scholarly journals Can Universities Help “Build Back Better” in Education? The Socially Embedded University Responds to the Covid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando M. Reimers
Keyword(s):  
Social Innovation ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
External Environment ◽  
School Of Education ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Probabilistic Survey ◽  
University Leaders ◽  
Alternative Delivery

The high impact disruptions in the external environment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic revealed the socially embedded character of many universities around the world. University collaborations with schools during the pandemic suggest that they are institutions open to their external environment, capable of learning from and with their environment, and capable of influencing their external environment, helping to address significant social challenges. Drawing on a non-probabilistic survey administered to a convenience sample of 101 universities in 21 countries, I examine how they built partnerships with schools to sustain educational opportunity during the pandemic. The results are informative of the evolving nature of higher education and its mission. They illustrate the responsiveness of universities to societal needs. The findings show that universities are socially connected to their surrounding context, and that they see themselves as engines of social innovation at a time of great unexpected need. The study found the majority of universities to be engaged with schools supporting education during the pandemic. They see such engagement as part of their mission and strategy, even though they perceive it as challenging. Most of such engagements do not have a formalized “theory of action,” but are evolving as the crisis created by the pandemic itself evolved. While such engagement during the pandemic builds on pre-existing engagements with schools, the response during the pandemic provided an opportunity to integrate different efforts across various units. The majority of the universities in the study had a school of education, and about half have a program of pre-service teacher education and few of the collaborations established during the pandemic were new, most were based on pre-existing collaborations. In two thirds of the cases the collaborations with schools during the pandemic were initiated by University leaders. Most of the collaborations consist of developing alternative delivery channels and supporting teachers in developing new skills to teach remotely.

scholarly journals Promotion of Social Innovation through Fab Labs. The Case of ProteinLab UTEM in Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8790
Author(s):  
Macarena Valenzuela-Zubiaur ◽  
Héctor Torres Bustos ◽  
Mónica Arroyo-Vázquez ◽  
Pablo Ferrer-Gisbert
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Quadruple Helix ◽  
Third Mission ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Mixed Analysis ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Effective Instrument

Fab Labs as manufacturing laboratories that stimulate innovation and collaboration are nowadays proliferating within universities. Given the new social challenges, framed within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), we formulate the following research question: Are Fab Labs an effective tool for the promotion of social innovation from universities? To answer this question, a mixed analysis has been carried out focusing on the case of ProteinLab UTEM. The approach aims to generate a model for the promotion of social innovation from universities through Fab Labs, linking the quadruple helix actors. The objective of this model is to show how Fab Labs can become an effective instrument to promote social innovation from universities. The contribution of this article lies in linking Fab Labs with social innovation through the university’s third mission. Our approach considers Fab Labs as an instrument for the development of social innovations within the university, which contribute, through the third mission, to the social and sustainable development of its environment. As a result of this research, a model is presented for the development of social innovation from universities through Fab Labs. Our research concludes that Fab Labs are an effective instrument for the promotion of social innovation from universities.

scholarly journals Social Innovation and Food Provisioning during Covid-19: The Case of Urban–Rural Initiatives in the Province of Naples

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Cattivelli ◽  
Vincenzo Rusciano
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Food Provisioning ◽  
Local Society ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Desk Research

This paper draws on the theoretical framework based on social innovation determinants to analyze how and to what extent the recent and self-organized initiatives for food provisioning are contributing to increase food accessibility at the time of personal and mobility restrictions due to Covid-19. Based on this, the paper firstly maps the initiatives activated during the first months of the Covid-19 emergency (March and April 2020) in the urban–rural territories in the province of Naples (Italy). Secondly, it characterizes these initiatives in relation to their capacity to enhance outcome and social well-being, as well as to involve local society in answer to social challenges through a desk research. Thirdly, the paper describes the case of Masseria Ferraioli, which emerges as social innovative best practice among the previous mapped initiatives. Even in these days, the Masseria distributes to people who cannot afford the purchase due to the emergency vegetables grown on land confiscated from the Camorra, the local mafia. Its configuration as social innovative experience is also confirmed directly by the Masseria´s project manager, who was required to answer to a semi-structured interview. Based on the evidence of the desk research and this interview, the paper demonstrates the importance of the combined commitment of local communities and volunteering association as a reaction to food provisioning problems in the time of Covid-19, as well as an increasing interest in reconnecting with local food practices, above all when food access has become a priority.

