SCIENT 706 : Commercialisation Project
Science
2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The central goal of SCIENT 706 is to provide to PGDipBioEnt programme participants opportunities to extend significantly their understanding of (1) the nature, theories, tools, and methods of research commercialisation, and (2) the practical realities of commercialising science-derived intellectual properties in an international context. A related objective is to assist the projects’ science advisors – principal investigators, science doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows – in gaining or enhancing their appreciation for the challenges, concepts, and methods of research commercialisation.
SCIENT 706 is a 15-point ‘action-learning’ course which applies the theory of research commercialisation to real science research-derived intellectual properties. The course consists of two significant group term projects conducted with the assistance of UniServices mentors under formal confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements. The intellectual properties used for the projects of the course have been sourced from Auckland UniServices Limited.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
Learning Outcomes
- Apply technology assessment methods relevant to bioscience-and life-science based technologies, knowledge, and intellectual property. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Explore personal, team, managerial, and institutional issues and challenges in technology transfer and research commercialisation. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe, analyse and consider key issues and challenges in evaluating an actively researched bioscience-based intellectual property. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
- Assess in depth the potential for, and means of realising value from, an actual bioscience-related technologies and their related intellectual property estates. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Group report and presentation to evaluate a technology based opportunity | 40% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Group report and presentation to assess the commercialisation pathway for a technology based opportunity | 40% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Individual project preparatory work | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Group report and presentation to evaluate a technology based opportunity | ||||||||||
| Group report and presentation to assess the commercialisation pathway for a technology based opportunity | ||||||||||
| Individual project preparatory work | ||||||||||
Key Topics
- Week 1: Course Introduction; Project #1 Launch; Key Concepts in Commercialisation
- Week 2: Patent Searches; Project #1 Case Study
- Week 3: Individual Team Session with UniServices Mentors
- Week 4: Team Work-In-Progress Presentations
- Week 5: Individual Team Session with UniServices Mentors
- Week 6: Final Presentation to Panel on Project #1
- Week 7: Project #2 Launch; Business Tools & Valuation Methods
- Week 8: Meeting with Principal Investigators for Project #2
- Week 9: Individual Team Session with UniServices Mentors
- Week 10: Team Work-In-Progress Presentations
- Week 11: Individual Team Session with UniServices Mentors
- Week 12: Final Presentation to Panel on Project #2
Workload Expectations
In most weeks there will be a 3-hour class. These classes will take various forms: 1) lectures/seminars, 2) team-based project sessions with staff mentors, 3) work with clients/guest speakers, or 4) student presentations of project findings (see below).
Outside classes, students are expected to spend up to 2 hours preparing for class and between 5-7 hours per week working on their projects. Of that 5-7 hours per week, students should be prepared that 2 hours will be face-to-face project work with their team members.
In Weeks 4, 6, 10 and 12 the 3-hour class is used for team presentations of interim and final project findings.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at all scheduled activities in order to complete the prescribed components of the course.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Being project-based, SCIENT 706 does not follow a prescribed series of lectures. Rather, it requires self-discipline, self-motivation and the initiative to seek relevant resources for each unique project. Considerable outside research and report preparation will be required in advance of specific class sessions.
All teams will be expected to be prepared fully in advance for the work of the day. Deliverables will be due as indicated in the course ‘meta-calendar’ matrix.
Late work is not acceptable in this course – or in professional situations in general. Given the structure of the projects and the ‘system redundancy’ available with teams, there is no basis for late work or ‘no shows’ at scheduled meetings – especially those involving Principal Investigators and Mentors.
Learning Resources
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.