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.
Policies for better ecosystems of innovation
Centre for Educational Research and Innovation
This chapter considers the role of local, regional and central government policies in creating the conditions for schools to engage in innovation ecosystems. It examines the role of schools as partners in regional and local renewal, by delivering the skills on which local economies depend, acting as key nodes in the social fabric of their communities, and raising aspirations among local people to sustain change and innovation. It lays out a practical strategy schools can use to open up to businesses and the wider community and goes on to look at how businesses, not-for-profit organisations and other associations can benefit from developing partnerships with schools in their area. Finally it lays out the role of the regions in supporting innovation, and the policy principles behind creating learning cities and regions.