Maintaining the Contribution of Higher Education to Societal Progress

2019 ◽  
pp. 470-479
Author(s):  
Gordon Redding ◽  
Stephen Crump ◽  
Antony Drew
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Societal Cost ◽  
Human Capabilities ◽  
Practical Utility ◽  
The Real ◽  
Societal Progress ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Human Skills ◽  
University Leaders

Such is the speed of change and the large number of forces changing, that response by university leaders is, not surprisingly, without a robust and widely accepted basis. The role of universities has traditionally been seen as fostering for a society a combination of human capabilities that may be judged in terms of their merit or practical utility, or their worth as adding to a society’s overall quality as a form of civilization. The former of these is now in the ascendant, driven by rising demand and so societal cost, and by the real needs of the economy for human skills. It is argued here that universities might take the initiative in rebalancing this bias, and in doing so to engage with the wider policies about societal needs that are less well articulated than are the more immediate demands.

Using Creativity and Social Innovation to Create Social Value and Change

2019 ◽  
pp. 975-990
Author(s):  
Ziska Fields
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Creativity And Innovation

Social challenges are numerous, complex, urgent and multidisciplinary in nature. The old ways of looking for solutions to social problems like unemployment, climate change, an ageing population, poverty, supply of clean water, chronic disease and so on, do not offer sustainable solutions and global implementation. Societies can also no longer hold governments responsible to find solutions to all these social problems only. Social innovation is needed and seeks new answers to social problems by identifying and delivering new services that improve the quality of life of individuals and communities. The main aim of this chapter is to create awareness of social innovation as an emerging field. This chapter explain what social creativity and innovation are and explains the creative and innovative processes. Barriers and support for social innovation are also discussed.

Building Theories-in-Practice on Social Innovation in Disability Nonprofit Organizations

2020 ◽  
pp. 212-250
Author(s):  
Rachel Taylor ◽  
Nuttaneeya (Ann) Torugsa
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
System Level ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Causal Mechanisms ◽  
Social Innovations

This chapter discusses the key theoretical and empirical steps undertaken throughout the authors' previous-but-related mixed methods studies on social innovation in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in the Australian disability sector with the aim of using the key findings of these studies to develop ‘theories-in-practice' in disability NPOs. In this chapter, the authors summarize the associated theory-building processes deployed to explain how disability NPOs develop and implement social innovations and the societal ‘system-level' impacts of such innovations. These theory-building processes involve two broad phases, and the culmination of these phases (grounded in the abductive logics of inquiry, complexity theorizing, and set-theoretic methods) leads to the development of several ‘theories-to-practice' that not only convey the interactivity of contextual causal mechanisms leading to social innovation by NPOs, but also outline change-oriented solutions for managers who are working to address complex social challenges.

Fostering Social Innovation through E-Collaboration

2014 ◽  
pp. 59-71
Author(s):  
Ayla Esen
Keyword(s):  
Social Problems ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Increasing awareness in social problems and the high complexity of social challenges has boosted social innovation efforts in recent years. Social innovation refers to new and innovative solutions to social problems that create social value, involve public good, and affect the society, mostly developed by participation of stakeholders who have interests in the problem. Social innovation leads to social value created through a series of collaborative efforts of public, private, and non-governmental organizations. This chapter highlights the importance of collaboration in social innovation and examines the role of e-collaboration as a group coordination and communication mechanism in the social innovation processes. The first part of the chapter presents evidence on what social innovation is and describes how social innovation intertwines with collaboration. The second part of the chapter defines the key conceptual elements of e-collaboration and explores how e-collaboration can foster social innovation concerning each conceptual element.

scholarly journals Social Challenges are Opportunities for Sustainable Development: Tracing Impacts of Social Entrepreneurship Through Innovations and Value Creation

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Konda ◽  
Jasmina Starc ◽  
Barbara Rodica
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Real Economy ◽  
Social Challenges

AbstractToday the world faces many social challenges in the economic, social and environmental spheres that needs to be overcome. The public debate has been focused on finding solutions to them and one of these has been addressed as social entrepreneurship. This phenomenon combines the resourcefulness of traditional entrepreneurship with a mission to change society. Observing the positive social impact of entrepreneurs providing basic needs, this paper recognizes their unique role in efficiently contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals. The purpose of this article is to introduce the connection of social innovations and sustainable growth as an important phenomenon in today's real economy. Based on the interviews with the focus group and the cases of good practice, the authors have established the development of social innovation and social entrepreneurship in Slovenia. It is important in numerous fields, especially in employment, social inclusion, demographic changes, health care, education, finance, political structures and social integration. We found that the obstacle in the development of social entrepreneurship is scattered, unrelated or absent support mechanisms that do not offer the right incentives for the creation and the development of social enterprises. Another conclusion is that cooperation with partners from different sectors of the society is an important fundament in their work with social entrepreneurship.

