There is an excellent article in the Boston Globe Today on the efforts MIT is advancing to foster innovation. Well done President Reif!
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/01/26/mit-reboots-approach-innovation/TExxXWxI02WOR4NZKIHAFP/story.html
Why are these efforts exceptional? Why isn't it the norm for Universities to lead in creating an ecosystem that translates research based knowledge into innovative designs to address important problems? What do you think are the barriers that need to be overcome? Should universities more intentionally play this role?
Here are a couple of short articles on the role of universities in promoting innovation
http://blogs.hbr.org/2011/03/educational-innovation-technol/
http://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/publications/revistaonline/fall-2012/innovating-universities
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/01/26/mit-reboots-approach-innovation/TExxXWxI02WOR4NZKIHAFP/story.html
Why are these efforts exceptional? Why isn't it the norm for Universities to lead in creating an ecosystem that translates research based knowledge into innovative designs to address important problems? What do you think are the barriers that need to be overcome? Should universities more intentionally play this role?
Here are a couple of short articles on the role of universities in promoting innovation
http://blogs.hbr.org/2011/03/educational-innovation-technol/
http://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/publications/revistaonline/fall-2012/innovating-universities
8 comments:
Here is a link to the article
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/01/26/mit-reboots-approach-innovation/TExxXWxI02WOR4NZKIHAFP/story.html
Very interesting. I really liked the idea of MIT possibly creating a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I've always been a little skeptical of the concept of majoring in business as an undergraduate student, because I think it can make people one-dimensional, instead of encouraging them to develop an area of expertise that could be applied to the business world. This would allow students to get their minds working in this direction, without limiting their development. Also, it's nice to know that Harvard may be a step ahead on this one—"Reif is also considering constructing a building solely dedicated to innovation..." Sounds familiar! The more competition and collaboration the merrier.
It is interesting the role of universities and entrepreneurship. At my institution, which is small, we are dabbling in the same concept, http://www.nyit.etic, for engineering students to get some experience with the business end of taking inventions to market. An important aspect also is the patent process.
Sorry - that link should be http://nyit.edu/etic.
I was actually surprised to hear that MIT is being described at as having been behind on the effort to foster innovation. In fact, I had thought that those of us at HGSE were looking to MIT in that sense, with the Media Lab being such a topic of conversation.
After decades of Universities not concentrating on innovation and entrepreneurship, I commend MIT's efforts. When I obtained my MBA, there were only two classes available that focused on innovation. This program, most likely sparked by the spirit of competition, is inspiring. To provide students with the coursework and tools that they need to launch entrepreneurial ventures directly out of school is much needed.
These are exciting times when the world is talking more about "educational innovation", and not just innovation in terms of business, management, engineering, and the like.
Perhaps in a few years' time, we'll see the term "innovation" replacing the word "creativity" in teacher training all over the world, and when a new generation of teachers are born, innovation will become second nature to students everywhere.
Good article, these times innovation is necessary for the transformation of an idea, because you can have the idea but the prospect resources, how to shape it , create it or sell it, the business area missing . We are in the time that more competition every time there , it's why it is necessary to encourage students to create, innovate and transform , it is good that now institutions are seeing innovation within educational spaces is required , and a school as MIT which seeks the promotion innovation to wake the students in this area , creating spaces can be an example for institutions today.
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