Tag: creativity
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University Design Mindset: An Essential Skill for University Leaders by David J. Staley, Ph.D.
There is a newly emerging field I would like to christen “university design:” an approach, a methodology for thinking about the future of higher education. First, some definitions. One definition for the word design means “to give form.” Thus, when we are talking about industrial design, that means to give…
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Higher Education at Scale by David J. Staley
This autumn, my institution, The Ohio State University, welcomed the largest number of students ever to its Columbus campus: over 61,000 students. For at least the last century, and certainly since the 1950s, Ohio State has been one of the largest campuses in the country. But today, even the size…
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Cultivating Creativity when Times are Tough—Part II
In my last post, I introduced some ideas for cultivating the synergy that fosters creative thinking and new ideas. Particularly in academic organizations, we sometimes block our potential for creative thinking by not challenging those ‘unwritten rules’ or ‘sacred traditions’ that keep us tethered to outmoded beliefs and ways of…
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Cultivating Creativity when Times are Tough—Part I
In last week’s post, I talked about the importance of nurturing an ‘innovative mindset’, especially when times are tough and the pressures to hunker down are overwhelming. And yet, from my own personal experience, I know that this is anything but easy. On the average college campus, there are any…
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5 Destructive Myths about Innovation
Creative thinking skills are more important than ever if we are to deal with the vast and complex array of challenges facing nearly all colleges and universities. In my own research on successful college management practices, one of the most enduring characteristics of resilient institutions is an ‘innovative mindset.’ Especially…