Why universities should innovate

The second change I saw was in the diversity of our student population. The idea of a student being predominantly 18 years old and enrolled in a three- to four-year program was no longer the case. There were many more adult students, who for many reasons, were dropping in and out of university. As a result, the student experience was no longer a singular one.

I also found there was much more anxiety among our students and their parents, and a lot of debate about whether programs should meet the needs of the economy by more directly preparing students for jobs.

What was your approach to leading educational innovation at the UW-M?

One of the first questions I asked myself was, “Who was thinking or doing things differently?” The key was to find existing changes and innovation, and create a dialogue among and between departments. Universities run in a “siloed” way, so you need to find ways to bring departments together.

What are the five characteristics a university needs to be innovative?

1. Innovation by itself, if not embedded in some sort of university plan, will not work. What is needed is a broad agreement on whether or not it is a plan in the formal sense or a three-year strategy. There must also be a sense of collective ownership across the institution and a timetable for execution.
   
   
2. A deep recognition of the digital revolution and what it can and cannot do. This is an era where universities need to have high-quality professionals who can support faculty in terms of IT needs.
   
   
3. Recognition of the growing diversity of the student body. We must recognize that one size does not fit all when you have such a diverse student population. Under these circumstances, you need to have several pathways to degrees.
   
   
4. Start a dialogue about the nature and organization of knowledge. This involves rethinking the complex department and program structures. Irrespective of the revenue crisis, it is important to rethink how knowledge is organized and delivered. We don’t just teach students; we advance knowledge.
   
   
5. You may not be able to do all things for all people because of the diversity of student needs and the enormous cost of comprehensiveness. Rather than trying to replicate a full range of programs, you can take advantage of networking and collaborating with other institutions locally, nationally or globally.

The speaker series The Future of the University and the Future of Learning is part of Concordia’s strategic directions process.

David Ward addresses the question “Why should universities innovate?” at 11 a.m. on January 28 in Room MB-2.445 in the John Molson School of Business Building (MB), 1450 Guy St., Sir George Williams Campus.

Randy Bass, vice-provost for Education at Georgetown University, takes the podium on February 5 to address the question of “What is next-generation learning?” On March 10, Elizabeth Cannon, president of the University of Calgary, will reflect on the question “How can universities go from good to great?”

To register for these presentations, please email directions@concordia.ca. Include your name and whether you're faculty, a student or a staff member.