Advice on cultivating innovation across a university, among academics, staff and students
University leaders must nurture a creative environment in which new ideas can flourish if they are to future-proof higher education institutions; researchers must innovate to achieve research excellence and tackle global challenges; and educators must pioneer new teaching approaches to ensure students graduate with the skills needed in a changing job market. In a sector that shapes tomorrow’s innovators, many argue that sticking to tradition risks curbing the progress that is so vital for solving problems within and outside universities. This collection of resources explores how to drive innovation across higher education.
Faced with financial challenges, political instability and rapid technological change, university leaders must find innovative solutions, streamline processes and lead ongoing changes to maintain their institutions’ long-term success. This means looking beyond traditional models, experimenting, hiring the right people and galvanising staff to contribute their ideas, as these resources explain.
Innovation sits at the heart of academic research – as both a driver and an outcome of this work. New ways of thinking and doing can support more effective research practices, but, for research to make an impact beyond the lab or journal, a start-up culture is needed to translate findings to real-world application. As these resources show, this can mean supporting enterprise, finding ways to streamline processes, looking to technology to ease logistical burdens or broadening perspectives by diversifying research teams.
With recent advancements in GenAI disrupting and reshaping teaching and assessment in higher education, alongside changing student and employer needs, ensuring instructional design and delivery reflect and keep pace with changing demands requires a willingness to keep adapting, listening and improving. To ensure students are prepared for life beyond university, educators must continue to review learning outcomes and embrace new pedagogies – these resources offer help to do this.
By equipping students with skills that are prized in a world shaped by technological change, universities will boost their employability while encouraging the kind of innovative thinking that could make a real difference in society. Read about some effective ways to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset and nurture creativity.
