Proceedings of the Materials Forum 2007: Corrosion Education for the 21st Century (2007)
Chapter: Lunch Talk
Lunch Talk
LUIS M. PROENZA
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
The Challenge of Change in a Change-Resistant Environment
Rapid and dramatic change is transforming traditional business paradigms in both industry and academia. Indeed, the primacy that America has long enjoyed is being challenged by the same forces of technological innovation that America itself unleashed. Just as staying on the leading edge of technology and fostering a culture of adaptability are critically important to the future of industry, universities are faced with similar challenges but have been slow to adapt. In this dynamic environment, universities are increasingly called upon to respond to market-driven needs for educational programs and to adopt an industry-like approach to just-in-time delivery of those products. This type of change will not come easily, however. Those institutions that can foster an environment of innovation and adaptation can be successful in not only capturing niche markets but also by serving as a catalyst for sustaining and growing an industry sector. Highlighting the University of Akron’s Corrosion Education Initiative, an overview will be presented on how universities can deliver the human resources of intellectual capital by providing the research and educational programs necessary to keep pace with nontraditional program development opportunities.
