YP Panel: Comprehensive Internationalization through Digitalization, Innovation and Global-regional Coproduction
Event Date: November 15, 2023
Time: 05:00 p.m. to 06:45 p.m.
Venue: Hotel Riu Plaza, Panama City, Panama
Room: Berlin 2
Panelists:
Damir Isovic, Mälardalen University (MDU), Sweden
Aris Castillo, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP), Panamá
Natalia Gaviria, Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Colombia
Abstract:
Mälardalen University (MDU) has a strong profile on coproduction with the industry, society and public sector, with many years of experience in developing methods and delivering results of mutual benefit. The university commits in its strategy to deliver research and knowledge for the benefit of the society in Sweden and we strongly believe that this concept can also be applied in an international context.
We have successfully implemented this model in two international projects. The first project, completed in 2015, involved partners from India, while the second project, ongoing, has engaged partners from Latin America. Both initiatives have had a significant impact on all participating universities, fostering the integration of internationalization into our core missions. Through collaborative efforts such as virtual exchange, internationalization at home, lifelong learning, and global-regional development, we have strengthened interdisciplinary cooperation and expanded the dimensions of our international partnerships.
In our most recent endeavor, we are collaborating with two esteemed partners: Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP), Panama and Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Columbia. The combined efforts of students and researchers from all three universities have led to the development of three distributed projects: Autonomous Sailing Boat, a Smart Room, and a Digital Health Platform. The project commenced just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing us to swiftly adapt to the new circumstances. Working remotely presented unforeseen challenges, including the need to overcome physical barriers and the inability to travel and meet face-to-face.
Nonetheless, we have gained invaluable experience throughout this process, such as conducting intricate technical discussions online, organizing distributed work across significant time differences, fostering engagement in a virtual setting, and facilitating cultural exchange despite the absence of physical interaction. These experiences have not only paved the way for new research collaborations but have also provided us with numerous insights. We are eager to share our knowledge and invite others to collaborate with us, as we believe there is immense value in exchanging ideas and working together towards common goals.
Speakers:
Dr. Damir Isovic is the Dean of the School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering at Mälardalen University (MDU), Sweden. He is also a Chair of International Council at MDU and an Associate Professor in the field of embedded real-time systems. With numerous publications at esteemed international conferences and journals, his work has been recognized as seminal by the IEEE Technical Committee on Real-Time Systems. Additionally, he serves on the boards of several national organizations and has taught courses at several prestigious universities worldwide.
Mrs. Aris Castillo has been in the academic and research arena for over 20 years in the area of information and communication technologies as Associate Professor at Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP). She held the position of Institutional Director of International Relations at UTP from 2015 to 2023, was involved in several Erasmus+ Capacity Building Project as well as KA-107 for mobility with European universities, and was the National Secretary of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) Panama that works with all continents. Currently she serves as Vice President of COMSOC at IEEE Panama Section.
Dr. Natalia Gaviria is an Associate Professor in the Electronics Engineering Department at Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia, since 2006. Her research interest is the modeling and performance analysis of communications systems, where she has published several papers and conferences. She has lead initiatives to consolidate Scientific Ecosystems in the fields of ICT and Energy, leading to steghtening the collaboration of several universities and industry partners. She is currently IEEE ComSoc Chair in Colombia.
