Teaching students to be technology innovators: Examining approaches and identifying competencies

Abstract

To prepare students for a more competitive global economy, universities are increasingly promoting programs and courses that focus on innovation. Given their early stages of development, limited information about best practices, target competencies or desired outcomes is readily available. This exploratory study examines the nature of educational programs that offer an educational credential focused on innovation. The purpose is to understand their structure, content, and value they propose to students by examining program descriptions and required courses. It explores what teaching innovation means at a program-level and identifies where programs are situated within the spectrum of topics that characterize innovation education. The results can be useful in the development of core competencies related to innovation and understanding approaches to teaching it. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.