Quantum Thinking

It’s been quite the year for us at @Quantum Thinking. We are fast approaching the holidays and the end of 2024, so I’m reflecting on the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0 and the valuable findings we uncovered on academic innovation leadership. A few highlights have especially stayed with me: The “who” matters: Leadership pathways are evolving. In 2014, most academic innovation leaders came from teaching backgrounds. Today, 41% have administrative experience, 17% bring industry expertise, and 12% now report to the President or Chancellor. There is a constant need for diverse perspectives in academic innovation leadership.? The “what we do” is changing: Missions are expanding.. One-third of academic innovation units reported changing their mission within the past three years, and another third expect their mission to evolve soon - reaching new levels of responsibilities and impact. Flexibility and forward-thinking are the norm for academic innovation units. The “how” involves many: Interdisciplinary teamwork matters. Units that thrive often bring together multiple groups— think collaborating with faculty, students, and external partners to tackle challenges.? The “why” drives us: We all are here to make sure our faculty, students, and institutions can excel. No matter how leadership pathways evolve or missions shift, this cause remains the motivation of our work, and why it matters at the end of the day. As we look toward a new year, I invite you to re-explore the summary or full report with me and find fresh inspiration to guide your work in the year ahead: https://lnkd.in/dCBWFKjP I also encourage you to attend the ASU+GSV Summit 2025 in April to meet other academic innovation trailblazers - featuring programming, receptions and collaboration sessions relevant for academic innovation leaders like you! Caitlin Hayward, James DeVaney, University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation, Quantum Thinking, Class Technologies, Jennifer M., Online Learning Consortium, POD Network in Higher Education, Acadeum, University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, Asim Ali, Auburn University Biggio Center, EdPlus at Arizona State University, Suzanne Dove, Bentley University, IntelliBoard, GSV Ventures, Jason Horne, Deborah Quazzo, Lev Gonick, Sean Hobson, Ph.D. Joshua Kim, Dr. Patrice Torcivia Prusko #highered #innovation #higheredleadership #edtech #studentsuccess #academicinnovation

Wow! What a great discussion about the field of academic innovation leadership with vital data and insights from the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0 Quantum Thinking and the roles of Chief Online Learning Officers (COLO) supported by the recent CHLOE 9 report with Eric Fredericksen and the soon to be released UPCEA COLO benchmark with Julie Uranis, Ph.D.. Thanks to Dr. Patrice Torcivia Prusko for artfully moderating the conversation. #HAIL #academicinnovation #academicleadership #studentsuccess

Higher education leadership is evolving—are you ready?? Join us on October 22, 2024, from 1-2 PM Eastern for Leading Academic Change: A Panel Discussion. This is an essential event for anyone invested in shaping the next chapter of academic innovation. This panel will tackle pressing questions such as: ? Leadership in Innovation: Who are the leaders at the forefront of academic transformation, and what skills are now crucial for success? ?Generative AI and COVID’s Lasting Impact: How institutions and leadership are evolving to meet the demands of a post-pandemic, AI-driven world. ?Faculty Empowerment: New support structures that align with the evolving demands on instructors and academic staff. ?Top Priorities for academic innovation leaders for the next three years. ?Collaborative Partnerships: The increasing importance of interdisciplinary teams involving faculty, students, and industry partners to solve pressing educational challenges. Whether you're a higher ed leader, faculty member, or administrator, this session will equip you with the insights needed to navigate rapid changes impacting academic innovation. Learn how top institutions are addressing challenges around faculty development, industry partnerships, the rise of generative AI, and more. Our own Anne Keough Keehn, Founder & CEO of Quantum Thinking, will moderate the discussion with panelists Jennifer M. (CEO, Online Learning Consortium), Dr. Patrice Torcivia Prusko, (Director of Learning Design, Harvard University), Caitlin Hayward, Ph.D. (Director of Research & Analytics, University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation), and Becky Keith (Chief Product Officer, IntelliBoard). They will break down the survey's key findings and offer actionable takeaways to help you stay ahead of the curve. If you want to understand the innovations reshaping the future of teaching and learning and come away with fresh strategies for your institution, this is a must-attend event. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gfady4rq Sponsored by IntelliBoard

