By Maarja Hallik

Your expectations

What I promised... What is Bradford Challenge? How did it come about and where is it going? show the links between the project’s design and university’s employability, enterprise, community partnerships and curriculum frameworks Introduce you to the growing phenomenon of “innovation labs” and how universities are rethinking not only student engagement and teaching practices, but the value and impact of the institution to the wider society.

What I would like from you...

Feedback & suggestions! Active discussion!

About me... • Estonian  • Came to Bradford September 2008... • Degree in Conflict Resolution; “Sustainability in Practice” and other influences • Ecoversity Ambassador, Outduction, UBSA, PeaceJam etc. • Ecorat Project, CommUnity Project  • Student Liaison Assistant in Peace Studies  focus on student engagement, enhancing learning, extracurricular activities, employability  • “Peace in Action” & “Bradford Challenge”...

The Story = video

Bradford Challenge “Bradford Challenge initiative through its ‘innovation platform’ will create a unique opportunity for University of Bradford students, staff and the community to contribute to meeting the aims of the University’s curriculum as well as provide the space for meeting the needs of regional development and transformation.”

Vision • 1) for University of Bradford students to be the most sought after for local and international innovation, employment and sustainable development. • 2) To take the meaning and role of higher education to a new level showing significant visible economic, environmental and social impact on the development of the city-region in the next 10, 25 and more years.

Mission The Bradford Challenge mission is to offer the best possible platform for the University in its role of making knowledge work: opportunities to network, to develop projects/solutions to regional challenges both in the UK and abroad, training, funding and other mechanisms that support innovation in conjunction with the curriculum for 21st Century aims.

The New Curriculum Framework The new Curriculum Framework (2012) emphasises that we ought to provide the kind of curriculum which addresses the big challenges of the 21st century of education for sustainable development, employability and cultural diversity; and that staff should feel encouraged to be innovative in their teaching and to explore issues in depth using research informed methods. It acknowledges that “the curriculum is situated within a range of learning environments, including the physical and social environment of the campus, virtual environments and students’ workplaces and neighbourhoods. Student learning and graduate attributes can be enhanced through co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, for example through work-based learning, volunteering and real-world projects.”

A Living Learning Laboratory • Universities (and other educational provision) as key drivers of innovation, sustainable development, transformation in regions (Connecting Universities to Regional Growth: A Practical Guide, Sept. 2011) • The Triple Helix – Universities-IndustryGovernment triangle, “encouraging hybridization among the institutional spheres.” (Henry Etzkowitz) • What does it mean to become a “knowledge society”?

The Challenge – how?

Simple model Projects Themes/ “Innovation Labs”

(Students, KT centres, partners etc.)

Curriculum link & research

Vision

E.g. Green economy

6000 new “green jobs” in Bradford by 2020

More about the model Components of the Bradford Challenge • The Vision 2020 (?) – the Challenge – the Inspiration • Lead Group, Ambassadors, Board of Trustees – strategic development & operations – largely student-led? • Supported by a website • Creative thematic groups, facilitate the project incubation and generate ideas via Innovation Labs, propose competition themes and funding bids, strategic oversight of vision goals * – Trainings, speakers, events (incl. Collaborative provision by schools via “practical work modules”) – (Social) Innovation Competition(s) – Partnerhsips

Not just my ideas... • Clive Wilson, from Estates dept., University of Bradford proposes “to create a “Think Tank” comprised of, say 40 50, staff, students and stakeholders from all disciplines within the University (who would meet once or maybe twice a year) to partake in creative workshops and visioning about our future. The outputs of the workshops would feed into smaller Project/Working Groups to further investigate and implement where possible. /--/ I think this will be a really important group and it should ideally be chaired by a DVC to give it the gravitas it needs to drive these issues through.”

So what are “innovation labs”? My definition:

Perhaps this explains? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NugRZGDbPFU

Examples

Harvard i-Lab

Harvard Innovation Lab “There’s no way the four of us would have met if we didn’t meet here,” - Vaxess cofounder Patrick Ho, a Harvard Law School graduate

Harvard Innovation Lab “We are an extension of the classroom,” said Gordon Jones, the i-lab’s managing director. “Our mission is to get students to grow and learn. We’re in the same airspace as the incubators and accelerators, but we’re flying on a different trajectory.”

Unicef Kosovo Innovation Lab

Mission “The Innovations Lab Kosovo is a

dynamic platform catalyzing social change by encouraging positive civic participation of youth, while supporting their professional development through innovative project design and development.”

A UNICEF Innovation Lab intern writes... “Seeing groups working on case studies was nostalgic as it brings back memories of university days where teams of students could be seen working on similar projects on campus. It was very interesting to see a similar feeling of cooperation amongst UNICEF experts, professionals, and academic experts as it takes case solving – something that I have always associated with university studies – to another level, one with the potential to create solutions that are life-changing.”

Importance of technology (enhanced learning) "Nine Art Center students, three faculty and I sat on a veranda in Kampala and connected, through Skype, to New York. The students shared experiences and thoughts with each other – and, never having met before, seemed to fuse into one team with a common focus on looking at how technology and communications advances are creating new opportunities for young people – both in Uganda, but also in other contexts.“ -Chris Fabian, co-lead and co-founder, Innovation Unit, UNICEF NY

Unicef Uganda • Students work in a real-world context where social issues, media infrastructure, and communication technology intersect... • newly designed interventions for and with Ugandan youth • direct involvement with a community • Etc.

Social Innovation Camp

The Finance Lab • The Finance Innovation Lab is an incubator for systems change in finance. • Jointly hosted by World Wide Fund for Nature and ICAEW (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), it was launched in 2008 and in 2012 • named one of ‘50 New Radicals, changing the face of Britain for the better’ by NESTA and The Observer newspaper.

University of Cape Town

UK Innovation Lab

Reos Partners

The Possibility vs. the Impossibility

The Bradford Challenge Story so far... • 3 Pilot Innovation Labs – Nov-Dec. 2012 • Launch events on 19th Oct 2011 & 2012 • Link with UnLtd funding, Students Union, Enterprise and Peace societies (See handout for more) • Positive feedback from students • Overall positive feedback from academics, incl. Barry Winn • Positive feedback from Bradford Council and other organisations

Small beginning...

What next? Thanks once more for interesting meeting. Here are some suggestions I would offer for you (But this is just my opinion): 1. Don't be shy and do it Global over whole University (Ask to send emails for all University Students). The more people the better, more chances to find teams and skill. 2. As I imagine this project is to make people do business, so you have to put more focus on helping shape business ideas, develop new Ideas, work on them, plan tasks, encourage to make teams and have a list of good contacts for students where they can get Funding, additional support. Also, could you please send me link to website about potential funding for an Idea at University, or a contact who know more about that. Thank you! Regards, Valdemar

Challenges • How to link/connect things, especially with the curriculum? (E.g. Various practical modules via each school) What kind of assessment? • Collaborative provision? • Organizational structure & location. The Re:centre? • Funding & sponsors • Vision development & strategic partnerships. A conference? An online platform? • What role for students? Example of Uppsala CEMUS. But... Lack of energy, support, skills, motivation? Concrete steps? Wider framework? The “who am I?” syndrome...

Will you take on the challenge?

Q&A + discussion