Hong Wu

• Andersson, Gunnar; Hauge, Bjørn Gitle; Johansen, Frode Ramstad; Leister, Eivind Andre; Valter, Per & Lynch, Matthew [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Fostering Resilience and Innovation in Island Communities – Identifying Systemic Challenges and Opportunities. THE JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES. ISSN 2720-8672. 6(1), p. 44–56. doi: 10.63410/jds2025/04. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper explores how stakeholders in island communities perceive and address systemic challenges to resilience and innovation in the context of the green transition and broader societal change. Drawing on insights from the Interreg FREIIA project – a multi-country, participatory initiative across six European islands—this study employs a design thinking framework and grounded theory methodology to explore how local stakeholders perceive and respond to development challenges, highlighting the voices and lived experiences of island residents and aiming to understand the realities on the ground and the multidimensional conditions shaping resilience and innovation in their communities. The findings highlight recurring development challenges, including youth outmigration, housing shortages, seasonal economic dependency, and limited institutional capacity. The paper argues that sustainable development in island contexts requires participatory governance, inclusive innovation ecosystems, and place-based strategies that reflect local realities. By situating island development within broader debates on peripheralization, productive capabilities, and participatory transformation, the study contributes to the literature on systemic development in island communities.

• Yin, Liaofei; Yang, Zhonglin; Aaker, Olav; Wu, Hong; Zhang, Kexin & Jia, Li (2024). A comparative study of flow boiling performance in smooth and multi-stage enhanced open microchannels. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer. ISSN 0735-1933. 159. doi: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2024.108138. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Flow boiling in open microchannels is currently one of the research focuses in the field of phase-change heat transfer. The present paper described a comparative and experimental research on flow boiling heat transfer of SF-33, an environmentally friendly working fluid, in smooth surfaces open microchannels (SOM) and multi-stage enhanced open microchannels (MSEOM). The study investigated the flow boiling performance of SF-33 in two open microchannels with different mass fluxes, heat fluxes and inlet subcooling. The different boiling flow patterns in two open microchannels were analyzed with high-speed visualization. The results indicated that under different inlet cooling conditions, the MSEOM improved the flow boiling heat transfer performance significantly and improved the wall temperature uniformity. The visualization images indicated that the flow pattern transition was different due to the different surface structures of two open microchannels. The SOM experienced plug-stratified flow at high heat flux, while MSEOM transformed into churn flow due to its sintered copper powder and wire mesh micro-nanocomposite structures. The multi-stage enhanced structures exhibited excellent hydrophilicity and wicking capability, leading to a less pressure drop in the MSEOM compared with that in SOM. The pressure drops for both open microchannels decreased as inlet subcooling increased.

• Huang, Dou; Li, Jia; Wu, Hong & Aaker, Olav (2020). Experimental Investigation on the Vapor Chambers with Sintered Copper Powder Wick. Journal of Thermal Science. ISSN 1003-2169. doi: 10.1007/s11630-020-1366-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2017). The Essentiality of Sustainability and Variety for Industry Collaborations with University Partners. International Journal of Advanced Corporate Learning. 10(2), p. 19–29. doi: 10.3991/ijac.v10i2.7272. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The industrial assigned student projects is a good approach for to many engineering colleges. This approach provides students opportunities to research and learn the real world and business tasks. At Østfold University College of Norway, industry assigned student projects are crediting into the regular study curriculums and contribute greatly to the quality of teaching, appreciated by the students and industrial partners. We look at a statistics overview of the college´s bachelor projects over last 10 years, and examine the percentage and sustainable performance of industry assigned student projects. The analysis shows a trend that a sustainable collaboration with few large size industrial partners rather involved more than one student project over the past few years, while major part of the industrial partners, mainly small companies assigned only 1-2 projects then drop off, simply with a coming and go performance mechanism, not really sustainable. We question the performance sustainability of industrial assigned student projects and necessity of company contributions and engagement for teaching approach.

• Tufte, Geir Conrad; Jin, Han & Wu, Hong (2016). Risk of a ‘revolution of rising expectations’ in China? China Journal of Social Work. ISSN 1752-5098. 9(2), p. 141–154. doi: 10.1080/17525098.2016.1231253. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2014). Integrating Corporate Competence with Real Cases into Higher Education Curriculum. International Journal of Advanced Corporate Learning. 7(2), p. 4–9. doi: 10.3991/ijac.v7i2.3597. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Industrial competence and real business cases can be great attributes to higher education curriculum. For engineering higher education, there is a need for these attributes, not only to enrich the curriculum, but also to reduce the gap between theories and practices. An innovative teaching approach is integrating these attributes into off campus industrial lectures conducted during company visits. This paper writes about implementing and learning experiences on such off campus teaching approach at Østfold University College (HIOF). The paper documented students´ surveys, feedback and reflections on their off campus industrial lectures, and stated great learning outcomes through real company cases.

• Andersson, Gunnar; Larsen, Sissel & Wu, Hong (2006). Using digital video to make visible the non-verbal communication and interaction in communication and leadership courses, Current Developments in Technology-Assisted Education. Formatex. p. 1922–1927. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ?Organization theory, communication and leadership for vocational training programs? is a 30 credits course focusing on interdisciplinary interaction, communication and conflict resolution. This approach makes the course suitable for many on-campus and lifelong learning programs. Main target groups include, but are not limited to college of engineering, college of education and school of nursing. Traditional courses on these topics are strong on the written and explicit part of communication but fail in large to meet the challenges in non-verbal communication and interaction. To better target the challenges we use an approach including real life cases, role-play, multimedia and ongoing analyzes, replacing traditional lectures with student guidance, dialogue and interaction in a flexible team oriented learning environment. This paper present one possible infrastructure using teams of academics, case studies, learning management systems (LMS) and digital video-recordings. Further we discuss and reflect on our experi- ences with student guidance, dialogue and interaction in a flexible team oriented learning environment using digital video as one key component. The course presented uses case studies focusing on interaction practices. The case studies includes the use of digital video to make visible the non-verbal communication and interaction. The digital recordings form the basis of the supplementary work and analyzes both on-campus in the teams and off-campus using Internet. Reflections and dialogs on the digital materials are core activities and depend on repeatedly play back, editing and sharing. The intention of our new approach is not necessarily for students to solve the misunderstanding or conflict in the case, but to be able to recognize and understand the dynamics of such a situation. ICT and web based applications are used where practical to preposition learning in a diverse student group emphasizing on flexibility and universal accessibility. The study is closely surveyed using online surveys, logs and interviews as part of a research and development project funded by The Norwegian University Agency for Flexible Learning and others.

• Andersson, Gunnar; Larsen, Sissel & Wu, Hong (2005). Learning Communication Skills through Non-verbal Interactions and Process Analysis, Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Education, ICEE. Silisian University of Technology. p. 163–168. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Communication is an essential skill of leadership in practice, regardless profession. The topic is therefore often defined as one important chapter for most organizational and management courses. There are, however, many pedagogical approaches for teaching this topic, depending on individual course objectives and targeted student groups. This paper exemplifiesa case of teaching communication topic for education studentsat Østfold University College, and illustrates a none-traditional ICT related teaching approach for teaching education. There are two major aspects are presenting for this paper: 1)Exercising and learning communication skills through an actingand reacting play as a none-traditional teaching approach; 2) Using Learning Management System (LMS) to restore the course documents, including students? work assignments, and generate a virtual classroom for on campus and remote students.For aspect 1), the students have learned their communicationskills through a situation based acting play, taken up by a short sequence of a video clip. They have observed and analyzed their communication process during the video session, included their non-verbal and interactions. They also needed to conducttheir analysis and process reflection as a part of their written assignments. In a way, their pedagogical approach is notonly reading and writing based, but also acting and reactingbased. For aspect 2), the students have received a short LMSintroduction session at the course beginning, so they can use this LMS application for course conducting. All the course materials, including students? analysis reports and video clips are restored at, and can be retrieved from the course?s LMS. This LMS solution was a convenient alternative forover 1/3of students, whom are considered as a remote student category, as their accesses for face-to-face lecture hours are limited. As a result, the current course evaluation and updated activity analysis shows beneficial outcomes of none-traditionalteaching methods and their good learning effects.The currentcase has also exemplified the benevolence of developing innovative teaching methods to attract students, especially remote students, and improving quality of teaching. Last, but not least, the benefits of establishing a cross-sectional cooperation between discipline of engineering and discipline of education.

