Innovation Competence Development in Higher Education
Summary
Innovation competence encompasses the capabilities, behaviours and mindsets that enable individuals and institutions to generate, evaluate and implement novel solutions. In higher education, the cultivation of such competence has become a strategic priority as universities and colleges respond to rapid technological change, economic uncertainty and social challenges. Educational institutions are evolving from traditional knowledge transmitters to active innovation ecosystems, integrating research, teaching and engagement with industry and society. This shift is underpinned by competence frameworks that articulate core components—creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and entrepreneurial awareness—and guide curriculum design and assessment. Interdisciplinary and practice-based pedagogies, ranging from design-thinking workshops to living labs and maker spaces, offer experiential environments for students to apply theoretical insights to real-world problems. Concurrently, digital platforms and open innovation networks facilitate global collaboration and knowledge exchange, transcending institutional boundaries. The global significance of innovation competence development extends to sustainable development goals, reinforcing universities’ role in promoting gender equity, inclusive growth and environmental stewardship. By embedding innovation competence across disciplines, higher education can produce graduates equipped to navigate complexity, drive transformational change and contribute to resilient economies and societies.
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Innovation Competence Development in Higher Education publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in innovation competence development in higher education across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Innovation competence: An integrated set of knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable the generation and implementation of novel solutions in complex contexts.
Transversal competences: Cross-cutting skills such as critical thinking, communication and teamwork that support learning and innovation across disciplines.
Experiential learning: A pedagogical approach in which learners acquire knowledge and skills through active engagement in real-world or simulated tasks.
Design thinking: A human-centred problem-solving methodology that emphasises empathy, ideation and iterative prototyping.
References
- Design-driven innovation in STEM disciplines in higher education: The role and impact of transversal competences. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity (2024).
- Embedding entrepreneurship and technology literacy in the student curriculum: A case study of a module for real estate students. Innovations in Education and Teaching International (2024).
- Facilitating Students’ Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in a Telecollaborative Project. Frontiers in Psychology (2022).
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