IEEE REGION 8 Action for Industry Initiative

 IEEE REGION 8 ACTION FOR INDUSTRY INITIATIVE

Industry members are the traditional majority of IEEE and remain the majority in Region 8. IEEE should provide more value to its members who work in Industry. To return our attention to industry and to serve our industry members, we must re-establish a relevance of IEEE to industry. Starting in Region 8, we seek to achieve by dedicating significant resource to the task.

To progress IEEE Action for Industry in Region 8, a plan was designed. The plan is being progressively adapted in response to practical feedback. Meanwhile we invite interested parties to examine and participate in the plan:

1. The end objective must be change within IEEE from complacent expectation of support from Industry to commitment by IEEE Board to ‘Action for Industry’
2. An intermediate objective is that R8 through its Director will make representations to the Board for Action for Industry.
3. The steps to generate intelligence for such Action will come from activity within R8 to rejuvenate IEEE involvement with Industry.
4. IEEE R8 Action for Industry will be enabled by engagement with Sections throughout R8. To achieve this engagement we will establish an Action for Industry team with Industry Ambassadors (IAs) for Africa, Middle-East, Europe, plus support from additional Corresponding members (members participating by correspondence) of the team. The Industry Ambassadors will have a roving role (travel + telephone) to reach out to all Sections. Engagement of all Sections is vital to build strong relations with industry in the nations of R8. We must not expect the Sections to deliver without a corresponding commitment from R8. So, we will involve them and support them (with guidance and funds) in active participation.
5. We will make use of existing Industry Initiatives by Sections and build on the good things they may be doing with Industry.
6. We will access Senior and Fellow members based in industry as a means of reaching their companies.
7. We will implement specific actions (see the Stages below) within Sections which will be mentored by the IAs and the R8 Action for Industry Chair. We will not burden our Section volunteers with obscure generalities, but with specifics.

Year 1 will be a period of engaging with Sections and identifying and establishing contacts and actions with industry.

Year 2 will be threefold – (i) to consolidate on productive actions from year 1, (ii) amending and implementing alternative solutions to overcome impracticalities, (iii) to develop IEEE Actions for Industry based on what has worked, together with the inputs we already have received from industry about what must be done by IEEE to make it more acceptable to industry.

Year 1 & 2

• Stage 1. Dec 2014 – Jan 2015: Appointment of R8 Industry Ambassadors
  • Region 8 Ambassador for Industry in Africa
  • Region 8 Ambassador for Industry in Middle-East
  • Region 8 Ambassador for Industry in Europe North
  • Region 8 Ambassador for Industry in Europe South
• Stage 2. Jan 2015: Appointment of R8 Action for Industry Corresponding members
• Stage 3a. Jan-April 2015: Industry Ambassadors (IAs) interview Section leaderships and obtain details of all industry oriented activities.
• Stage 3b Jan-April 2015: Corresponding Members to identify and list all IEEE Senior Members and Fellows based in industry in Africa, Middle-East and Europe. This action requires full co-operation from R8 Member Development Chair (R8 Director to secure this commitment) plus all member development chairs of each Section.
• Stage 3c. 27th March 2015: 3a and 3b to be reported at R8 Committee in Cyprus.
• Stage 4. April 2015: Extracting the best from identified Industry initiatives and planning deployment actions in the Sections of R8. If there are insufficient such initiatives, the R8 Action for Industry Chair will provide the detail to be implemented. These may include: Internship, Research-to-Industry Workshops, Technology Insight by practitioners. For Internships we will establish a process for assessing capable students and then support them in reaching out to specific identified companies to provide industry internships. In making such representations we must show credible disciplined high level of professionalism without favour – no corruption will be tolerated.
• Stage 5. April-July 2015: Section leaders (and Section IAs) make contact with Industry Senior Members and Fellows and socialise those contacts to establish friendly relationships (avoid the arrogance of asserting that ‘We are IEEE’). If useful, arrange evening receptions with senior industrialists as VIP guests.
• Stage 5. April-September 2015: Implementing the action plan. Continuous monitoring of progress with guidance by IAs.
• Stage 6. September 2015: R8 Action for Industry team at R8 Committee, present progress, difficulties encountered and practicalities. Devise practicable Solutions. Report progress and next phase to R8 Committee Please open the slide presentation that was presented on 24th September.
• Action for industry_for R8 Committee_Progress and Next Steps_presentation_v7

Year 2 +

2016 Plan

1. IEEE to facilitate Internships for high calibre & practical students
2. IEEE Industry Seniors and Fellows to be Mentors to IEEE young engineers
3. IEEE can provide a route for Industry to reach qualified engineers. IEEE R8 is Multinational – provides access to engineers across many nations and languages. IEEE can bridge Industry to Academics at Student, YP and WIE level
4. IEEE R8 to give all Industry participating companies ‘Certificates of Appreciation’.
5. At R8 meeting (24-25 Sept 2016) in Oporto, R8 Director to seek involvement of Section Chairs progress AfI initiative in their countries.