• Andersson, Gunnar & Wu, Hong (2005). Exploration and Practice of Quality Education on Students' Entrepreneurship and Scientific Innovation, Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Education ICEE. Silesian University of Technology. p. 553–559. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Education on the scientific innovation and entrepreneurship is becoming more and more important in China. According tothe ?Activity Plan of Prospering Education Orientated to 21stCentury? established by the Ministry of Education, lacking of the talents with creativity on the international level becomes a major factor of restricting the creative and competitive capabilities of the country both at the present and duringalonger time later. Education is the basis of the overall national power. The national power depends on not only the quantity and quality of the talents from all kinds of subjects butalso of the labors. Knowledge and talents, the nation?s quality and creativity have become an important criterion of evaluating the overall national power of a country, and a keyfactor of whether pushing or restricting economic increasingand social development as well. The quality of talents is the key of creativity. The higher education plays a basis and pioneering role on fostering the talents with creativity. Its purpose is not only to challenge the traditional ?academic education?, but more importantly to explore the approaches or methodsof developing the creativity of the university students. Innovation has already become ?the main cantus? of reforming thehigher education of the 21st century. Training the versatiletalents with the spirit of creativity and quality of pioneering is not only the requirements for social development but also the change of the educational concept, fostering the talents and overtaking the advanced technology in the world. Moreover, it has the practical significance on many aspects such as career of the university students after graduationand social stability. This paper cites an example of education on students? entrepreneurship and scientific innovation in Shijiazhuang University of Economics and demonstrates a number of practical approaches for integrating these topics into university?s educating program and motivating students to engage in the program. As observed, the program matches for entrepreneurship and innovation, and makes students to bourgeonentrepreneurship thinking and gestates their entrepreneurship enthusiasm. They can push their inspiration into realization and then achieve themselves satisfaction in their minds. After pursuingtheir innovation plan they have known more society and market requirements and what they should learn later. On the basisof the practice of entrepreneurship and scientific innovation from Shijiazhuang University of Economics, someapocalypses of this program are concluded, such as ability and quality for adapting students themselves to catch up with the development of the times as well, the appreciation of their multiple skills and abilities, their skills of cooperation for incubating and promoting for creative and innovative work, and their abilities for training and creating integrators

• Wu, Hong (1997). An Invisible Capitalism Revolution in the Communist Lands – a Pre-study on the Privatization Development of Fishery Industries the Communist Countries of The South China Sea Region. Økonomisk fiskeriforskning: Ledelse, marked, økonomi. ISSN 0803-6799. 7(1-2), p. 19–26. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (1996). The colors of quality – a comparative study of cultural differences and their Impact on Quality Criteria. Økonomisk fiskeriforskning: Ledelse, marked, økonomi. ISSN 0803-6799. 6(2), p. 106–112. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong & Hansen, Kåre (1996). Markedsføring i Kina. Økonomisk fiskeriforskning: Ledelse, marked, økonomi. ISSN 0803-6799. 6(1), p. 40–45. Full text in Research Archive

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• Zheng, Bingzhang; Liu, Dezhi; Jia, Dongshui & Wu, Hong (2005). Business plans and the study of their competitions, guidelines and thought (Chinese pinyin: Chuangye Jihua Jiqi Jingsai De Yanjiu Yingdui Yu Qishi) A summary experiences and practice of university students' participation to ventrue cup competitions (Chinese Pinyin: Daxuesheng Chuangxin Chuangye Jiaoyu De Tansuo Yu Shijian). China Da Di Publisher. ISBN 9787800978067. 263 p. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This is a Chinese textbook, authored by colleagues from Shijiazhuang Univeristy of Economics (SUE) and Østfold University College. The book describes systematic and theoretic guidelines for Chinese university students in their business plan and business competetions. The main aim is for Chinese university students in their lectures of innovation and entrepreneurship. The main focus is business plan and case analysis. There are 5 parts in this book: Theories and definitions; Reflections; Getting start; Structure and vital issues; Case presentations.

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• Badshah, Imtiaz; Wu, Hong & Khattak, Imran Ullah (2025). Annual confidential report of the civil service of Pakistan. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract: Performance appraisal is an important management tool used for assessing employee job performance, to make decisions regarding employee incentives and rewards, and providing feedback or training to develop employee skills and competencies. It is generally agreed that performance appraisal can benefit employees and organizations, but for that, the performance appraisal techniques and instruments need to be fair and objective. Employees may positively react to the performance appraisal systems if the design of such systems involve employee input and the evaluation corresponds to the respective job descriptions. The current study aims at examining the effectiveness of performance appraisal system in the public sector of Pakistan. The study is qualitative in nature and draws on the literature in ‘new public management’. The study led to explore that the process of performance appraisal of civil servants in Pakistan is highly subjective. It is used as a tool for making decisions regarding employee promotions, but the evaluations are mainly based on criteria irrelevant to merit because of the use of subjective and generic evaluative instruments. Since evaluations are entirely secret, that is why one of the core objectives of performance appraisal, which is performance improvement is not achieved through performance appraisal system. More specifically, the study indicates that factors such as an administrative culture rife with cronyism, high centralization, and conflict of interests between policy-makers may contribute to the design of a performance appraisal system that lacks fairness and objectivity. It transpired that the positive effects of the performance appraisal system in the Pakistani public sector are sparse because it is not designed in collaboration with employees, it lacks transparency and its utility for performance improvement is vague. We suggest practical implications and directions for future research.

• Leister, Eivind Andre; Andersson, Gunnar; Hauge, Bjørn Gitle; Wu, Hong; Johansen, Frode Ramstad & Valter, Per (2025). How demography in an island community can be a force for development and innovation - the outcome from a training module for student entrepreneurship. doi: https:/www.neonnet.no/neon-2025. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Can an elderly population become a basis for innovation and rethinking? Grand societal challenges («SCG») require innovative approaches (Voegtlin et al., 2022). Demography and a growing elderly population is a major SCG concerning especially Western-Europe. To handle this, changes within both private and public sector are required. The importance of this topic has been underlined as “Good Health and well-being” and is defined as Sustainable Development Goal (“SDG”) Nr 3. of the UN. Islands characterized by their isolation can be useful as experimental spaces, where the gained knowledge can be transferred and used in larger societies on the mainland. Demography challenges in rural areas are a common trend (Anderson & Irava, 2017). The impact an ageing population has on the communities on islands has been examined in various studies. The geographical spread from Waiheke Island (Bates et al., 2019), via the Maldives (Moosa, 2020) and Portuguese islands (Sousa Gomes et al., 2024) to the Swedish islands Koster (Heyden, 1998) indicates that this is a global common feature. On the islands the demography covers a broad range of themes from concern how to attract younger generations to stay or move back as well as various views on development and environmental protection to health care. Thus, demography often described as a challenge, it can enable rethinking the organization of society, leading to market opportunities and opening for innovations within both governance and business. In a resilience context (Cecchini et al., 2019) demography contributes to stabilize the society in rapid changes. A further aspect related hereto is the connection between demography and cultural heritage (Tapia-Gómez & Lois González, 2025) . As demography was highlighted as an important topic in a study on Hvaler, where staff and on students from Østfold University College (“Hiof”) were involved, it triggered a further search to gain insight into how the society organize and handle elderly people and their needs. A case study at a local health care centre on Hvaler provided further information whereas demography can change the conduct of work and be seen as source for innovation opening interesting market possibilities attracting young entrepreneurs. This study examines the process to identify challenges in an island society (Douglas, 2006) and ways to solve it, especially related to a growing elderly population. Further innovative initiatives to handle this challenge will be discussed.

