Higher
education has a reputation, deserved or not, for being resistant to change.
Some universities, according to a report in eCampus News, are trying to dispel
that image by appointing a chief innovation officer to lead and encourage
positive change on the business side of the institution.
A
study by Russell Reynolds Associates found that 20%-30% of the “top” 50 U.S.
universities have developed a senior-level position devoted to innovation,
entrepreneurship, or new ventures. Their specific duties may vary, but in
general “this role is strategic and aims at driving and maximizing revenues
from innovation,” said the report.
Chief
innovation officers focus on finding new and different revenue sources for the
university, rather than looking for ways to bring innovation to teaching and
learning, but some are involved in fostering greater collaboration across
departments and disciplines.
Innovation
can take two forms: sustained or disruptive, according to Education Dive’s new
monthly Innovation Column. “Sustained innovation maintains the current
framework of competitive idea engineering, while disruptive developments change
the trajectory of how leaders must operate for their institutions to stay
competitive, or even survive,” wrote Shalina Chatlani.
