From classroom to innovation ecosystem: the role of the university driving change through transformative learning

Abstract

This study delves into the influential role of Innovation Ecosystems (IE) and the significant contribution of universities to these transformative environments. IE's potency lies in fostering information flow, resource transformation, and collaborative networks, yielding tangible outcomes for communities globally. The university emerges as a crucial actor in IE, playing a pivotal role in its functioning, management, and orchestration. Transformative education assumes a key position in reshaping mental models and fostering a paradigm shift. The research, adopting a qualitative approach through a case study of the MBA in Innovation Ecosystem with 19 participants, explores how universities' transformative learning experiences contribute to IE development. It investigates the multifaceted roles of universities in regional innovation, emphasizing leadership impact, diverse university roles, and professors' active engagement in nurturing innovation ecosystems. The study underscores ethical engagement and neutrality, highlighting the interconnectedness of universities, companies, government entities, and civil society within the innovation ecosystem. Strategic insights emphasize the necessity for universities to adopt entrepreneurial and transformative roles, addressing the overlooked role of students as active contributors. The relation between participant diversity and transformative learning underscores broader impacts on academic and career paths. The study concludes by presenting a practical framework outlining the university's central role in IE, serving as a knowledge source and collaboration hub for fostering sustainable regional development.