In preparation for the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, this issue - IAU Horizons, 21, 1 - offers reports on IAU priority areas, new projects and initiatives, especially LGEU, and upcoming events and conferences.
By Fernando Daniels. Contributing to the conceptual and methodological development of social innovation: a role for universities
Social innovation can be defined as any new idea, approach or intervention, a new service, a new product or a new law, a new type of organization that responds more effectively and sustainably than existing solutions to a well-defined social need.
Social innovation is a creative process of value for society, by which one seeks to respond to a social need identified by the stakeholders, often supported by scientific or experimental data, which generates new institutional and social frameworks, profound changes in the behaviour and attitudes of society, builds alliances and restores power to the communities. Download IAU Horizons, 21, 1.

In preparation for the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, this issue - IAU Horizons, 21, 1 - offers reports on IAU priority areas, new projects and initiatives, especially LGEU, and upcoming events and conferences.
By Pam Fredman. Social innovation at the University of Gothenburg
Universities play a key role in creating and developing knowledge and in ensuring that knowledge is disseminated and utilized in society. At the University of Gothenburg, students are given a research-based education and are provided with academic skills to be critical, analytical and creative, making them key players in transformation of knowledge and promotion of innovation in all sectors of society. The University’s responsibility to transfer research results to society also includes innovation. In the areas of medicine, the natural sciences and technology, commercialization and technology transfer have long traditions, and innovation models are well established. However, with the ongoing globalization, climate threats, urbanization, digitalization, social segregation and demand on health care, to name some of the challenges society is facing, it is obvious that innovation processes beyond commercialization and technology transfer are required. Download IAU Horizons, 21, 1.

In preparation for the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, this issue - IAU Horizons, 21, 1 - offers reports on IAU priority areas, new projects and initiatives, especially LGEU, and upcoming events and conferences.
By Hilligje van’t Land. The Role of Higher Education in developing and fostering Social Innovation
Universities are at the heart of knowledge generation, it fosters and values curiosity and critical thinking - or at least should do so; they trigger research, and contribute in essence to the improvement and well-being of societies: they foster innovation and social innovation.
Yet how do they do it? This is the theme of the IAU GMA6 to take place in Montreal in May: Social innovation: challenges and perspectives for higher education.
Definitions of the concept vary, but all focus on its ‘innovative’ dimension by insisting on the association of the concept with ‘new’ knowledge generation, provision of ‘new’ solutions to address ‘new’ and less new but more pressing societal problems; definitions also insist on the fact that social innovation provides ‘better’ answers, financially ‘more’ sound (read ‘less costly’) ‘more’ efficient, ‘more’ sustainable etc. Better, cheaper and now finally providing the real answers society is waiting for? As if solutions to societal problems were not sought by HEIs earlier on? No; but what the papers show is how social innovation is associated with change of mission and vision of higher education more broadly speaking. It is associated with new approaches to how universities used to do what they are supposed to do: teach, educate, research, manage; authors insist on the ‘synergetic’ and cooperative approaches to these. Download IAU Horizons, 21, 1.