• Tellnes, Lars Gunnar Furelid; Wu, Hong & Kjøniksen, Anna-Lena (2023). LCA for circular business model – five step method and experiences from Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Tufte, Geir Conrad & Wu, Hong (2018). A Review of Social Housing Policy in a Socialist Market System, a Mediterranean System and a Scandinavian System – Which system has the Crucial Factors for Home-ownership? Full text in Research Archive
• Kivedal, Bjørnar Karlsen; Wu, Hong & Tufte, Geir Conrad (2017). Om å bygge fremtiden. p. 14–15. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2015). Industry assigned student projects - A case of a Norwegian university college. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Real problem based teaching method is a widely used for many higher education institutions. A nature approach is closely collaboration with local industries or business partners in teaching, but most of all, crediting industry assigned student projects into regular study curriculum. This paper presents a case statistics overview of Østfold University College´s bachelor thesis projects over last 10 years, with heavily industry assigned part for most student projects. The case shows divided trends: One is a sustainable collaboration with few large size industrial partners rather involved more than one student project over the year, while major part of the industrial partners, mainly SMEs assigned only 1-2 projects, simply coming and go mechanism. The question is which one is best for education purpose and student learning.

• Nilsen, Rino; Mouland, Anders; Wang, Yan-Feng; Wu, Hong; Wang, Yue-Sheng & Wang, Litian (2015). A phononic construction material. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2014). CDIO Presentation and Evaluation of Østfold University College. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Conceiving — Designing — Implementing — Operating (CDIO) is a real-world engineering education framework applied for curricular planning and outcome-based assessment. CDIO recognizes engineering educators in all CDIO parts learn from practice elsewhere. Østfod Universty College has practiced real problem based learning methods for many study programs. Joining CDIO will benefit the college from an international aspect and enrich future engineering education in an extensive rang.

• Sahama, Tony; Andersson, Gunnar; Wu, Hong; Wilichowski, Mathias; Lombarteix, Pierre-Olivier & Eguía, Valentín Miguel (2014). Contribution of Industry-based Student learning performance for the STEM Education. Full text in Research Archive
• Tufte, Geir Conrad & Wu, Hong (2014). PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVES REGARDING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: OUGHT EXPERIENCES FROM THE “NORDIC MODEL” TO BE ADOPTED BY CHINA? 从社会与经济发展的角度看公共卫生的作用 -“北欧模式” 应否在中国实现？. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2014). Cross-cultural understanding and intercultural communication. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Norway, Germany, China, Nordic, West, East, different cultures, values and communication challenges. The pictures we want to show others about Norway, a nice country to Live according to UNDP top ranking, might see cultural Challenges? Climate/lights, Living expenses, Languages, Different ways of thinking, Different expectations, Cold weather and the darkness. The importance of cross-cultural understanding and managing well intercultural communication. Illustrating with many pictures.

• Andersson, Gunnar; Nilsen, Per Erik Skogh; Wu, Hong; Sahama, Tony; Wilichowski, Mathias & Eguía, Valentín Miguel (2014). Methods and data in industry-based student learning. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2014). Academic Entrepreneurship Bachelor Education – A Case of Establishing, Legislating and Accepting Process. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Fulltime bachelor degree of entrepreneurship study program is becoming more and more accepted as a regular study discipline for potential for university and college students. However, the identity of this education, thus recognizing on this particular bachelor title and category belong to the future job market has not been an easy process for every new beginners. This was particularly challengeable for traditionally professional higher education colleges, for example, among engineering or business administration study programs. This paper described a case story of such a process for establishing a bachelor degree program in entrepreneurship study at Østfold University College in Norway. This was a 10 years process, initiated by a market driven need for more entrepreneurs or entrepreneur spirit engineers demanded by local industries. The process has however been struggling throughout difficult periods and hard times. The study identity and profile have been changed and seems to be finally accepted as a regular study program.

• Wu, Hong (2014). Produktutvikling skaper mer verdier. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2014). The necessity of product development for value creation. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2013). Etablering av innovasjon og entreprenørskapsstudier - en casesammenligning av IPL-IR vs. SUE-Kina. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong & Liu, Dezhi (2013). The journeys of establishing innovation and entrepreneurship study programs - A Comparative tale on cases from Norway and China 中国挪威大学本科创新创业学科建设过程案例比较. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2012). Quantitative Research Methods and Practice My Personal Experiences and Reflections. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The presentation compared quantitative research method and qualitative method, summarized and combined with previous experience from in participating in a action research project from 2006 and a early research thesis, illustrating the both methods and practical applications.

• Wu, Hong (2012). 教学课程改革 The Higher Education Curriculum Reform - Experiences and Cases from Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The seminar started debates on "curriculum reform" topic, and addressed "team work learning," and "International cooperation" as some experiences and cases showed from Norway, combined with pictures and examples. Furthermore, the debates covered questions and answers to the teachers and students on other relevant issues such as the cultural differences between Chinese and Norwegian students in learning methods, attitudes and values. 座谈会介绍了挪威奥斯福大学如何将课程建立在团队项目上。结合图片和实例，向聆听报告会的师生分析了中国与挪威学生在学习方法方面存在的差异，强调了合作与沟通的重要性。座谈会还就挪威高校的管理体制、教育投资、教学方法、国际交流生等问题回答了师生的提问.

• Wu, Hong (2012). Project based teaching methods combined with industrial collaborated curriculum, a marked oriented pedagogical approach for engineering education. 挪威工程高校的教学课程改革,教学方法,与实例分析. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  A presentation on project based teaching methods combined with industrial collaborated curriculum, summarized from cases and experiences from Ostfold University College. A debate on experimenting and exploring on a marked oriented pedagogical approach for engineering education, a changing process to meet a marketing need. 挪威工程高校的教学课程改革,教学方法,与实例分析.本文结合产业合作项目为基础的教学方法的演示文稿课程，经案例和经验总结。从工程教育的教学方法,到满足市场需求的变化过程的探索。

• Wu, Hong (2012). 北欧管理模式的理论、实践与经验 Nordic model of management theory, practices and experiences. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The presentation summarized the author's recent years participation in research projects of Nordic management practices and experiences, giving a simple, easy understandable and systematically explanations on what is the Scandinavian management model, as well as its practical application and experience in cased Norwegian companies. 报告会以近年来所参与的科研项目为例，系统地阐述了何为北欧管理模式，以及其实践应用的情况和经验。

• Wu, Hong (2011). Cultural differences West and East - A Comparison of Norwegian Cultures and Chinese Cultures in Practice. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2011). Nordic management approaches with presenting of pratcial cases and reseach experiences. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong (2011). Understanding of Cultural Divergence for Creating Cultural Convergence of Innovation – A Case Reflection throughout an Innovation Focused Enterprise Development Project. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong; Kirkebak, Per & aarvak, knut (2010). The Industrial Democracy ? A Case on Norwegian Management Model Practiced in a Private Small Business Company. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The industrial democracy is an important approach of management practice especially focused on motivation and cooperation aspects. In Norway and other Scandinavian countries, this approach has been practiced in many business companies, partly due to shortage of labor resources and partly due to the strong trade union cultures. The early theoretic grounding work has been developed by the Norwegian researcher Thorsrud (1970) and his theory on industrial democracy has been included as a part of management theories. The Norwegian government pays also much attention for this practice and inspired this philosophy in the labor law. The Research Council of Norway (NFR) also initiated a research program (VRI) to stimulated and encouraged partners as industries, research and educational institutions to cooperate together in finding the variant ways of Norwegian industrial democracy (DNM, den norske model) to improve productivity while creating better working environment. The Norwegian industrial democracy (DNM) is a practice and field experiences based theoretic model, developed by action research methods in Norwegian companies. The essential philosophy of DNM is deeply involvement of everyone in the organization, both in horizontal and vertical direction to be a part of decision making process. The key element is information, communication, understanding, motivation and engagement for a successful business company. The DNM model has been implemented in many business companies over time with variant themes and focuses in the practical issues. There are however many difference experiences and stories for DNM practical applications and certainly there is no guarantee for success of DNM for every business company. This article is writing about a case for DNM process and applications in a private small Norwegian company. The research team has been the case company since 2005 and followed the process development over the whole time period. The experiences on this DNM application are characteristics as everything else than other DNM applications in the same region, but different company sizes and ownerships. The research team?s observation and analysis so far suggested the DNM application in this company could be characteristics as an informal development and change process in the organization with focus on technical and productive improvement and production, but ended up and solved by socio-tech and organizational approaches.

