Leading an Innovation Agenda in Education

The field of education is experiencing many disruptive forces. Technology changes, demographic changes, shifts in public expectations and changes in government philosophy all suggest that the delivery of education is likely to be radically different 10 years from now compared to 10 years ago.  Given this landscape, a school’s performance will be closely tied to the development and implementation of new innovations. However, research suggests that most organisations, in general, fail when attempting to develop and implement innovations in their processes and activities. 

WORKSHOP FOCUS

In this one day program Professor Williamson will discuss ways that educational leaders can successfully develop and implement an innovation agenda that allows their schools to not only survive but thrive during periods of disruption. The program will draw upon prior and on-going research to lay out key attributes of an innovation culture. The session will discuss how an innovation culture can be used to enhance student, teacher and community outcomes. Through the use of case studies and exercises this interactive program will provide participants with practical and applied tools for developing and sustaining innovations in their schools.

The one day workshop will be divided into three sessions focusing on:

• Innovation and School Performance
• Key Attributes of an Innovative Culture
• Overcoming Barriers to Innovation

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School and system leaders in education are encouraged to attend this workshop.
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1. Opportunity to engage with an international thought leader in education
2. Practical activities and behaviours to support implementing innovation in education
3. Engage with international contemporary research on school development and innovation

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BENEFITS

Participants will:

1. Be introduced to the theory and practice behind implementing innovation
2. Engage in practical activities to be used in the workplace

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ABOUT DR IAN O. WILLIAMSON

Dr. Williamson is the Helen Macpherson Smith Chair of Leadership for Social Impact at the Melbourne Business School (Australia).  He currently serves as the Associate Dean of International Relations at MBS and is also the Director of the Asia Pacific Social Impact Centre (APSIC) and Faculty Director of the MBS EMBA program.  He is an Associated Scholar of the Rutgers Business School (USA) and the Lorange Institute of Business Zurich (Switzerland).  In his role as Director of APSIC Prof. Williamson’s focus is on developing effective partnerships between not-for-profit, for profit, philanthropic and government entities for the purposes of addressing key social issues.

Prof. Williamson’s research focuses on how the development of effective “talent pipelines” can enhance organizational and community outcomes.  His research also examines how organizations recruit, select, retain and derive value from knowledge workers, the management of diverse workforces and the role of human resource practices in driving innovation.  

Dr. Williamson has worked with leaders on six continents in many different countries providing consulting services in the areas of strategic human resource management, managing organizational change, employee recruitment and retention, assessment centres, and executive coaching for such organizations as ANZ, Accenture, BHP Billiton, Catholic Education Melbourne, Clemenger Group, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Etihad, McCormick & Company, Lockheed Martin, Melbourne Water, NAB, Pacific Brands, and Price Waterhouse Cooper, Royal Women’s Hospital, Sussan Group and Vision Australia.

Participants will:

• Explore how innovation and leadership behaviours can help align schools with changes in the external environments and enhance school performance
• Examine the key activities that can help create a culture of innovation
• Examine the barriers their schools might face in creating a culture that supports innovation and the types of leadership behaviours helpful in overcoming these barriers

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During each of the sessions, Ian will present a series of activities and reflections that will support educators to implement innovations in the workplace. There will also be time during the presentations for discussion and completion of activities to develop knowledge and understanding of the concepts further.

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