In preparation for the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, this issue - IAU Horizons, 21, 1 - offers reports on IAU priority areas, new projects and initiatives, especially LGEU, and upcoming events and conferences.
BY FOCUSING THIS ISSUE OF IAU HORIZONS, AS WELL AS THE 6th GLOBAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATIONS ON THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL INNOVATION, we hope to stimulate a discussion among university associations and their member institutions about this increasingly popular, but still ambiguous concept. Almost every article in this issue begins by presenting a few definitions of social innovation before stating that there is no real consensus on what it means exactly, how to examine its impact critically, what key characteristics must be present to qualify a change in practice or a new product or service as a social innovation. Furthermore, with the growing popularity of the idea of Social Innovation, scepticism also surfaces, with some arguing that social innovation is not positive, on the contrary, some aspects can be downright negative, especially if social innovation comes to be seen as a way to avoid addressing power imbalances and a substitute for real political change.
From issues of definition, to case studies and examples, to warnings not to be lulled into thinking that social innovation is the panacea for all societal ills, the authors in this issue start the debate that we hope to have in Montreal, during the GMA, where an additional dimension is, of course, the exploration of what the universities’ role might be in this area. A key aspect of social innovation is to empower people to improve their own and others’ lives in an enduring and sustainable manner. Higher education contributes to such a process is both direct and indirect ways, not least of which is by studying, critically assessing and disseminating findings about these processes so that they can be either replicated, scaled up or, on the contrary, abandoned.
Since innovation – in all domains – is a perpetual process in which education and research are central, and as the concept of social innovation grows in importance and popularity, universities and their associations will be expected to engage actively in defining and contributing to these processes.
In the following pages you can also read about the newest IAU programme entitled Leading Globally Engaged Universities, the on-going expansion of the IAU Internationalization Strategies Advisory Services (ISAS) projects, a report on the recent Seminar on Doctoral education in Sub-Saharan Africa and many other activities.
As the 2015 International Conference nears, we are also pleased to present more information about the conference programme planned for Siena, Italy and to remind you about the IAU-Palgrave MacMillan Research Essay Competition which is in line with the October 2015 Conference theme: Internationalization of higher education: moving beyond mobility.
Rounding out the issue, you will once again find a list of new IAU Members, some selected new publications and other regular sections.
We hope you enjoy reading IAU Horizons and invite you to suggest themes and offer contributions for future editions! Eva Egron-Polak. Download IAU Horizons, 21, 1.

In preparation for the IAU Global Meeting of Associations 6, the In Focus section of this volume presents a variety of views on Social Innovation: Challenges and perspectives for higher education.
It includes papers from the IAU President, Canada, Sweden, Jamaica, Thailand, Spain, Malaysia, USA, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, OUI-IOHE, UDUAL, Ashoka. We hope they will trigger stimulating discussions on this topic in your institutions, organisations and networks.

The Role of Higher Education in developing and fostering Social Innovation

• Introduction, by Hilligje van ‘t Land, IAU Director Membership and Programme Developemnt, Editor IAU Horizons
• University and the dire need for social innovation, by Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, IAU President
• Social innovation at the University of Gothenburg, by Pam Fredman, Sweden
• Contribuer au développement conceptuel et méthodologique de l'innovation sociale: un rôle pour les universités, par Fernando Daniels, OUI-IOHE
• Innovation in higher education: A Modality Or An End?, by Guy Breton, Canada
• A Regional University’s journey from Social Engagement to Social Innovation, by E. Nigel Harris, Jamaica
• Social innovation, Roles, Challenges and Perspectives for Higher Education, by Pornchai Mongkhonvanit and. Yhing Sawheny, Thailand
• Social Innovation and University Curricula, by Francesc Xavier Grau, GUNi, and Maria Marques, Spain
• Social Innovation, Power and Transformation: A Disquieting Conversation, by Budd L Hall, Canada
• Science, technology and innovation. Universities and the social appropriation of science. The example of Mexico, by Roberto Escalante Semerena, UDUAL, Mexico
• Driving Social Innovation in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), by Norzaini Azman & Fauziah Abu Hasan, Malaysia
• Realizing STEM Equity and Social Innovation through Higher Education-Community Engagement, by Ira Harkavy, Nancy Cantor, and Myra Burnett, USA
• Social Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education - Lessons from a Québécois Spring, by Michel Venne, Canada
• For a perspective of social innovation focused on transformation: towards knowledge that changes the world, by Juan-Luis Klein, Montréal, Canada
• For social and corporate excellence, by Bernard Hugonnier, Network for Excellence in Higher Education (NEHE)
• Rethinking Social Innovations in Practice- the Case of the DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Development Education, by Catherine A. Odora Hoppers, South Africa. More...

