Bhutan AI Leadership Research Team

Strategy and Workplan for WP5  

Updated January 27, 2025

Comprehensive Framework for Strategic Implementation of

WP5: Creating a Collaborative Environment Between HEIs and Companies

I. Vision and Goals

Vision: To create a sustainable and impactful collaborative platform between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and companies that fosters innovative leadership development for the AI-driven era.

Strategic Goals:

1.      Build a collaborative network for shared learning and innovation.

2.      Facilitate impactful, real-world research addressing AI leadership challenges.

3.      Disseminate knowledge and best practices through organized events.

4.      Develop tools to sustain collaboration and increase efficiency.

5.      Design a sustainable strategy for long-term partnerships and funding.

II. Strategic Pillars (Key Performance Indicators)

1.      Stakeholder Engagement: Actively involve HEIs, companies, and policymakers.

2.      Research and Innovation: Focus on applied, impactful research.

3.      Capacity Building: Strengthen skills and knowledge of all participants.

4.      Knowledge Sharing: Promote transparency through events and publications.

5.      Sustainability: Secure long-term partnerships and resources.

III. Key Activities by Phase, Timeline and activities                      

Planning   Month 1-3     

• Identify stakeholders

• Develop a detailed work plan

• Formalize agreements       

• Collaborative Network and Partnership Agreements

Research    Month 4-8     

• Conduct joint research projects

• Develop AI case studies

• Publish research progress 

• Research Proposals and Reports

Knowledge Exchange Month 9-12  

• Host forums and webinars

• Publish insights

• Facilitate mentorship programs 

• Best Practices and Knowledge-Sharing Materials

Tool Development Month 13-16

• Build online platforms

• Develop shared databases

• Test and refine tools            

• Collaborative Tools and Resources

Strategy Development       Month 17-20

• Finalize long-term strategy

• Secure funding

• Publish strategy document             

• Long-Term Collaboration Strategy Document

IV. Roles and Responsibilities

               Lead Organization (Royal University of Bhutan - RUB):

• Oversee all WP5 activities.

•  Facilitate communication among stakeholders.

•  Ensure milestones and deliverables are met.

               Co-Lead Organization (École Centrale de Nantes - ECN):

• Provide technical expertise in tool and platform development.

• Support research coordination and documentation.

Participating Organizations:

• • • • •  Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM): Assist in managing partnerships and workshops.

        • Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM): Lead technical research and mentoring.

        • Covenant University (Nigeria): Contribute regional expertise and organize knowledge-sharing forums.

        • State University of Zanzibar (SUZ): Support cultural contextualization of leadership initiatives.

V. Implementation Framework

   1.    Task Prioritization

• Prioritize activities based on dependencies, ensuring sequential and timely execution.

• Use tools like Gantt charts to track milestones.

   2.     Resource Allocation

• Allocate resources (financial, human, technological) to ensure task completion.

• Secure funding for long-term initiatives during the planning phase.

   3.      Monitoring and Evaluation

• Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as:

• Number of partnerships formalized.

• Research projects initiated and completed.

• Stakeholder engagement levels.

• Participation in events and training.

• Conduct bi-monthly evaluations to identify bottlenecks and adjust strategies.

    4.      Risk Management

               Potential Risks:

               •           Lack of engagement from stakeholders.

               •           Insufficient funding for long-term initiatives.

               •           Misalignment of goals between academia and industry.

Mitigation Strategies:

               •           Regular communication through structured meetings and updates.

               •           Flexible planning to reallocate resources if necessary.

               •           Design mechanisms for stakeholder feedback.

Sustainability Plan

               •           Develop long-term funding strategies (e.g., grants, corporate sponsorships).

               •           Formalize partnership agreements beyond the project’s timeline.

               •           Integrate WP5 outputs into institutional policies for continued use.

VI. Tools and Resources

          1.     Collaborative Platforms

• Online tools for data sharing, project tracking, and communication (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, shared drives).

           2.     Educational Materials

•  Manuals, case studies, and best practice reports to guide leadership initiatives.

          3.      Databases

• Centralized repository of research findings, partnership records, and event materials.

          4.      Communication Channels

• Social media, newsletters, and webinars to engage and update stakeholders.

VII. Deliverable Schedule

Deliverable Timeline

Collaborative Network and Partnership Agreements        Month 3

Research Proposals and Reports  Month 8

Best Practices and Knowledge-Sharing Materials  Month 12

Collaborative Tools and Resources       Month 16

Long-Term Collaboration Strategy Document              Month 20

VIII. Expected Outcomes

               1.  A fully functional collaborative network between HEIs and companies.

               2.  Effective knowledge exchange, fostering innovative AI leadership practices.

               3.  Sustained partnerships and a framework for continuous collaboration.

               4.  Published research outputs and best practices to guide future initiatives.

This comprehensive framework ensures efficient and effective delivery of WP5 objectives while addressing potential challenges and laying the groundwork for sustained impact.

Specific Tasks for WP5

      1.         Foster International Collaboration:

• Identify global institutions and industries to expand the network beyond regional boundaries.

• Promote cross-cultural exchange in leadership practices.

      2.         Enhance Public-Private Partnership Models:

• Develop models that blend public sector support with private sector innovation.

• Incorporate diverse industry perspectives into the collaborative framework.

     3.         Monitor and Evaluate Collaborations:

• Develop performance indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of the collaborative environment.

• Implement feedback loops to refine strategies and tools.

      4.         Develop AI Leadership Case Studies:

• Collect and analyze successful AI leadership stories from participating organizations.

• Publish case studies to provide practical insights and inspire future collaborations.

      5.         Organize Policy Dialogue:

• Facilitate conversations between academics, industry leaders, and policymakers to align research outcomes with regulatory needs.

• Advocate for policies supporting AI-driven leadership initiatives.

      6.         Support Capacity Building for Students:

• Engage graduate and PhD students in collaborative projects.

• Create mentoring opportunities between industry professionals and academic institutions.

      7.         Integrate Sustainable Practices:

• Promote environmental and social governance (ESG) principles within AI leadership training.

• Encourage sustainable and ethical AI applications in industry collaborations.

RUB team overall task:

Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)

WP5 (Lead); WP4, WP6, WP8, WP9 (Participate)

WP5 (Lead):

Establish a collaborative network between Bhutanese HEIs and companies.

Lead joint research projects and organize knowledge-sharing events.

Draft a long-term collaboration strategy document.

WP4 (Participate):

Support regional training activities and provide localized feedback.

WP6 (Participate):

Contribute to coordination meetings and ensure deliverables for Bhutan are met.

WP8 (Participate):

Share project insights through local publications and workshops in Bhutan.

Team:

Lead Teams for Each Work Package (Names Only)

               WP1: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

               WP2: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

               WP3: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)

               WP4: Covenant University

               WP5: Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)

               WP6: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

               WP7: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

               WP8: European Collaborative Network (ECN)

               WP9: TBD (Lead) | Covenant University (Co-Lead)