Innovation ecosystems in the education sector are typically the result of evolving collaborations between schools, philanthropic organizations, and for-profit entities, among others, in which schools seek to procure particular technologies and/or technological services from their partners for the benefit of students. BY: PROF. FELIX MUSAU RIARA, SCHOOL OF COMPUTING SCIENCES DATE: 8TH JUNE 2017

1. PROF. FELIX MUSAU: DEAN, RIARA SCHOOL OF COMPUTING SCIENCES
Education shaping innovation
ecosystem
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2. RUBY CONFERENCE KENYA 2017
Education shaping innovation ecosystem
BY: PROF. FELIX MUSAU
RIARA, SCHOOL OF COMPUTING SCIENCES
DATE: 8TH JUNE 2017

4. Innovation Process - Innovation Funnel

5. Innovation
” An innovation is something original, new, and
important - in whatever field - that breaks into (or
obtains a foothold in) a market or society”*

6. Innovation ecosystems in education
Innovation ecosystems in the education
sector are typically the result of evolving
collaborations between schools, philanthropic
organizations, and for-profit entities, among
others, in which schools seek to procure
particular technologies and/or technological
services from their partners for the benefit of
students.

8. Building an Ecosystem of Higher Education Innovation
Why higher education institutions will continue to be forced to redefine
their value
• The confluence of cost and funding pressures,
• Technology enabled learning innovations
• New paradigms of quality and teaching.

9. The main concern
In the 21st century, universities have been asked to support
the development of their nation by creating economic
wealth, solving big problems and ensuring students have
something to offer their society. The better the university
the more they can contribute.
Concern related to:
• Ranking
• Quality
• Funding

10. Universities, Research & Innovation
10 Big Ideas:
• Empowered governance
• Financial sustainability
• Higher education excellence
• Holistic entrepreneurial graduates
• Innovation ecosystem
• Higher education delivery transformation
• Enculturation of lifelong learning
• Technical and vocational education transformation
• Global prominence
• Intensification of online learning

11. The future of higher education

12. Strategic Themes since 2009

13. Building Innovation Ecosystems in Education
New models of school which are transforming outcomes for
young people, and the emergence of innovation
ecosystems in education which are enabling the
development of new school models, building capacity
across the system and scaling practice.
Enhance understanding of school design, network design and
emerging concepts in education which are shaping
innovation and change, and also of the catalysts and drivers
of innovation and wider system change.

14. How to Achieve Innovations
• Providing insight, analysis and thinking around new models of
school, their design principles and cultural practices, and the
outcomes that they seek to achieve and wider impacts
• Enhance understanding of innovation, system change and
movement building in education towards new approaches, and
underlying drivers and enablers
• Challenge the prevailing thinking and provoke discussion and
debate, especially amongst education and policy communities, in
drawing together a number of compelling arguments and themes
• Develop ideas for new programmes, partnerships, activities and
school designs.
• providing a knowledge base and springboard for future work, and
inviting exploration and thinking amongst colleagues

15. For real innovation to take place in our schools, a
paradigm shift must take place a paradigm shift must
take place, including the following factors:
• Educators must adopt an innovation mindset.
• Ed-tech entrepreneurs must adopt a pedagogical mindset

16. Emerging concepts in school design
• Learner centered design
• Agency and growth
• Prioritisation of Engagement
• Deeper learning
• Engine v the theatre
• Relationships
• Place based and real world connected

17. COMPARISON OF MODELS
The historical model:
Fit the individual to
the system
The future model:
Fit the system to the
individual
FOCUS OF SCHOOL Academics in core
disciplines
Learning goals that
are broad, deep, and
interdisciplinary
EXPECTATIONS OF
CHILDREN
Set early, kept
modest
High for all
ROLE OF
STUDENTS
Obedient, passive
recipients
Active owners

18. The historical model:
Fit the individual to
the system
The future model:
Fit the system to the
individual
DELIVERY OF
INSTRUCTION
Fixed and classroom-
based
Flexible and
personalized
ROLE OF
EDUCATORS
One person, many
hats
Many people, many
hats
ROLE OF PARENTS Passive customers Active partners
NATURE
OF SCHOOL
COMMUNITY
Separation Togetherness and
connectivity
TECHNOLOGY Peripheral Embedded

19. Design principles of innovation ecosystems in education
• Similar to ‘teacher as learning designer’, innovation ecosystems
reorientate power and energy to communities.
• Linked to this, the importance of partnership - between public,
private, third and civic sector organisations
• System leadership and collective impact - and the more
sophisticated use and targeting of resource, with focussed
investment, in achieving change around a shared mission and
vision.
• Prototyping, testing and iteration - of new ideas/approaches/school
models.
• Designing for scale - including an emphasis on systems and
processes, connectivity and networks.
• Technology as an enabler of collaboration, connectivity, knowledge
creation and idea diffusion.

20. Areas for future thinking and exploration
• Building new education narratives, a movement towards new approaches, and a
community of innovative practitioners
• Developing a new collaborative network or practice sharing model across different school
settings - mainstream, AP, SEND, home school community, private sector
• Exploring new programmes for system leadership and professional development,
learning from best practice in innovative and entrepreneurial settings such as industry,
the third or civic sector
• Enabling Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) and school networks to become ecosystems for
innovation, and a platform for system leadership and practice development around new
approaches
• Exploring the reframing of the aims and objectives of school improvement towards
innovation and transformation rather than replication of the traditional
• Experimenting at the margins of mainstream education, where there are stronger
incentives and fewer system constraints
• Exploring how catalyst or incubator type organizations could enable the development of
locality based innovation ecosystems
• Exploring the role of elected leaders and devolved administrations as powerful voices
in education change and advocacy for new solutions
• Diversifying progression pathways so that all young people have strong post secondary
opportunities which are skilled and future focused
• Addressing regulation, or perceptions about regulation

21. CONCLUSION

22. Thank You
Email:
fmusau@riarauniversity.ac.ke
0703 038 451