• Liu, Dezhi & Wu, Hong (2010). Design and establish an innovation and entrepreneurship undergraduate study - a feasible and comparative case study in China. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  China is restructuring her economy, proposing a development from mass-production based manufacturing focus into an innovative country. Serving this mission, China's higher education, including colleges and universities will have to integrate this innovative and entrepreneur element into daily teaching duties and research topics, both from theoretical and practical dimensions. The new educational goal focuses on innovation thought and entrepreneurship skills, both in the initial stages of exploration, theoretical research, form a set of relatively complete system of scientific theory, developed the innovative processes suited to China's national conditions. The current study demonstrates a practical case on establishing an "Innovation Study" in a professional undergraduate bachelor program. The process establishing and analysis illustrates the every important stage, element and most of all, details for such a program, including educational objectives, curriculum, implementation modalities, evaluation and teacher-building, etc. Throughout this case, the readers reflect on the innovation though into higher education and how innovation elements will be able to implemented into daily tasks, while colleges and universities to maintain professional characteristics and academic strengths to continuously improve the quality of education and teaching; to fill in the field of research and practice gaps in the system. China needs innovation thought and entrepreneurship skills everywhere, also in colleges and universities where innovators guide the profession of teachers and students into "innovation school" in education and learning. Higher education is in changing from tradition to modernity, from a closed to an open, from the focus on the current path towards sustainable development, and comprehensively promote educational innovation; can provide the relevant functional departments of colleges and universities to provide decision-making; satisfy society's demand for innovative talents.

• Wu, Hong & Liu, Dezhi (2009). Action Research : An implementing case in Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The presentation has the following themes: The nature and characteristics of action research in Norway Action research on labor management cooperation and the contribution of the Nordic management model The application of action research and case study: Production and research-driven innovation projects and networks of regional development cooperation pilot project in a local Norwegian package company

• Wu, Hong & Liu, Dezhi (2009). The Status of an Economic Reform in China's Higher Education - Is it on a Way to Market Oriented and Decentralization? Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  China?s higher education changes from a centralized funding system into a multiplex approach, including decentralized funding system. An exemplified change was restructuring on many universities? ownership and financial sources, moved from the Ministry of Education to provincial or regional government. This decentralized process is still under an experimental phase and needs to be evaluated. This paper presents a part of results and findings from such an evaluation, assigned the Ministry of Education of China. The evaluation focuses on a category of universities in China, called ministry ownership, a heritage from pro-soviet functioned based universities. The intention was investigating how this group was affected by the decentralized process and searching the best options for process adapting. We used general data both statistics and facts to demonstrate the process outcomes. Also, we compare financial structures of sampled public funded universities in Norway and USA for reflecting on international experiences. China?s higher education changes from a centralized funding system into a multiplex approach, including decentralized funding system. An exemplified change was restructuring on many universities? ownership and financial sources, moved from the Ministry of Education to provincial or regional government. This decentralized process is still under an experimental phase and needs to be evaluated. This paper presents a part of results and findings from such an evaluation, assigned the Ministry of Education of China. The evaluation focuses on a category of universities in China, called ministry ownership, a heritage from pro-soviet functioned based universities. The intention was investigating how this group was affected by the decentralized process and searching the best options for process adapting. We used general data both statistics and facts to demonstrate the process outcomes. Also, we compare financial structures of sampled public funded universities in Norway and USA for reflecting on international experiences.

• Wu, Hong (2009). Problembased learning and project teamwork - a practical way to learn. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The lecture presents the Norwegian college teaching case, which was practical learning method focused. The learning outcomes are expected to meet the industry demands in: International market Quicker restructuring Better and higher competence The importance of network Problem dealers Entrepreneurers are welcome!!! The students through the case learns: Abilities of being creative Ability to define and solve problems (ability to think analytically and scientifically) Ability to be enterprising Ability to communicate openly and a high degree of communicative competence Ability to acquire, evaluate, integrate and make use of knowledge leading to competence

• Wu, Hong (2009). Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Presenting project based education with focus on: 1 weeks project Design parameters unknown before starting Students decide budget 24 hours work intensity during the project Risk takers and creators will be rewarded Deliver on budget on time!!! Destructive evaluation Conducted public with full media coverage

• Wu, Hong (2009). Product innovation and development. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The course focuses on "Introduction of Product Design and Development - A Method Practice" includes these topics: ? Identifying Customer Needs ? Product Specifications ? Concept Generation ? Concept Selection ? Managing Projects There has been intensive Lectures, followed by group work, common reflection and feedback process, open for other students and staff members. The course evaluation was opened for everyone and university leaders and administration staff were invited.

• Wu, Hong (2009). 1. The Financial Structure for Public Funded Higher Education ? A New Paradigm and Challenge 2. The Status of an Economic Reform in China's Higher Education. Is it on a Way to Market Oriented and Decentralization? Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  China?s higher education catches the recent years? global trend and moves to a more market oriented reform process. There has been a drastic change in the Chinese education market in the past 30 years. The change of financial structure and investment is one the latest experiments and this change, like others, results significant impact to every involved actors, as university?s staff members, professors and students. The current study is a comparative analysis on the financial structures of sampled universities in China, Norway and USA. The study focuses on the different budgeting models and specifications used in these universities? and their financial structure by different sources. The intention of this paper is providing readers an international aspect for the debate on financial structure principle and practice, sharing and learning experiences from different countries, thereafter, recommending a viable option for this reform process in China?s higher education

• Wu, Hong & Liu, Dezhi (2008). A Study of Higher Education¿s Financial Reform and Impact. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ABSTRACT China¿s higher education catches the recent years¿ global trend and moves to a more market oriented reform process. There has been a drastic change in the Chinese education market in the past 30 years. The change of financial structure and investment is one the latest experiments and this change, like others, results significant impact to every involved actors, as university¿s staff members, professors and students. The current study is a comparative analysis on the financial structures of sampled universities in China, Norway and USA. The study focuses on the different budgeting models and specifications used in these universities¿ and their financial structure by different sources. The intention of this paper is providing readers an international aspect for the debate on financial structure principle and practice, sharing and learning experiences from different countries, thereafter, recommending a viable option for this reform process in China¿s higher education.

• Wu, Hong (2008). Problembased learning and project teamwork - a practical way to learn. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Why are we learning Better job? better paid? prestige? interest to learn? What shall we learn Attractive disciplines? Niche? interesting topic`s? How can we learn better and efficient Read hard? seeking/asking help? Own interesting?

• Wu, Hong & Liu, Dezhi (2008). A Comparative Study for Entrepreneurial Education in China-US Universities. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ABSTRACT Entrepreneurship education is not only an inevitable trend for China¿s higher education to face the world and the future, but also the need to improves China's social employment, the scientific and cultural development of China. But Chinese existing education system for students lacks the training for their spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship; the Popularization of entrepreneurship education in University is very low. Exploring and studying the entrepreneurial education model, which are suitable for Chinese national conditions has been forced in the eyebrow. In this paper, it has summarized the characteristics of university students and business education mode in China and the United States. It based on the comparative analysis of the results of Countermeasures and pointed the Chinese University System of entrepreneurship education.

• Wu, Hong & Liu, Dezhi (2008). On Entrepreneurship Education Research at College. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ABSTRACT In recent years China's economic structure has occurred great changes. There is a great change to the demand of the high quality personnel. It makes graduates face the temporary structural unemployment. With the growing employment pressure, more and more college students choose to select their own entrepreneurial path .We should attach importance to and strengthen the entrepreneurial education to improve entrepreneurship awareness and entrepreneurship capability of the students to help them venture successfully. How to adapt to this new trend of independent venture has become an important subject that all educators must study and explore.

• Johansen, Frode Ramstad & Wu, Hong (2008). Using resource groups to create engagement and partaking on the shop-floor. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong; Kirkebak, Per & Andersson, Gunnar (2007). The importance of technological transfer tempo for desirable organizational adaption A study of the relations between technological innovation and organizational development and change. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The main claim of the paper is to argue that Technological Innovation in an organization enforce organizational development and change (Levin, 1997: Levin & Greenwood, 2005). Design and operation of new technology result in an organizational development process. The main managerial challenge is to make use of the technological innovation process to create the desired learning process in the organization. As Susman (1983) argues, this kind of socio?technical design is a search for the best solution, involving at the same time conflicting requirements of the technological - and social systems, in the search for a joint optimization. To achieve this, technological innovations cannot take place in a too high tempo, making an organizational adoption difficult. To document our claims, results from one case project are presented from a juice manufacturer in the southeast region of Norway. The case describes the organizational changes taking place in the organization following a fast innovation process regarded as a pure technological project. The case supports our claims that an organizations development will follow any technological innovation. It is however, necessary to run the organizational development (OD) processes in a conscious way, parallel with the technological innovation, to secure that the OD processes take place in the required direction to initiate planned organization learning and change and in the desired tempo.

