercialization/ Entrepreneurship -> Impact
Proposal
Submission
Project
Management
Innovation
Management
IP
External engagement
Transfer of Technology
Exchange programs
Publication Disclosure
Monitoring
Tracking
Financial progress
Physical progress
Reporting
Incentives
Intervention
Training
Screening
Verification
Recommendation
Entrep. Dev &
Commercialization
Publication
Journal
Conference proceeding
E-Book
Technical Reports
E-Magazines
Startup & Spinoff
Biz Planning
Coaching
Embedding
Ent Mindset Dev
Biz Development
RIO - Research Roadmap Management and Impact Management

19. Project
#3
Project
#2
Project
#1
•Journal
•Conference
•Book/ Chapter
•Magazine Articles
Publications
•Patents
•Copyright
•Industrial Design
IPR
•Knowledge Transfer
•Community
Engagement
•Sharing session
KTP
•Advisory
•Design
Consultancy
•Short courses
•Online training
•Spin-off
•IP Licensing
Commercialization
PROGRAM #1
collaborate
Other
universities
funding
Stakeholders
(gov, industry, society)
talentUG & PG
students
Professors/ Assoc.
Professors
Senior Lecturers/
Lecturers
IMPACT!

20. 11.2
9.5
14
OUTCOMES
GRANT RANKING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
2017 2018 2019 2018 2019 2020
Grant approved increased in 2019 Ranked at world level and improved in Asia ranking Growing commercialized startups/spinoffs
2017 2018 2019
1000++
800++
(RM Million)
800++
175 170179
*1st time ranked
*1st time ranked
--
-
71%
44% 43%
67%
100%
24%
TIMES HIGHER EDCUCATON WORLD
UNIVERSITY
QS WORLD UNIVERSITY
QS ASIA UNIVERSITY
START UPs SUCESSFULLY COMMERCIALIZED
SPIN OFFs SUCCESSFULLY COMMERCIALIZED
10of14startups
4of9startups
5of12startups
2of3spinoffs
3of3spinoffs
4of17spinoffs
2017 2018 2019
20

21. Research Program
Health and Well being of the ‘Third Age’
Research Projects
1. Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Through
Intergenerational Crowdfunding – Global Challenges
Research Fund
2. Study on Scope, Content and Approach for the
establishment of ‘Senior Citizens Act’ – Ministry of
Women and Community Development

22. Research Program
Integrated Geohazard Management
Research Projects
1. Radar signal processing and
simulation
2. VNA-band L/C band Scatterometer
3. UAV SAR Deployment
4. Landslide prediction with Machine
Learning
Commercialized
Ground Based SAR
Landslide High Risk Area

23. Challenges & Lessons Learnt
• VP Research authority over faculty
• Senior academics reporting to the VP Research
• Restructuring – led to organizational confusion
• Rome was not built in a day ….
• Changing culture is difficult
• Multidisciplinary research – not for the sake of it
• Research impact
• Start with the end in mind
23

24. 24
THANK YOU!
We look forward to collaborate with you
hairul@mmu.edu.my

25. Appendices
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