It is important to create an environment of “inclusive innovation” where it involves diversity and inclusion.
The relationship between globalisation and innovation is complex, timely and critical given the dynamic education landscape today. Innovation cultivates global perspectives and is advantageous when it meets the needs of society, creating value in a unique way. Global perspectives have the potential to “satisfy the needs and create value”, and are essential for research as taking into account varying perspectives are crucial for innovation.
Innovation begins from imagination, and eventually leads to invention. Hence, it is critical for educators to find methods to cultivate imagination among students and guide them through the innovation process. In addition, tertiary institutions have to be risk-takers in order for innovation to occur. This is because the idea of innovation is linked to risk-taking; it is at the risk-taking juncture where innovation happens. Innovation is not only beneficial to students, it also helps to boost the university’s competitiveness. For instance, at the University of South Florida (USF), through the implementation of entrepreneurship, faculty education, tenure promotion and changes in reward structures, the institution achieved a top 10 ranking in university patents for six consecutive years.
It is also critical for students to travel beyond borders and interact with individuals from various disciplines so as to stimulate both students’ and faculty global thinking due to the cosmopolitan nature of the education industry. By doing so, it can help them realise that innovation is not limited to certain fields, but rather it is intertwined. Innovation happens not independent of culture and people. While certain knowledge is required to turn innovation into functionality, it is going to interact with humans in some way regardless of disciplines.
Therefore, it is important to create an environment of “inclusive innovation” where it involves diversity and inclusion. While global perspective means bringing together people from different cultures, mindsets and experiences, how we create environments that allow us to recognise the differences is even more important for higher education institutions.
Source: Higher Ed Today
How do you think universities in Russia and Central Asia can utilise innovation to boost their institutions’ global recognition and reputation?
Join academics from across the world at the upcoming QS WORLDWIDE 2018 from 21-22 May 2018 in Moscow, Russia in the discussion on “In Search of University Excellence: Perspectives from Russia and Central Asia”.