Type of outward mobility:
Santander PhD research period.
Host university:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
Information:
'In November 2014 I was awarded a Santander Scholarship by Cardiff Metropolitan University to undertake research related to my PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, USA (29 June – 17 August 2015).
During my visit I was based at the Innovation Initiative Space (co-working space for MIT students and graduates), managed by Martin Trust Centre for MIT Entrepreneurship, where I had an opportunity to observe the daily activities of student and alumni companies. On a daily basis 5-6 businesses operated and had meetings in the space. The innovation space is also used by various MIT communities (students, faculties) to hold meetings, workshops and team activities.
I also attended the Venture Showcase where student teams presented their businesses, and also prepared posters to introduce themselves to potential investors.
In addition, I had a chance to meet faculty members from the Media Lab and the Sloan School of Management to discuss my research. Due to the inspiring conversations, I was able to produce a typology of collaborative spaces assessing different design characteristic, constructed a systematic framework for analysing my case study, and set the objectives I have to achieve this year in order to successfully complete my PhD thesis.
During my stay in the States, I also had an opportunity to visit entrepreneurship centres in top universities such as the Entrepreneurial Institute at Yale University (New Haven CT), the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Centre at Columbia Business School (New York NY) and the Arthur M. Blank Centre for Entrepreneurship at Babson College (Wellesley MA).
I wish to thank the Santander Scholarship for this invaluable opportunity – it has had a profound impact on my PhD studies and future career plans.'
