Schools at the Crossroads of Innovation in Cities and Regions
Many people would not consider schools among the most innovative institutions of modern societies. This perception is not entirely accurate, since education is innovating in many ways in order to meet the demands of the 21st century economies and societies. But teachers and schools cannot do it alone. They should be seen as actors and partners in broader ecosystems of innovation and learning at the local and regional levels. Schools are networking organisations, making important contributions to the regional economy and local community. Businesses, industry, organisations and communities can help and support schools, and can also benefit from their roles in learning, knowledge development and innovation.
This report serves as the background report to the third Global Education Industry Summit which was held on 25-26 September 2017 in Luxembourg. On the basis of recent OECD analysis, it discusses innovation in education, schools driving progress and well-being in communities, the role of industry and employers in supporting schools and suggests policies towards better ecosystems of learning and innovation. The report argues for better networking and partnerships between schools, regional industries and local communities.
Innovation, education and learning: An ecosystems approach
Centre for Educational Research and Innovation
This chapter provides a general introduction to the theme of the 3rd Global Education Industry Summit. It considers the need for innovation in education to raise productivity and efficiency, increase equity, and improve outcomes overall, and how best to define and measure innovation in the sector. Given the complexity of modern learning systems, which now extend well beyond schools, it introduces new ways to think about whole-of-system change and an ecosystems approach to education, learning and innovation. It discusses the relevance of the local and regional dimension, including learning cities and regions, to developing innovation. Finally it considers the changing demands for skills in the 21st century and the critical need to include the voice of employers and industry in any discussion on innovation in education.