En vue de la 6e Réunion mondiale des Associations de l’AIU, un numéro spécial de ce magazine vous est ici proposé.
Le dossier thématique, aligné avec le thème du GMA-6, présente des points de vue contrastés sur la question de l’innovation sociale: défis et perspectives pour l’enseignement supérieur. Il comprend des papiers du président de l’AIU, du Canada, de Suède, Jamaïque, Thaïlande, Espagne, Malaisie, Etats-Unis, Afrique du Sud, Mexique, OUI-IOHE, UDUAL, Ashoka. Ce dossier, nous l’espérons, saura animer de nouveaux débats dans vos établissements, réseaux et organisations.

L'Innovation sociale: défis et perspectives pour l'enseignement supérieur

• Introduction, par Hilligje van't Land, Directrice, Adhésions et Développement des Programmes de l’AIU
• L’avenir des universités et le besoin d’innovation sociale, par Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Président de l’AIU
• L’innovation sociale à l’Université de Göteborg, par Pam Fredman, Suède
• Contribuer au développement conceptuel et méthodologique de l'innovation sociale: un rôle pour les universités, par Fernando Daniels, OUI-IOHE
• L’innovation dans les universités : une modalité ou une finalité?, par Guy Breton, Canada
• Le parcours d’une université régionale: de l’engagement social à l’innovation sociale, par E. Nigel Harris, Jamaïque
• L’innovation sociale: rôles, défis et perspectives pour l’enseignement supérieur, par Pornchai Mongkhonvanit et Yhing Sawheny, Thaïlande
• Innovation sociale et cursus universitaires, par Francesc Xavier Grau, GUNi, et Maria Marques, Espagne
• Innovation sociale, pouvoir et transformation: une conversation inquiétante, par Budd L. Hall, Canada
• Science, technologie et innovation. Les universités et l’appropriation sociale de la science. L’exemple du Mexique, par Roberto Escalante Semerena, UDUAL
• Favoriser l’innovation sociale à l’Université Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), par Norzaini Azman & Fauziah Abu Hasan, Malaisie
• Parvenir à l’égalité dans les STEM et réaliser l’innovation sociale à travers l’engagement de l’enseignement supérieur auprès des communautés, par Ira Harkavy, Nancy Cantor, et Myra Burnett, États-Unis
• L'innovation sociale: défis et perspectives pour l'enseignement supérieur - Leçons d’un printemps québécois, par Michel Venne, Montréal, Canada
• Pour une perspective de l’innovation sociale axée sur la transformation : vers des connaissances qui changent le monde, par Juan-Luis Klein, Montréal, Canada
• Pour une excellence sociale et sociétale, par Bernard Hugonnier, Network for Excellence in Higher Education (NEHE)
• Repenser les innovations sociales dans la pratique - l’exemple de la Chaire DST/NRF SARChI en éducation au développement, par Catherine A. Odora Hoppers, Afrique du Sud. Voir l'article...

Le secteur de la formation est en pleine mutation, bousculé par le digital, les réseaux sociaux et l’évolution des pratiques socio-culturelles. Cette transformation questionne l’efficacité pédagogique des nouveaux dispositifs (Mooc, serious games, mobile learning, visioformation…) et les risques potentiels qu’ils induisent.
Le Groupe CEGOS évoque cette thématique dans un livre blanc paru en février 2015 sous le titre Le Book de l’innovation : Formation en mutation, les 7 questions pour construire le futur.
Consulter le livre blanc. Voir l'article...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Innovation and the Novelty Factory
Tim Klapdor, Heart | Soul | Machine, 2015/04/10
À propos of my recent talk on innovation, "Horace Dediu posits a taxonomy which I think is extremely useful to help discern innovation and reduces some confusion:

Novelty: Something new
Creation: Something new and valuable
Invention: Something new, having potential value through utility
Innovation: Something new and uniquely useful. More...