• Wu, Hong; Andersson, Gunnar & Johansen, Frode Ramstad (2007). The industrial democracy and implementing tools from quality circles to resource groups. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes and analyzes the implementing processes of industrial democracy and efficiency in 2 sampled business companies in South Norway. The analysis is based on action research (AR) related document studies, surveys, interviews and observations on the employees from these companies. The study emphasizes on collaboration between employers and employees, and the employees? understanding and implementing of industrial democracy into their daily work and the real outcomes of the implementations. Both sampled companies are project members of Value Creation 2010 (Verdiskaping 2010), which is an action research based project implemented industrial democracy into the local business companies. The analysis indicates employees? same expectations and wishes on industrial democracy, but differences on their practices, used tools and situations. One best practice has been noticed as implementing cross-personnel teams, named as Resource Groups (RG) in a sampled company and received particularly positive benefits. This RG approach has nevertheless similar nature and functions as quality circles in TQM practice early 80s, but RG concept rather focuses on organizational development than merely quality issues.

• Wu, Hong & Lombarteix, Pierre Olivier (2007). The lifelong education ? a social trend or competence need. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes and compares the exemplified lifelong education programs in France and Norway and attempts to sketch the lifelong education programs and the intentions, expectations, and practical implications in these two countries. Recent studies claimed increasing people?s interests and engagement for life long education programs. There is a social trend that more and more people are enrolling part-time or flexible educational programs while they are working. The industries and business communities also express their needs for competence upgrading and flexible education offers. Though illustrated French and Norwegian cases indicate the similar social trend and need for lifelong education, there is a distinction on profiles and focuses on practical implications of lifelong learners? expectations and learning approaches. The paper also intends to compare this distinction for the readers to address the national characteristics of lifelong education.

• Wu, Hong; Liu, Dezhi & Cai, Haibiao (2007). An empirical emission analysis model for Hebei provincial industries in China. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  With a population of 67 million people, Hebei is one of largest provinces in China, with a rapid growth in economy. The 2005 provincial GDP and industrial value creation increased respectively 3.2 and 1.8 times over the 2000 level, which indicates a fantastic developing speed. However, there is an environmental challenge also has accompanied with economic growth. This challenge is nowadays an urgent issue to deal for further economic development. According to the national 2005 statistics in China, the provincial emissions for industrial wasting gas, CO2, industrial dusts and industrial soot are placed as number 1, 5, 6 and 2 respectively in a national ranking. These ranks indicate a fact of the total emission level is much higher in Hebei province than the rest of China. This paper introduces an empirical analysis model for static industrial emissions for Hebei industries. The model consists of a number of measurable variables, such as GDP, industrial value creation, emission coefficient and probability deviations. Based on the available data sourced by provincial and national statistics for industrial outcome, the model is used to analyze the basic structure, mainstream and correlations of total industrial emissions, types of industries and return of investments for emission control and treatment, as well as environmental projects. The analysis model provides also the fundamental information for decision making process in further investments for industries, macro-level governing of industrial structures, restructuring the provincial industrial sectors and better utilizing of natural resources. The study analysis concluded there is still a need for limitation for total emissions for the provincial industries and the ways for realizing is upgrading of total industrial productivities and efficiencies. Our analysis also recommends more investments for emissions control and treatment projects, as well as restructuring of provincial industries from heavy production based into new innovation based.

• Wu, Hong (2006). Innovative learning for innovation education : introducing of project based, problem focused and case related none-traditional teaching methods, experiences from an innovation class. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The lecture was made for the presentation of HIOF-IR bachelor program in Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The main focus on presentation was none-traditional teaching methods, as project based, problem related and case focused lecturing approaches

• Wu, Hong & Hansen, Tore (2006). Creating innovation actions through regional development agreement ? a case study in Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes a case study of a regional government?s involving in and implementing of innovation and entrepreneurship at a regional level in Norway. A regional development agreement (RDA) has been assigned and used as an implementing tool to creating innovation actions. The regional government has a mandate to implement the central Norwegian government?s policy and actions for innovation and entrepreneurship. The challengeable part however, is the mandate must be accomplished through motivated and incentive basis. A regional development agreement is therefore a channel for mandate and motivations, so RDA has a function to match the real needs from both parts. The implementing actions are mostly defined as thematically based projects, so the innovation and entrepreneurship related topics are highly integrated with rest of general needs, strategies and actions at regional development plan levels.

• Wu, Hong; Liu, Dezhi & Lombarteix, Pierre Olivier (2006). The financial structure for public funded higher education : a new paradigm and challenge. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes, compares and analyzes the financial structures and funding sources of 3 sampled higher educational institutions from Norway, China and France, respectively. All these 3 higher institutions have or have had a technology or science related originality, but made some adaptation during some period according to the market demands. The description sketches the sampled institutions? current financial situations and structures. The comparison intends to survey the similarities and differences of their financial options and funded sources, as well as their preferences and emphasizes for these options. The study analysis focuses on their financial strategies, investment focuses and alternative solutions, as well as their possible sources from external financial availabilities. One fundamental issue is addressed and debated in this paper, namely the paradigm and challenge of steering basic intention and mission of public funded higher education versus increasing market demands as profitability.

• Andersson, Gunnar; Larsen, Sissel & Wu, Hong (2006). Using digital video to make visible the non-verbal communication and interaction in communication and leadership courses. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  ?Organization theory, communication and leadership for vocational training programs? is a 30 credits course focusing on interdisciplinary interaction, communication and conflict resolution. This approach makes the course suitable for many on-campus and lifelong learning programs. Main target groups include, but are not limited to college of engineering, college of education and school of nursing. Traditional courses on these topics are strong on the written and explicit part of communication but fail in large to meet the challenges in non-verbal communication and interaction. To better target the challenges we use an approach including real life cases, role-play, multimedia and ongoing analyzes, replacing traditional lectures with student guidance, dialogue and interaction in a flexible team oriented learning environment. This paper present one possible infrastructure using teams of academics, case studies, learning management systems (LMS) and digital video-recordings. Further we discuss and reflect on our experi- ences with student guidance, dialogue and interaction in a flexible team oriented learning environment using digital video as one key component. The course presented uses case studies focusing on interaction practices. The case studies includes the use of digital video to make visible the non-verbal communication and interaction. The digital recordings form the basis of the supplementary work and analyzes both on-campus in the teams and off-campus using Internet. Reflections and dialogs on the digital materials are core activities and depend on repeatedly play back, editing and sharing. The intention of our new approach is not necessarily for students to solve the misunderstanding or conflict in the case, but to be able to recognize and understand the dynamics of such a situation. ICT and web based applications are used where practical to preposition learning in a diverse student group emphasizing on flexibility and universal accessibility. The study is closely surveyed using online surveys, logs and interviews as part of a research and development project funded by The Norwegian University Agency for Flexible Learning and others.

• Andersson, Gunnar; Larsen, Sissel & Wu, Hong (2005). Learning Communication Skills through Non-verbal Interactions and Process Analysis. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Communication is an essential skill of leadership in practice, regardless profession. The topic is therefore often defined as one important chapter for most organizational and management courses. There are, however, many pedagogical approaches for teaching this topic, depending on individual course objectives and targeted student groups. This paper exemplifiesa case of teaching communication topic for education students at Østfold University College, and illustrates a none-traditional ICT related teaching approach for teaching education. There are two major aspects are presenting for this paper: 1)Exercising and learning communication skills through an acting and reacting play as a none-traditional teaching approach; 2) Using Learning Management System (LMS) to restore the course documents, including students? work assignments, and generate a virtual classroom for on campus and remote students.For aspect 1), the students have learned their communicationskills through a situation based acting play, taken up by a short sequence of a video clip. They have observed and analyzed their communication process during the video session, included their non-verbal and interactions. They also needed to conduct their analysis and process reflection as a part of their written assignments. In a way, their pedagogical approach is not only reading and writing based, but also acting and reacting based. For aspect 2), the students have received a short LMS introduction session at the course beginning, so they can use this LMS application for course conducting. All the course materials, including students? analysis reports and video clips are restored at, and can be retrieved from the course?s LMS. This LMS solution was a convenient alternative forover 1/3 of students, whom are considered as a remote student category, as their accesses for face-to-face lecture hours are limited. As a result, the current course evaluation and updated activity analysis shows beneficial outcomes of none-traditional teaching methods and their good learning effects.The current case has also exemplified the benevolence of developing innovative teaching methods to attract students, especially remote students, and improving quality of teaching. Last, but not least, the benefits of establishing a cross-sectional cooperation between discipline of engineering and discipline of education.