scholarly journals Seed Libraries Can Be a Promising but Challenging Way to Support Community Engagement and Social Innovation in Public Libraries

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-156
Author(s):  
Abigail Alty
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Seed Collection ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
Self Sufficiency

A Review of: Peekhaus, W. (2018). Seed libraries: Sowing the seeds for community and public library resilience. Library Quarterly, 88(3), 271-285. https://doi.org/10.1086/697706 Abstract Objective – To describe and investigate the establishment, operation, function, purpose, and benefit of seed libraries within public libraries and local communities. Design – Exploratory study. Setting – Public seed libraries in Arizona, California, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Subjects – 10 librarians actively involved in creating or maintaining seed libraries. Methods – 60-75 minute interviews, primarily over the phone, with subjects selected by means of purposive sampling. Main Results – According to the participants interviewed, starting and operating a seed library requires front-end effort from the “host” library, active participation by a dedicated librarian and community members, as well as ongoing funding, usually on an annual basis (estimated by one participant to be $2,500/year, mostly for the purchase of seeds). Participant descriptions of their seed library operations differed, but most had a dedicated seed librarian. Participants noted that primary activities included deciding what seeds to put in the collection, arrangement of the seed collection, development of checkout and return procedures, and ongoing education. Several participants noted that such operational work was seasonal and not steady. None of the libraries included in this study had enough seeds donated to sustain their collections, but rather they relied on purchasing seeds in bulk or asking for donations from seed companies. Cataloging procedures varied in terms of complexity, and participants from one library system reported the use of a seed library cataloging template as being helpful. All participants noted they gave patrons containers to return seeds. While educating patrons in formal sessions is often difficult for reasons such as resource limitations, the interview informants agreed that seed libraries fit into the missions of public libraries by furthering information sharing, access to resources, and knowledge development. Conclusion – Seed libraries are an active service that assist public libraries in responding to social challenges and in engaging with their local communities as a type of knowledge commons. Seed libraries align with public libraries’ shift in priorities from increasing physical collections to enriching lives by providing knowledge and tools to support food autonomy, self-sufficiency, civic engagement, and community education. These libraries are a novel service that engage and attract patrons and support libraries’ positions as community hubs.

scholarly journals Leading Learning During a Time of Crisis. Higher Education Responses to the Global Pandemic of 2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-41
Author(s):  
Fernando M. Reimers ◽  
Francisco Marmolejo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
International Association ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Global Survey ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe rapid disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in multiple sectors and areas of daily life provide a unique opportunity to study the university’s capacity to respond to changes in the external environment, to be a learning organization, in service of addressing significant social challenges. In this book we study universities’ responses to one such challenge: the disruption to educational opportunities caused by the interruption of schooling brought about by the pandemic.In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, universities innovated on several fronts. Unsurprisingly, some of those innovations focused on internal actions implemented to mitigate the impact of the pandemic by transitioning to online teaching delivery or extension of semester break, etc. (Crawford J et al. J Appl Learning Teaching 3.1:1–20, 2020; Leon-Garcia F, Cherbowski-Lask A, Leadership responses to COVID 19: a global survey of college and university leadership. International Association of Universities – Santander Universities. IAUP. https://www.iaup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/IAUP-Santander_Survey_to_COVID-19_Report2020.pdf, 2020). Beyond the solutions to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on their communities of students, faculty, or staff, universities also innovated to mitigate such impact on the larger community. While the contributions of universities to alleviate the pandemic’s impact have been most visible in public health (Daniels, R. J. 2020. Universities’ Vital Role in the Pandemic Response. Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine. https://magazine.jhsph.edu/2020/universities-vital-role-pandemic-response), they have extended to other areas of relief and support as well. Almost half of universities participating in a global survey conducted by the International Association of Universities indicated that due to the pandemic, their community engagement had increased (Marinoni G et al. The impact of Covid-19 on higher education around the world. IAU global survey report. International Association of Universities, Paris. https://www.iau-aiu.net/IMG/pdf/iau_covid19_and_he_survey_report_final_may_2020.pdf, 2020).This book is a study of one such response of universities to the pandemic which has not yet received sufficient attention: their support of schools at the pre-collegiate level through a variety of innovative approaches to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on opportunity to learn.In this chapter, we argue that studying such innovations provides insight into the responsiveness of universities to complex societal needs and into their capacity to operate as learning organizations open to their external environment. We introduce the study, explain its value in understanding the role and nature of higher education’s outreach, social impact, and capacity to deal with complex challenges, and summarize the chapters of the book and the results of a survey which was administered to over one-hundred universities to study the nature of their collaborations with schools during the first 9 months of the pandemic, between March and December of 2020.

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