Editorial: Special Issue on Interdisciplinary and Experiential Entrepreneurship Education

A group of six colleges and universities (East Carolina University, Iona College, John Carroll University, Millikin University, Rowan University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute) partnered up to co-host the January 2020 USASBE Conference in New Orleans, LA, with the theme Interdisciplinary & Experiential Entrepreneurship Education. The conference thematically aligned its overall program with this special issue, which features scholars and programs representing the arts, design, engineering, liberal arts, physical sciences, STEM, and – yes – business. This editorial further discusses the importance of interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education as an inherent feature of itself to truly evolve as a discipline.

The Stoichiometric Uniqueness of Multiple Chemical Reaction Systems in Chemical Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Catalysis – Contributions of Professor Ilie Fishtik

The main scientific achievements of great significance accomplished by Professor Ilie Fishtik at the University of Iowa and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in several fields of the physical chemistry as chemical thermodynamics, kinetics and heterogeneous catalysis were revealed and briefly analysed. Fundamental equations of chemical thermodynamics within the De Donder (stoichiometric) approach were reformulated in terms of a special class of chemical reactions, called as response reactions. Using this approach, the unusual behaviour of chemical equilibrium systems, to interpret the apparent contradictions to Le Chatelier principle and to discover hitherto unnoticed thermodynamic identities, was rationalised. The stabilities of chemical species were formulated in terms of a certain class of stoichiometrically unique chemical reactions and their thermochemical characteristics. A completely new approach for the generation and simplification of kinetic mechanisms for complex reaction systems was developed and applied. Based on a new type of reaction networks, referred to as reaction route graphs, a systematic method of analysis and reduction of a microkinetic mechanism was established and employed.

Developing a Needs Assessment for an Open Education Initiative

For my SPARC Open Education Leadership Program capstone project, I conducted a needs assessment of the current state of Open Educational Resources (OER) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in order to connect with campus OER stakeholders and identify current attitudes about, areas of opportunity for, and barriers to OER. To start this process, I identified the scope and research questions for my assessment, which focused on campus practices relating to course materials. I collected data using a variety of methods, including interviews with faculty and campus offices, student and faculty surveys on course material acquisition, and analysis of financial aid data. Based on the data I collected, I identified needs and opportunities and compiled a series of evidence-based recommendations for developing WPI’s open education initiative. I also created a community resource that focused on how to plan for a needs assessment for an open education initiative. This project was successful in achieving most of the goals that I established in the planning process. Lessons learned included the importance of the needs assessment process for open education initiatives in the early stages of development, how to adapt messaging and terminology to engage faculty, and how to seek out small, intentional actions to build larger projects.

PRACTICE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF LEAN PRODUCTION PHILOSOPHY IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The article describes the experience of introducing lean production philosophy at Astrakhan State University in terms of a consistent study of the practice of effective implementing 14 principles of Toyota production system in the university. There have been defined main characteristics of the lean production concept. There has been substantiated the expediency of applying the concept of “lean management” in the university - the management system of the organization that contributes to the optimization of all its business processes, enhancing the potential of each employee for maximum orientation to the needs of the consumer. Organizational process of learning modern tools of lean production system at the weekly University seminars through creating the Department of human resources development is being considered, the practice of modeling lean production system tools and their implementation in the structural units of the University is studied. Intercompany training is regarded as a basis of a management system of the University. It has been said that research and innovation activities in Astrakhan State University have taken an important part for the last decade. Special attention is paid to long-term cooperation between the University and its partners from the neighboring countries (Gilyan University, Baku State University, Shanghay University, Dongseo University, Clark University, Bard-College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute etc.) and building the international innovative corridor. There are used methods of analogy, generalization, analysis and synthesis. As a result, a self-learning University - Astrakhan State University - has been created with an extensive communication system, employees engaged in continuous improvement and satisfied customers. There has been presented the algorithm of implementation of lean production tools in the University, which will be useful for other Russian universities.