• Andersson, Gunnar & Wu, Hong (2005). Exploration and Practice of Quality Education on Students' Entrepreneurship and Scientific Innovation. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Education on the scientific innovation and entrepreneurship is becoming more and more important in China. According tothe ?Activity Plan of Prospering Education Orientated to 21st Century? established by the Ministry of Education, lacking of the talents with creativity on the international level becomes a major factor of restricting the creative and competitive capabilities of the country both at the present and duringa longer time later. Education is the basis of the overall national power. The national power depends on not only the quantity and quality of the talents from all kinds of subjects but also of the labors. Knowledge and talents, the nation?s quality and creativity have become an important criterion of evaluating the overall national power of a country, and a keyfactor of whether pushing or restricting economic increasingand social development as well. The quality of talents is the key of creativity. The higher education plays a basis and pioneering role on fostering the talents with creativity. Its purpose is not only to challenge the traditional ?academic education?, but more importantly to explore the approaches or methods of developing the creativity of the university students. Innovation has already become ?the main cantus? of reforming the higher education of the 21st century. Training the versatile talents with the spirit of creativity and quality of pioneering is not only the requirements for social development but also the change of the educational concept, fostering the talents and overtaking the advanced technology in the world. Moreover, it has the practical significance on many aspects such as career of the university students after graduationand social stability. This paper cites an example of education on students? entrepreneurship and scientific innovation in Shijiazhuang University of Economics and demonstrates a number of practical approaches for integrating these topics into university?s educating program and motivating students to engage in the program. As observed, the program matches for entrepreneurship and innovation, and makes students to bourgeonentrepreneurship thinking and gestates their entrepreneurship enthusiasm. They can push their inspiration into realization and then achieve themselves satisfaction in their minds. After pursuing their innovation plan they have known more society and market requirements and what they should learn later. On the basis of the practice of entrepreneurship and scientific innovation from Shijiazhuang University of Economics, someapocalypses of this program are concluded, such as ability and quality for adapting students themselves to catch up with the development of the times as well, the appreciation of their multiple skills and abilities, their skills of cooperation for incubating and promoting for creative and innovative work, and their abilities for training and creating integrators

• Andersson, Gunnar; Larsen, Sissel & Wu, Hong (2004). PROJECT BASED LEARNING IN AN OPEN SOURCE DISTRIBUTED ENVIRONMENT. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  A research study has reviewed and analyzed a course usinga project based approach to learning and open source projectmanagement technology. Key objectives in the study are the development and evaluation of educational tools to support project based, student centered, learning in a distributed environment. The research project, witch this study is one partof, has two objectives: 1) Create an environment for flexible project based learning and 2) Describe learning strategies,arenas, schedules and success criteria found among the students. All methods, tools and approaches used in (1) are meant to be available for the students for later implementation in own practices. This implies use of open source tools for project management and collaboration. The review and analysis is based on the course Innovation Techniques run autumn 2003.This is a 12 credits (European Credit Transfer System) course with 14 students from 5 different university colleges and related institutions. Each group work together with a local company and evaluates the research and development activities in that specific company using standardized approaches and methods. The final assessment of the course is based on a reportdiagnosing the research and development activities with suggestions for changes based on the analysis done Since the study is part of the research project funded by the The Norwegian University Agency for Flexible Learning the students are monitored closely. This is done using surveys, survey feedback discussions, student work logs, student work photos, and research interviews. Results from these methods are presented in this paper with focus on the project-based approach to learning and open source project management technology.

• Wu, Hong (2004). Web Based vs. Web Supported Learning Environment ­ A Distinction of Course Organizing or Learning Style? Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes an online course ?Construction Engineering and Project Calculations?, conducted by Østfold University College of Norway in 2002. The course was targeted to the college?s engineering students, mainly on campus, with a possibility for off-campus course participants. It was intendedto introduce online courseware (LearningSpace) as a learningtool for the course, and the students were encouraged to useLearningSpace as their basic learning tool. The course analysis indicated, however, their use of this courseware, only limited as a supportive tool, but not as a basic learning tool. The course observation also shows a factor that even for student online activities, the majority of online activities were concentrated on campus, within normal working days. Their main online activities are also categorized for assignments (duty based) with very little discussions (voluntary based). As a result, the course instructor had to conduct face-to-facelectures fully as an ordinary teachingplan. The course conducting was rather defined as a web supported, not a web based learning environment. Keywords: Web based or web supported environment, course organizing, learning style, and virtual classroom

• Wu, Hong (2004). Educating generalists versus specialists : a comparative analysis on national framework plans for engineering education in Norway before and after 2003. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Engineering education in Norway is in a rapidly changing process and paradigm shifting for the last decade. The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research has initiated a numberof reforms and restructures for higher education, including engineering education. The initiative was a national merging process to integrating over 130 local and district colleges into 26 regional university colleges. The merging process alsointended to strengthen the potential future aspects, such asinternationalization, research based teaching methods, quality assurance for teaching and learning activities, just to mention few. National Framework is a basic document to formulate criteria and guidelines for engineering education in Norway. For the last decade, this national framework has been changed twice, in 1996 and 2003 respectively. The current study focuses on the major changes in this national framework between 1996 version and 2003 version. The study compares the two versions and their similarities and differences. The comparison is undertaking in both versions? details, such as requirements, goals, expectations, technical specifications, structures, organizing, teaching methods and evaluations. The significant changes between these two versions are noticed almost forevery detail. This raises a fundamental question for engineering education: Are going to educating generalists or specialists for our future engineers? A parallel analysis for changes in quality international standards is introduced to compare with current study. It seems the quality concepts, the quality standards and their contents have been changed for two decades ago. The modern quality philosophy focuses on customers? satisfaction, need assessment, and documentation processing(dynamic aspects), while the traditional quality systems emphasized rather technical definition and specifications (static aspects). The similar trend and changes (dynamic vs. staticaspects) are observed between these two versions of framework for engineering education. Perhaps, the modern quality philosophy has catalyzed the paradigm shifting for the modern engineering education and formulated a future profile for engineers? Index Terms  Comparative analysis, national framework, quality standards, an engineer?s future profile.

• Wu, Hong; Andersson, Gunnar & Wilichowski, Mathias (2004). Working in a Group before Meeting Face-to-Face ? A Case of International Student Online Project. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes a case of an international student online project. The project was a part of cooperation betweentwo European educational institutions, Østfold University College in Norway and University of Wismar in Germany. An international student group consisting of three German students and five Norwegian students joined this project. Technically, the project was testing of an open source based online platform, LearnLoop (http://www.learnloop.org/). Organizationally, the project was used as a preparing phase for German visiting students, as well as international openings for Norwegian students. The project topic was focused on international communication and environment issues. As a result, the German students were able to getting familiar with Norway and Norwegian education system, and working methods. The Norwegian students also acquired international experiences by working this project with their German co-students. This paper describes the process of this joint international student project, and presents the detailed analysis of online activities, as well as offline student activities throughout the project phases. Keywords: Open source platform, international student exchanges, network cooperation, student activities

• Wu, Hong & Sørby, Kåre (2004). From the Paper Work to a PC World - Online Practice fora Large on Campus Class. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The use of electronic communication in the course teaching practice opens new opportunities, paradigms and debates. A classical and debatable issue is using of electronic communication whether can create paperless work and effectiveness of learning andteaching environment or not. This article is writing about the analysis of online courseware for on campus students, in learning and teaching of a university college course. Communication, Environment and Project based learning (CEP) is a standard 15 ECTS course for the first year engineeringstudents at Østfold University College of Norway. The CEP course uses an online communication center combined with traditional teaching and advising. There are approximately 150 college engineering students participated in this CEP course, andthe courseware (LearingSpace) was a basic communication toolfor them. The students used online courseware to restore andtransfer their messages, reports and documents, though the distance was not an issue, physically. ?Learning-by-doing? is an important pedagogical principle for this online CEP practice. They also intended to practice their ICT applicable skills, not only through on campus ICT training, but also through their project coordinating and reporting. The analysis of this CEP online practice was based on a survey of their feedbackand their online activities. The quantitative dimensions of the course and the large number of students seemed to be the crucial issue for this electronic application, and shallbe aware for further implementing. Keywords: On campus students,online courseware, survey and feedback analysis.

