MENG, Jeh-Lou & WU, Yea-Jiun
58, Sec.2, Sze-Chum Road, Pan-Chiao City, Taipei County, Taiwan, R.O. C.,President and Professor, Oriental Institute of Technology, mjl@mail.oit.edu.tw
5, Chung-Shang S. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., Science & Technology Advisory Office, Ministry of Education, jennie@mail.moe.dov.tw
Abstract: Integration of multi-disciplines for creation of new devices and their further commercialisation has been well concerned in the field of technology. As James Watson, who won a Nobel Prize as co-discoverer of the double-helix DNA molecule, stated, ”Nothing new that is really interesting comes without collaboration,” the purpose of this paper aims to present a successful academic and industry collaboration programme that focuses on the design, development and commercialisation of ‘paralytic lower limb rehabilitation apparatus’, which alleviate patients who suffer from lower limb paralysis caused by cerebral vascular accident or vertebra impairment. In order to introduce the developed device technology into industrial manufacturing, overall related engineering sessions have been oriented. Multi-tech integrated curricula in medical engineering and instructional strategies based on problem-solving techniques were also organised. Thanks to the participation of student teams and eminent engineering faculties from Oriental Institute of Technology, with precise medical advises from Far Eastern Memorial Hospital and inputs from the industrial participant, the device has been finished successfully. In the case of cooperation programme between academic and industry, industry plays a traditional but crucial role on marketing, consulting, and manufacturing. Pupils and college educators co-experienced the problem-solving-based learning practice. In other words, academic teams received medical information from rehabilitation therapists on human lower limb structure and implement suggestions both from medical staff and industrial monitors on reforming the primary model. In this paper, the theories underlying the use of collaboration programme are being reviewed and the practices based on these theories are being conducted.
Keywords: collaboration, triple-helix, project, industry-medical
Project design and manufacturing is an important requirement course for Engineering College students, who are required to complete a final project before graduation. The project, though can be done individually, is often performed in groups and under the supervision of instructors. In the past, thesis projects concentrated mainly on operational skills, often emphasizing the importance of tolerance allowance, precision and adaptation. However, with the advent of automation, labor work has been replaced by automated machinery. Consequentially, students are less required to have operational skills during the internship work. Similar to the industrial evolution wherein individual design replaced imitation skills, theses themes now emphasize on creativity and design.
Project collaboration with outside school entities such as industry or government often results in more advantages, such as better brainstorming opportunities and fund aid, whereas development of in-campus work is restricted in many ways.
Leydesdorff and Etzkowitz (1998) pinpoint that through interaction between different entities, universities could take entrepreneurial tasks such as marketing knowledge and promotion strategy, while firms develop an academic dimension, sharing knowledge among each other and training employees at ever higher levels.
As the Oriental Institute of Technology teams up with Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, many hospital issues are found. School-hospital collaboration has not been considered until now. In a meeting, doctors, nurses, teachers and students sit to discuss current hospital issues and, based on the capabilities of students, decide on the ‘lower limb rehabilitation apparatus’ project.
Collaborative learning provides an effective method on conducting a research. ‘Triple helix’ model, on the other hand, offers an explanation of what industry-education-research relations is build up. For most of occurrence of the innovation lies in a multiple approach to industry-education-research relations, an effective approach that stimulates simultaneous ongoing experiments and exchange ideas and experiences between different entities. This project, therefore, adapted both models to evaluate the effectiveness and availability of collaboration programme between academic institute and industries and to find its strengths and shortcomings so that such study subject may be used for future reference.
Collaborative research between university and industry takes many forms, from a simple research programme at a university, paid for by a company, to complex interdependent projects amongst several universities and a consortium of companies, with all parties expected to make technical contributions. Collaborative projects are currently growing in number and magnitude as industry finds itself unable to keep abreast of new scientific development in an era of rapidly changing technology, and looks to the university for help. However, the science and technology system as a whole may be understood as a complex, multi-dimensional matrix. The process of inter-institutional integration is not linear or without controversies though. Rather it may be depicted as a spiral kind of development influenced by such mediating factors.
The objective of this paper, thus, is to integrate the fuzzy structure of academic research teams, consultant supervisors and manufacturing as well as marketing industries; hence to present a successful example of collaboration programme.
According to Foote’s (1998) point of view, collaborative learning is optimal in a smaller size class with the aim to encourage students work and learn together. Carvin (1998) found that collaborative learning can best be expressed when a task requires problem solving skills as well as inputs from the group. All the members will do their best if the group is rewarded rather than individual’s performances.
Cooperative learning is defined by a set of processes which help people interact together in order to accomplish a specific goal or develop and end product which is usually content specific (Johnson and Johnson, 1998). It is more directive than collaborative system of governance and closely controlled by the teacher. While there are many mechanisms for group analysis and introspection the fundamental approach is teacher centered whereas collaborative learning is more student-centered (Panitz; 1997). Karre (1993) states that cooperative learning consists of instructional techniques that require positive interdependence between learners in order for learning to occur. In the case of collaboration programme, cooperative learning is required to help students pursue on the right tract.