Late 2016

6. Define SIA = (i) More proactive than IRO. (ii) Works internally to establish connections with their industry members and with both large and small companies in the country. (iii) Works externally to co-ordinate with the Region8 IAs in implementing AfI plan.
7. Expand the SIA teams to include YPs in industry. (Note that each Section rebate must include budget for Industry activity. Where funds may be low, Section to provide a fully justified proposal to IEEE R8 for funding. In the longer term, IEEE Board to create budget for Industry orientation).
8. Receive feedback for internships and mentoring from all stakeholders (Students, YPs, Companies, Mentors).
9. Communicate with companies to provide new internship positions for 2017. Companies will define a budget for 2017 during September and October 2016.
10. Grow the AfI internship programme to new companies. R8 Ambassadors Ü SIAs (& Seniors & Fellows).
11. R8 (in 2017 Awards) and IEEE global to include outstanding SIA recognitions SIAs for their contribution and results in 2016.

2017 Plan

12. IEEE Region 8 AfI to set up Industry Groups of Industry Leaders through the Seniors and Fellows
13. IEEE Region 8 to provide forums for SMEs
14. IEEE to set up nation-wide platforms for Industry OutReach to schools
15. Corporate Membership of Industry Companies – not provided yet by IEEE, but precedent is the IEEE Standards Association. Corporate Membership shall have no voting rights. Benefit is the motivation of companies to be involved with IEEE and their motivation of employees to join. IEEE may offer reduced fees to employees of Corporate members.

Late 2017

16. Encourage industry entrepreneurs to visit academic institutions and discuss the challenges they face in their daily work.
17. Invite industry entrepreneurs to serving on “design project” evaluation committees.
18. Introduce industry to the types of projects done by students.

2018 Plan

19. Expand AfI to new countries and new companies via Section Industry Ambassadors (SIAs), YPs, and Seniors & Fellows.
20. Communicate with companies to seek new internship positions for 2018.
21. Organize and participate in entrepreneurship, startup and innovation events in Region 8. Utilize IEEE Entrepreneurship toolkit.
22. Mentoring of members who work in industry, entrepreneurs, YPs and students.
23. Encourage industry entrepreneurs to visit academic institutions and discuss the challenges they face in their daily work.
24. Organize events with industry and academia.
    (Research to Industry, Research and Technologies for Society and Industry- RTSI, YPs events, distinguished industry speeches, round table panels and discussions).
25. Develop continuing education and professional activities material for corporations and IEEE members who work in industry as well as for YPs.
26. R8 (in 2018 Awards) and IEEE global to include outstanding SIA recognitions for their contribution and results in 2016 and 2017.

Late 2018

27. IEEE Region 8 AfI to set up Industry Groups of Industry Leaders through the Seniors and Fellows.
28. Develop entrepreneurs networks in Sections.
29. IEEE Region 8 to provide forums for SMEs
30. Invite industry entrepreneurs to serve on “design project” evaluation committees.
31. Introduce industry to the types of projects done by students.
32. Corporate Membership of Industry Companies – not provided yet by IEEE, but precedent is the IEEE Standards Association.
    Corporate Membership shall have no voting rights. Benefit is the motivation of companies to be involved with IEEE and their motivation of employees to join.
    IEEE may offer reduced fees to employees of corporate members.

2019 Plan

33. Expand AfI to new countries and new companies via SIAs, YPs, WIE, Seniors & Fellows.
34. Communicate with companies to seek new internship positions for 2019.
35. Organize and participate in entrepreneurship, startup and innovation events in Region 8. Utilize IEEE Entrepreneurship Kit.
36. Mentoring of members who work in industry, entrepreneurs, YPs and students.
37. Organize events with industry and academia. (Research to Industry, Research and Technologies for Society and Industry- RTSI, YPs events, distinguished industry speeches, workshops, round table panels and discussions).
38. Develop continuing education and professional activities material for corporations and IEEE members who work in industry as well as for YPs.
39. R8 (in 2019 Awards) and IEEE global to include outstanding SIA recognitions for their contribution and results.
40. Corporate Membership of Industry Companies.