• Wu, Hong (2004). Mobility, flexibility and compatibility : a strategy of restructuring for future engineering education. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Like any other industry or business sectors, it is part of nature, but also hazard to observe downturn/declining of one or few majors in engineering education offers. Lack of potential interests and weakening of student recruiting are typical indications. This could happen for any particular university or college, one region or even for one country. The consequences will be however, not only drastic and negative for one particular university or college, but also for national industry or business sectors if continued. It is a hard competition to attract potential engineering students nowadays. Though the survival of the fittest was a classical philosophy, it is still applied for student recruiting situation. Restructuring of engineering education offers is one key issue for many institutions. There is often a question of how to restructure the education offers in order to be the fittest. Learning from the historical lessons of industry, business or even military battles, the successful strategy seems to focus on mobility, flexibility and compatibility. There are many cases to prove the advantages of mobility, flexibility and compatibility for industry, business or even military competitions: The successful stories of automobile development over railway; semi-conduct over vacuum tube; airplane over airship; quality-circle/teamwork over purely functional sections; cavalry over infantry or submarine over battleships, just to mention few. Perhaps, future engineering education shall bring in mobility, flexibility and compatibility as a philosophy or a strategic restructuring for changes? This paper presents a subjective description and few none-empirical definitions of mobility, flexibility and compatibility for restructuring of engineering education. A roughly strategic approach with possibly technical solutions for such restructuring is drafted. The potential benefits and consequences are discussed. Furthermore, the discussion also addresses possible impact during the implementing process, such as maintaining/improving quality of teaching, reducing of cost/budget or providing accessibility for further continual education. This strategic approach is perhaps still in a pre-matured stage yet, but there are definitely openings for further debates or experiments. Like any other industry or business sectors, it is time for engineering education to restructuring and it might be a good idea to learn some successful histories from other sectors. Index Terms  Restructuring of engineering education, mobility, flexibility, compatibility a philosophy and a strategic approach.

• Wu, Hong; Wilichowski, Mathias & Belohoubek, Pavel (2004). A debate on mechanical engineering major and its cultural characteristics. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Mechanical engineering has been an essential major for the traditional engineering education. For the post-second war generation, many business managers, industrial leaders and even governmental top officers were educated within mechanical engineering fields. In a way, this major represented an important aspect, not only in an educational sector, but also in an attentive part of the national economy and political systems for many European countries. This status has however, changed a lot for the past few decades, especially for high labour cost countries. The major of mechanical engineering faces huge challenges both in business, industrial and educational sectors. For the industry, the mechanical engineering activities are moving to low labour cost countries. For the education, general interests for this major have been noticeably reduced among the potential applicants for the higher education. The debates and practices on how to handle these challenges are also the important events for many engineering universities. The current study is a comparative analysis on the mechanical engineering major for three sampled European universities of engineering education (Sarpsborg-Norway, Wismar-Germany,and Brno-Czech). All these three are traditionalengineeringuniversities and the mechanical engineering major is/has been their essentially teaching activities. The analysis focuseson their current status, debates, course designs/contents, practices and teaching philosophies on this major and how theyhandle these challenges mentioned above. Though mechanicalengineering is a standard major for the all, there are stillcultural characteristics or practical methods to diversify this standard major in teaching activities. There are also different expectations and requirements from universities or teaching staff to these mechanical engineering students. These differences reflect again, cultural characteristics and current demands from the local industries of these countries. Like other majors, mechanical engineering is not only a standard major by its academic definition, but also a various major in teaching practices depended on its special circumstances around. This variation opens a continual and further debate, in its changing options, availabilities for industrial demands, cultural or national characteristics and global compatibilities, etc. Index Terms  Mechanical engineering major, comparative analysis, course designs/contents, cultural characteristics.

• Wu, Hong (2003). Accessing a virtual classroom and creating online learning environment for your own benefit E-learning and class activities in a virtual classroom - a quantitative approach for performance analysis. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong; Larsen, Sissel & Andersson, Gunnar (2003). Web-based learning in teacher education : advanced technology and appropriate tackling. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Early childhood teacher education in Norway is on-demand education defined by the Norwegian government. As a result, the vocational training for on-job early childhood teachers is an attractive and necessary education offer for this target teacher group. It is a natural thought to apply advanced technology, such as online or computer-assisted learning, in this kind of education offer so this education offer becomes accessible and affordable for teachers. There are however, many challenges and debatable issues for such an approach, for example, how to handling advanced technology and bringing motivations among the learners to work online and become familiar with computers. Is this a powerful weapon to support their learning environment or just a stressful wagon to drive them into confusion? The present study has introduced and analyzed a case of online and computer-assisted learning for such vocational teacher training at Østfold University College. The case was sampled from an early childhood teacher class with 20 on-job vocational teachers. It was applied online web-based virtual classroom, combined with face-to-face meetings throughout the training period. There were 4 major topics, Pedagogical Education, Mathematics, English and Norwegian, which divided into 4 independent courses, each with an own online web-based virtual classroom. The analysis focuses on candidates’ expectations, their online class performance, their feedback and comments to the courses, and how their online behavior similarly contra differently at their each course or topic.

• Andersson, Gunnar & Wu, Hong (2003). Open Source Engineering Network: Learning Methods, Content And Delivery In A Time Of Change. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We can see a rather dramatic change in engineering education. These changes include how it is delivered, its objectives, and who the students are [1]. Key issues are team centred, project based learning activities, flexible delivery methods including distributed online course activities, online portfolio assessment, increased collaboration between universities both locally and international. New curriculum’s evolving are dominated by integrative and holistic approaches to engineering education with early exposure to engineering practice and design made possible with partnerships between industry and engineering schools. The courses conducted are often designed to attract a wide range of learners, allowing for flexible individual solutions, lifelonglearning and continuous education. The online virtual classroom plays an important part of the new engineering education outlined. Today’s online courses offered by universities and colleges worldwide are in general based on commercial learning management systems (LMS). The marked is characterized by a multitude of vendors offering a range of learning environments like WebCT, Blackboard and LearningSpace. The development and momentum of the open source community and in particular its new adoption by government agencies concerned about excessive dependence on proprietary software oppose this trend. Added the increased collaboration between universities worldwide we see a demand for open systems and tailored solutions meeting the different requirements set by the change in engineering education. A research study has reviewed and analyzed a course based on open source technology and methods as described in the OPEN [5] project focusing on the course’s learning environment, services provided, activities, feedback and comments from learners, in connection with mentioned challenges. The course was sampled from an electric circuits course, designed by Oestfold University College and conducted autumn 2002 and spring 2003. The learning environment and services provided were benchmarked using the college’s in-production high load commercial LMS as reference. The course’s activities were defined and collected by a quantitative dimension, thus by the online statistical parameters, while feedback and comments from the learners were generated by a qualitative dimension, using online surveys.

• Wu, Hong & Andersson, Gunnar (2003). Distance and autonomous self-access learning : the necessity of closeness and authoritative organizing. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Web-based teaching tools have created and opened new opportunities for distance and autonomous self-access learning. Many teaching and training courses have introduced and applied web-based tools as new delivery channels for their users. There are however new challenges for this approach and the web-based learning environment could be ended up as a stressful experience for new learners. They could possibly feel the psychological distance and isolation from their teachers and other learners,since their PCs are the only connection to the class. They might need back up, more closely and technically than what they would have in a traditional classroom based teaching environment. They might appreciate much personal supporting or guiding for their autonomy for self-access learning, so that such a learning style could be a real functional and valuable method. A research study has reviewed and analyzed an online course’s activities, feedback and comments from learners, in connection withmentioned challenges. The course was sampled from a training course for teachers, designed by Østfold University College and conducted on November 2002. The course’s activities were defined and collected by a quantitative dimension, thus by the online statistical parameters, while feedback and comments from the learners were generated by a qualitative dimension, thus by pre-designed questions and learners’ answers. The study analysis has addressed the necessity of closeness during the teaching process and authoritative organization for the course program.

