Focal Point is a new initiative of the Graduate College to catalyze the formation of intellectual communities made up of faculty members and graduate students to advance knowledge in areas of critical national and human need. Up to $15,000 of funds may be awarded to selected Focal Point projects. The deadline for proposals is June 1. URL: http://www.grad.illinois.edu/general/focal_point.htm
Is there a potential focal point for joint graduate student and faculty research and other programming across campus in entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability, perhaps intersecting with entrepreneurship as a form of empowerment in developing nations? A proposal planning meeting was held May 13th, 2009.
What might entrepreneurship for environmental sustainability look like?
- Community forest management
- Ecotourism, with the active involvement of locals
- Alternative livelihoods for people whose survival currently harms the environment
- Preserving heritage breeds of animals by creating markets
- And many other options, which we cannot necessarily now imagine
Faculty and graduate students from many units at Illinois are already conducting research and developing technologies and policies related to this theme. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a key requirement of the Focal Point initiative.
Draft Agenda:
- Opportunity
- Definition of focal point
- Identification of participants and organizers
- Outline of proposal and identification of writers
Because the deadline is June 1st, the initial meeting needed to occur quickly. If you were not able to attend, but would be interested in participating if this initiative is approved, please email the Academy at academy@business.illinois.edu. The role of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership is to convene the initial meeting – one outcome of the planning meeting will be to identify organizers. If the group should choose to create a graduate course, the Academy will be happy to consider the proposal for funding through its Faculty Fellows initiative.
Expected outcomes (from: http://www.grad.illinois.edu/general/focal_point.htm)
While Focal Point is being established to enhance and sustain interdisciplinary dialog across campus, the Graduate College is keenly interested in the incorporation of resulting new ideas and perspectives in our graduate programs. Toward that end, at least one of the following outcomes is required of a Focal Point activity.
- Development of new graduate course(s) or program(s) related to the Focal Point topics
- Graduate education innovations, i.e., new knowledge leading to significant improvements in current pedagogy
In addition, one or more of the following is highly desirable from Focal Point activities.
- Scholarly publications in conference or journals, or “opinion” pieces in magazines/newspapers
- Submission of grant proposals for extramural funding
- Campus-wide dissemination of new knowledge via Graduate College symposia, workshops, exhibits (real or virtual), performances, musical recordings, or other campus events (see Item #7 in budget section)
Focal Point maybe used to seed activities targeted for development as grant proposals with strong graduate education components (e.g., NIH training grants, HHMI, Dept of Education FIPSE grants, NEH, SSRC, NSF programs like IGERT, GK-12, AGEP, etc.). It may also be used as a vehicle to design graduate education elements complementing campus research initiatives (e.g., energy, sustainability, climate change, etc.).
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Cynthia A. Kehoe, PhD
Director, Information & Research Services University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership 2001 South First Street, Suite 107, MC-683
Champaign, IL 61820
Channeling inventiveness, creativity and innovation to add value to our communities
Ph: 217-244-9332; Fax: 217-265-7626 http://www.ael.uiuc.edu/
Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership
College of Business
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2001 South First Street,Suite 107
MC 683
Email: academy@business.illinois.edu
Phone: 217-244-9425
Fax: 217-265-7626
URL: www.ael.uiuc.edu