Spotlight on Education: the AUTM Online Professional Development Courses
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Jane Muir Q) AUTM introduced the Online Professional Development program this year. What kind of feedback have you received from members? A) Members who have attended have been incredibly enthusiastic. Technology transfer professionals—like a lot of professionals out there—have increasing demands on their time. These online offerings are the right length and hone in on one subject area so attendees don't have to put their work aside for long. They can take a 90 minute break and come back to work with fresh ideas and insights. We've also heard from members who really appreciate the fact that they can pay one registration fee but have their entire team attend. That way, they benefit from the cost savings and there is the added bonus of having the group together and getting a conversation going. Q) Who designed the Online Professional Development curriculum? A) We assembled a committee of technology transfer professionals from all levels of their careers. We talked about the challenges we're facing in our offices and where we see a need for more targeted learning. Once our group got together, it became clear what topic areas would get the most interest. We also surveyed members before the program launch and received some suggestions from that as well. Q) What does the committee look for when choosing sessions? A) We look for timely topics that provide actionable information. The 90-minute format lends itself to targeted learning so we try to stay away from subjects that are too broad to cover in a short time frame. Q) What can you tell us about the upcoming sessions? A) We're excited about the November online course, Negotiation of License Agreements. We'll round out the year in December with a topic that always generates interest, Valuation of Inventions and Patents. We're also thrilled to offer our first member orientation Webinar Nov. 12, noon-1:30 pm EST. This will be free to all active members and will provide an opportunity for members to become familiar with the online course tool while learning about AUTM member benefits. Q) There are a number of webinars out there addressing technology transfer issues. Are AUTM's Online Professional Development courses any different? A) I don't think you can even compare generic online education with courses that are designed and developed by active technology transfer professionals. We work hard to take a step back and think holistically about the overall professional development of technology transfer professionals and which areas they should focus on to enhance their expertise. We're not in this to make a profit; we're in this to help professionals in this industry. Q) If members have a suggestion for a course topic who should they contact? A) We are very interested in hearing from AUTM members. Ideas for topics, speakers, or general comments should be directed to Aaron Adair.
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