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Decoding Challenges in Organizing Innovation Competitions and Programs: A Thematic Analysis of Interviews with Organizers

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Conference

ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Spring Conference

Location

George Washington University, District of Columbia

Publication Date

April 19, 2024

Start Date

April 19, 2024

End Date

April 20, 2024

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--45710

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/45710

Download Count

9

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Paper Authors

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Fay Berig Pennsylvania State University, Berks

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Sadan Kulturel-Konak Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus

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Sadan Kulturel-Konak is a professor of Management Information Systems and the director of the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) Center at Penn State Berks. She received her Ph.D.in Industrial and Systems Engineering (Auburn Univ.)

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Abdullah Konak Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-6250-7825

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Dr. Abdullah Konak is a Distinguished Professor of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University, Berks. Dr. Konak also teaches graduate courses in the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations program at the College of Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State World Campus. Dr. Konak’s primary research interest focuses on modeling, analyzing, and optimizing complex systems using computational intelligence combined with probability, statistics, data sciences, and operations research. His research also involves active learning, entrepreneurship education, and the innovation mindset. Dr. Konak’s published numerous academic papers on a broad range of topics, including network design, system reliability, sustainability, cybersecurity, facilities design, green logistics, production management, and predictive analytics. He has been a principal investigator in sponsored projects from the National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency, the U.S. Department of Labor, and Venture Well.

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Abstract

Educational programs like innovation competitions and programs (ICPs) play a pivotal role in entrepreneurial development among student participants. Students with a focus on fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) tend to benefit from participation in ICPs. Higher education institutions and foundations have broadened their co-curricular offerings to attract and support student innovators. These include design challenges, hackathons, start-up incubator competitions, boot camps, customer discovery labs, and accelerator programs. Hence, student ICPs are increasingly instrumental in shaping the education of the next generation of innovators and critical thinkers. Furthermore, organizers have a crucial role in ensuring the success and feasibility of innovation and pitch competitions. The successful implementation of such programs often entails myriad challenges and setbacks that organizers must overcome to benefit their participants. This paper aims to explore the different challenges organizers face while running student ICPs, typically non-credit, co-curricular, and team-based initiatives where student teams collaborate to address open-ended problems. The literature review and analysis of organizer interviews will explore current trends, similarities in challenges and setbacks, and provide a concise overview of best practices that organizers can adopt to ensure the success of innovation competitions and programs. The primary focus is on understanding the challenges organizers face during the establishment and execution of their ICPs.

Berig, F., & Kulturel-Konak, S., & Konak, A. (2024, April), Decoding Challenges in Organizing Innovation Competitions and Programs: A Thematic Analysis of Interviews with Organizers Paper presented at ASEE Mid-Atlantic Section Spring Conference, George Washington University, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--45710

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