• Wu, Hong (2003). Online teaching and learning – a new development and a new paradigm 1. Backgrounds and current situations at our university college 2. Examples of online teaching courses 3. Examples of course analysis and analytical method issues 4. Experience, problems and possible solutions 5. Remaining debatable issues. Full text in Research Archive
• Wu, Hong & Andersson, Gunnar (2003). The importance of time budgeting for online learning. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Web-based online learning and teaching is an interesting and debatable issue for many teachers and learners. It is natural and reasonable to research, compare, question and argue the different aspects of this technological approach. There is one particular aspect this article focuses on, that is the importance of time budgeting for online learning. The article was written based on the data analysis for an online training course “Online Teaching – Introduction and Basic Practice” conducted by Østfold University College in September 2001. The course was primarily designed for university and college professors and teachers. The intention is to introducing an example of web-based online learning and teaching solution for them, so motivating them to practice their own teaching courses online. There are a number of problems observed during the course and a high drop-off percentage was presented and discussed. The data analysis and a summary of feedback indicate however a trend of timebudgeting or resource related reasons, not technique or course issues. The study concludes a fact of online learning and teaching is rather a free option of course offers, not a “free lunch” or an easy solution for anyone. It is important and necessary to provide sufficient time budgeting for this new learning style and method.

• Wu, Hong & Andersson, Gunnar (2003). The need of stability and reliability : an analysis for online tests of picture-phone solutions for remote scales. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  As a result of rapid development for online technologies, there are many software options available for online picture-phone solutions. A potential usage for such solutions is supporting online learning and teaching activities in a remote scale, especially in face-to-face teaching. Though the choices have never been so many as now, there are still relatively few ordinary users to introduce or apply such solutions into their online courses, especially on a remote scale. For college or university users, it is important to test, introduce and apply such solutions into their daily learning and teaching activities. Such implementing is not only a part of integrating with online tests or laboratories, but also a part of sharing collaborative learning environments with other users. As a part of practice in picture-phone applications, there have been conducted online tests for different picture-phone solutions, in remote scales. The intention of tests was establishing a stable, reliable infrastructure for flexible learning environment with receipt partners. The main assignments were testing, analyzing and recommending software solutions and applications for these activities, so that lectures, student guidance, research seminars, and other academic meetings can be held in a meaningful way. The focus of tests was identifying a potential universal design and low-cost, suitable solution for ordinary users and equipments for remote picture-phone solutions. This research paper has analyzed and summarized major tests’ outcomes and findings, and made recommendations for further use. The conclusions and summary of tests also highlight the need of stability and reliability for choice of such solutions, and possible challenges during the test process.

• Andersson, Gunnar & Wu, Hong (2002). The colors of an online learning society : experiences from multi-disciplined online teaching practices A Summary of Experiences from Multi-disciplined Online Teaching Practices. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract: One of debatable issues for implementing online learning is the issue of accessibility for online learners. Skeptic views consider online learning as a laboratory infant and they believe online learning is only accessible for young and IT experienced learners, thus, a narrow group of online learners. A research study has surveyed for 17 online courses, conducted by Østfold University College since 1998. A number of facts are summarized from the experiences of these courses. The study summary demonstrates the fact that online learning is accessible and applicable for a broad rang of learners, though they all have their own different ages, IT knowledge, education backgrounds, disciplines of their professions and located in different geographical regions. The study has surveyed 555 online students and participants and the survey indicates the fact that online learning is rather a colorful communication society where many of our prospective learners are adapting online learning as their new ways of learning and knowledge seeking. The study of these 17 course contents illustrates the large variety for implementation of online learning in different school disciplines, majors and teaching courses. The current study has also addressed the backgrounds, need and importance of implementing online learning as a part of education reform process for many university colleges. The final discussion has focused on the new challenges for implementing online learning and addressed the necessity of resource allocation for this new ways of learning.

• Wu, Hong & Fossum, Mariann (2002). From an engineer group to a nurse corporation : a comparative analysis for online course conducting in small vs. large class. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract: As online teaching becomes one of additional teaching methods, there are also many questions to be discussed for practical conducting and implementing issues. One of the crucial issues for online teaching is the size of an online class. It is a common belief that an online teacher will probably face more difficulties and challenges in a larger size of an online class. However, it is also interesting and worthwhile to experiment the ultimate size of an online class and study the teaching effects for such a size. A research study has surveyed 2 sampled online courses, both conducted at Østfold University College. The survey analysis has focused on teaching effects and class performance for these 2 online classes, sampled differently in their sizes, thus 15 vs. 130 students, and their student categories, thus, engineer vs. nurse students. The experiences from both sampled courses indicate that online teaching can be well applied for both small and large class size, also for both engineer and nurse students. However, the study discussion also mentioned and analyzed few differences and detailed problems during the conducting of these 2 sampled courses, and suggested few implications for the further practice.

• Wu, Hong (2002). Number's consequences : an experiment and a discussion in standardization of teaching effectiveness evaluations based on course performance statistics. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract: While online teaching applies widely in many educational institutions and becomes a part of their standard course programs, discussions about the effectiveness of online teaching still seem to be an open and disagreeable issue. Both favoritism and criticism have their own sources, evidences and arguments to prove and disprove the online teaching effectiveness. Nevertheless, the debates are probably also in a pre-matured stage, so that no standard for the effectiveness evaluation is settledyet. Until now, most applicable effectiveness evaluations for online teaching are using the traditional methods, such as interviews, feedback and comments made or pre-designed questionnaires scored by online students. It is perhaps worthwhile to experiment other unconventional methods for effectiveness evaluations. The current study is an attempt for such an unconventional method. A survey of a number of sampled online courses is conducted on these courses’ performance statistics, as their numbers of registered course documents. The survey analysis has examined these courses’ performance statistics and established an empirical performance summary from each course. Further analysis compared on these performance summaries each other and mapped correlations between these performance summaries. As a result, a measurement standard for effectiveness evaluations for these online courses is established, empirically. The current study has also discussed the validity and reliability issues in standardization of teaching effectiveness evaluations based on courses’ performance statistics.

• Andersson, Gunnar & Wu, Hong (2001). Distributed learning in physics and mathematics : a practical case and experiences from engineering education. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract: The demmand for distance learning is increasing. Different social,economic and technological forces work together and drive this demand.In this paper we will focus ondistributed learning as one form of technology enabled distance learning. We will present a case of teaching physics and mathematics for students in the Norwegian armed forces situated all over Norway.In this context any-time and any-where learning is not an option,but a demand. Several aspects are presented;technical framework and courseware,organisation of the courses,types of learning activities used and different means for the teachers to administer assignments and evaluation.Real life experiences and examples with interests for both physics and mathematics education will be emphasised.Last we will present a course activity analysis based on the courses presented.

• Wu, Hong (2001). Spinning Your Course Into A Web Classrom Advantages And Challenges. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Web based online course becomes a new generation of distance and asynchronous learning. A rapid development in web technology and its applications widen the variation and offers of online course. However, the advantages and challenges of teaching a course online shall be addressed when implementing. It is also important to address what main differences an online course will m ke when compared with teaching a course in a traditional classroom. This article is writing about the data analysis on few sampled online courses and the analysis was focused on the class performance by 3 statistical surveys in numbers of registered do uments throughout an online course. The analysis illustrated the advantages in teaching a web based online course, as the natural part of an online world. The analysis also showed some challenges in an online course, which are different from a traditio al classroom based course.

• Wu, Hong & Andersson, Gunnar (2001). The Importance of Secondary Data in Online Teaching A Quantitative Evaluation and A Comparative Analysis for Online Class Performance. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Department of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Østfold University College has offered and lectured an online course for university and college teachers for motivating their engagement for online teaching of their own courses. This course has been conducted twice in Østfold College of Norway and once in Shijiazhuang University of Economics, China, for selected groups of university and college teachers. The current study has analyzed the database from these courses and undertaken a comparative analysis between course participant groups, respectively for Norwegian teachers and Chinese colleagues. The methodology issue is discussed and the importance of using secondary data is addressed in this article. The analysis illustrated the significant differences in online performance between Norwegian teachers and their Chinese colleagues.

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