In recent years, a number of concepts have been proposed for modeling the transformation processes in university-industry-government relations (Leydesdorff, 1998). The different versions of the Triple Helix posit different types of intersections among the institutional spheres with significant implications for both theory and practice (Leydesdorff, 1998). Triple Helix is premised upon separate academic, industrial, and governmental spheres and the ‘knowledge flows’ among them. Transfer is no longer considered as a linear process from an origin to an application. In addition to linkages among institutional spheres, each sphere is increasingly able to assume the role of another. Thus, universities take on entrepreneurial tasks such as marketing knowledge and creating companies, while firms develop an academic dimension, sharing knowledge among each other and training employees at ever higher skill levels.
Team formation during a thesis project is key to its results. The Ministry of Education in Taiwan once conducted a survey on engineering students during a robot-making competition. They found that the winners were teamed up according to their will. Strong leadership and proper distribution of talent and specialty were also keys to their success. Teacher-student interactions are also influential in learning. Good teaching methods such as constant encouragement also influence students greatly. In moments of difficulties, teachers must provide necessary resources, constant encouragement, solution keys, and ways to facilitate communications.
Learning strategies, Rote Memorization Strategies and Making it Meaningful memorization strategies (Perkins, and Saloman, 1989) are used during vocational high school learning of basic operational skills, while memorization strategies are applied in regular practices. Doing something meaningful is the main goal during the learning process. For instance, designing a product so that, when operated systematically, a structural organisation is formed and reciprocal effects created, represents comprehension and practicality of work.
In their thesis project, mechanical Engineering students may apply course knowledge learned during class and develop useful skills for future career use. Therefore, knowledge is of extreme importance when understanding and memorising new information, especially in fields such as Mechanics, Mechanism, Mechanical Manufacturing, Mechanical Designs, and Engineering Mathematics. Control and knowledge are important in subjects such as Electronics, Mechanical Engineering and Automatic control. Skills are required in internship courses during machinery operations at shop practice, as well as during internships on Electronic Engineering, Electronics and Mechanical Drawings.
Important points of discussion in Engineering Mathematics include how to profit most from knowledge gained from aforementioned subjects, and how to help student select thesis topics.
Collaborative base groups are long-term groups with stable membership whose primary responsibility is to provide each other the support and encouragement each team needs to make academic progress and to implement and complete the programme successfully. The Oriental Institute of Technology will partner with its neighbor, the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, based on their longtime good relationship.
Thesis theme will stem from doctors and nurses’ knowledge of hospital issues, while subject matter will meet the capabilities of teachers and students. Discussion amongst doctors and nurses will lead to the finding of numerous operational malfunctions of rehabilitation devices, of which the ‘paralytic lower limb rehabilitation apparatus’ is found ineffective for patients’ use.
Since the lower limb rehabilitation apparatus is a mechanically designed product that is equipped with a control system and outer design, research group will be formed by student volunteers and five college instructors: two from the mechanical Engineering department, two from Electronic Science, and one from Industrial Design. Students are required to have production and control skills.
The final model is created based on the apparatus’ original appearance, combining output from both doctors and students. During the design and production process, students will conduct several discussions among themselves, then with teachers, and finally with doctors and nurses, in order to create a better device.
The general public will first test final product before hospital patients, so that shortcomings can be amended during the process and a more effective product created.
Final process includes the search of partnership with a manufacturing factory and making consequential changes to accommodate factory’s needs according to mass production and lowering costs. Hospital testing is the final step so as to devise the perfect product.
Theory, research, and practice are Siamese triplets, each with a life of its own but joint inseparably to the others. The power of collaborative learning lies in the interrelationship among its theory, research and practice. The triple-helix model provides another picture of what industry-education-research related to each other, as with the new achievement of knowledge thesis that contemporary material and intellectual production.
To evaluate this programme conducted by Oriental Institute of Technology and Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital as well as industries, we can conclude that problem that need to be settled in the promotion of academic-industry cooperation have been pinpointed in this case. Industry, academic and government should recognise and actively perform their respective roles, and by doing so, they should further promote academia-industry cooperation and create an environment where new industries can be created.
Thanks to the participant of academic teams, and collaboration of industries, the paralytic lower limb rehabilitation apparatus were successfully created (see Figure1).
Figure 1. Paralytic lower limb rehabilitation apparatus
The essential mechanisms of the rehabilitation apparatus include a transversely movable slider mechanism which make use of a transverse slider capable of moving in a predetermined direction and for a predetermined distance to provide the thigh
with reciprocal motion of inward retraction and outward expansion by means of a spherical joint which drives the rotation of a longitudinal slide rail, the outward expansion or inward retraction having an angular range between 0° to 35°; a thigh supporting/moving mechanism which is suitable for a thigh length of 20-60cm is adjustable and is free to slide when the hip joint is rotated so as to eliminate the upward pulling force and downward pressing force acting upon the thigh, thus reducing the risk of a second injury; and a sole supporting/moving mechanism wherein the support for the sole has slide rails which are inclined within the range of 12°to 18°and therefore suitable for patients of different shank lengths. When the hip joint is rotated upward, the sole that is held on a holder causes the ankle joint to rotate inward, the rotating angle being up to 5°-15°.
It is obvious that the transitory processes have increased and strengthened the interconnections between various institutional elements of science and technology and, at the same time, created new cognitive linkages. The whole research system is becoming internally more integrated and dynamic as the concept of Triple Helix anticipates. The process of inter-institutional integration is not linear or without controversies though. Rather it may be depicted as a tendency, or a spiral kind of development influenced by mediating factors.
Academic and industrial collaboration in the research and education of Engineering programme is beneficial in several aspects:
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