Lumbreras, Julio, Track 5

Julio Lumbreras

Working for sustainability transformation in an academic environment:

the case of itdUPM

Outline

An introduction to itdUPM

How do we frame Campus contribution to sustainability?

Students & sustainable experiences

A niche within a traditional University regime?

Some examples

Four organizational design issues. Framework

Outline





Some examples

Four organizational design issues. Framework

• Large (40.000 Graduate and Post-graduate

Students)

• Decentralized and muti-disciplinar (20 “Schools”)

• Internationally focused

• Strong relations with Industry

Technical University of Madrid (UPM)

UPM evolution on studies and research for development

Origins

20 action-research groups in international development were promoted

.

90s


Origins

20 action-research groups in international development were promoted

First steps to create an interdisciplinary centre

Masters Degree in Strategies & Technology for Development

90s

2008

2010


Origins

20 action-research groups in international development

First steps to create an interdisciplinary centre

Masters Degree in Strategies & Technology for Development

itdUPM is constitued

90s

2008

2010

2012

Outline





Some examples

Four organizational design issuesA preliminary framework

Four Organizational Design Issues

Leadership and governance

StructureIncentivesIdentities

Leadership and governance

What team do we need to pilot the process in terms of capabilities, leadership style...?

“From Egosystems to Ecosystems”

Structure: a network organization

How to create new spaces that really promote cross-unit relationships, fostering a sense of community and an open culture of trust?

Anetworkedorganizationis…

Morethana“sexy”organizationchartbasedonnodesandlinks.Morethanawordthatisrepeatedinsistently.

Anenabling,organicspacewhereinteractionsarecrucial,…whereprocessesandmanagementsystemsarefarfrom

bureaucracies,…wherestrategicbehaviour isfarfromformalplanning,reinforcing

emergentstrategies.

Incentives

Which are the incentives that we really have at our disposal to stimulate internal collaboration?

3 Ms: • Meaning• Mastery • Membership

When only intrinsic motivators are available

Identities

How to wear two or three hats simultaneously (belonging to a node, to a cluster and to a network)?

A new institutional framework had to be negotiated (former institutional options -institutes and research centres- were not conceived for networked institutions)

Some sources of inspiration

Multi Level Perspective (Geels, 2012)

Regenerative sustainability (Robinson, 2014)

Interdisciplinarity and the “star model” (Bursztyn, 2013)

“Design, when everybody designs” (Manzini, 2015)

StudentsSustainableExperiences

ProblemsolvingSensemakingandbehavioral change

Campusasamulti-stakeholderspace(diffusedomain)

Universitycommunity(expertdomain)

Inspired inManzini 2015

How do we frame our contribution?


ProblemsolvingSensemakingandbehavioralchange


InspiredinManzini 2015


Interdisciplinaryresearch and

training


Dialogicandtransformativeconversations

Partnershipsfor

sustainability

NICHESFORSUSTAINABILITY


Outline





Some examples

Four organisational design issues. Framework





Interdisciplinaryresearchand

training



Partnershipsfor

sustainability



Examples






Interdisciplinarresearchand

training



Partnershipsfor

sustainability



Two universities: technical and social science à Interdisciplinary

Partnership university-corporate

Open sessions – open knowledge

Master Degree as ecosystem






Interdisciplinaryresearchand

training



Partnershipsfor

sustainability



Collaborative design

Focus on real problems

Application of theoretical knowledge

Collaborative process: diffuse and expert design

Green wall between agronomist and architects

Bench between architects and industrial engineers

Testimony: “An amazing experience both from academic and human perspective, thanks to the method to build upon knowledge sharing”

itdUPM today (after 4 years)

Growing figures: more than 200 members; increasing budget, high numbers of applicants to the Master Degree

A wide international network (companies, NGOs, international agencies, other universities…)

And a new infrastructure designed as an enabling and collaborative spaces

Final thoughts

Sustainable ecosystem?à How to increase collective leadership?à How to implement efficient incentives?

Long term impact on behaviour?à From concrete experience to systemic change

How to measure this impact?à Do we need other form of measuring?

www.itd.upm.es @itdupm

Environment

Lumbreras, Julio, Track 5