Obstacles are key to revealing opportunities and catalyzing growth. That’s why the question, “What are the biggest obstacles to success in your work?” is such a powerful one. In the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0 results, the top answers identified a lack of faculty bandwidth, limited time, and university bureaucracy as the most common obstacles to success. Other responses included limited resources and a lack of faculty or leadership buy-in. Knowing these struggles will be instrumental in helping academic innovation units develop targeted strategies for improvement. By addressing challenges, institutions can streamline processes, allocate resources more effectively, and foster a more supportive environment for academic innovation. Check out the full report for more insights: https://lnkd.in/dCBWFKjP Caitlin Hayward James DeVaney University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation Quantum Thinking Sponsors: Class Technologies Online Learning Consortium POD Network in Higher Education Acadeum University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation Auburn University Auburn University Biggio Center EdPlus at Arizona State University at ASU Bentley University IntelliBoard #highered #academic innovation #higheredleadership #edtech #studentsuccess

Congrats to our CEO Anne Keough Keehn on her well-deserved recognition as one of the top 30 Higher Ed IT influencers of 2024! ??

Academic innovation leaders, let’s talk about budget trends of the last few years. According to the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0, the average unit budget is ~$4.5 million, with R1s and Private 4-year colleges investing significantly more. This is a big increase from the average budget of ~$522K ten years ago. Budgets for these units tend to be moderately or significantly increasing, a notable change from 2014 when they were typically stable. These findings suggest that academic innovation has become a higher priority – good news for those passionate about the future of education. It seems that leadership is increasingly recognizing the value of academic innovators and their role in bolstering agility and adaptability across institutions. If you find this interesting, there’s a lot more to unpack. See the full survey results: https://lnkd.in/dCBWFKjP Caitlin Hayward, James DeVaney University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation, Quantum Thinking, Class Technologies, Online Learning Consortium POD Network in Higher Education IntelliBoard, Acadeum University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, Auburn University Auburn University Biggio Center, EdPlus at Arizona State University, Bentley University #highered #innovation #higheredleadership #edtech #studentsuccess #innovationleadership

Obstacles are key to revealing opportunities and catalyzing growth. That’s why the question, “What are the biggest obstacles to success in your work?” is such a powerful one. In the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0 results, the top answers identified a lack of faculty bandwidth, limited time, and university bureaucracy as the most common obstacles to success. Other responses included limited resources and a lack of faculty or leadership buy-in. Knowing these struggles will be instrumental in helping academic innovation units develop targeted strategies for improvement. By addressing challenges, institutions can streamline processes, allocate resources more effectively, and foster a more supportive environment for academic innovation. Check out the full report for more insights: https://lnkd.in/dCBWFKjP Caitlin Hayward, James DeVaney, Quantum Thinking University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation, Class Online Learning Consortium POD Network in Higher Education Acadeum University System of Maryland of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation Auburn University, Auburn University Biggio Center EdPlus at Arizona State University, The Badavas Center at Bentley University: Innovation in Teaching & Learning IntelliBoard #futureoflearning #highered #innovation #higheredleadership #edtech #studentsuccess

What strategies are US institutions using to foster academic innovation? Here’s what respondents of the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0 had to say: ? Institutions are increasingly designing and equipping campus spaces to enable innovative learning. ? Enhancing teaching and learning through faculty support remains a top priority. ? Adopting and developing new academic technologies is central to many institutions' innovation efforts. ? Institutions in all sectors report being involved with the ten different types of academic innovation areas presented , signaling the complexity of the work leaders are engaged in. It’s clear that academic innovators aim to have a strong impact on both faculty and student experience through multiple angles of behind-the-scenes support – and institutions are increasingly supporting their work. What do you think of these strategies? Share below! ? Read more valuable takeaways from the full report:?https://lnkd.in/dCBWFKjP Caitlin Hayward, James DeVaney, University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation, Quantum Thinking, Class Technologies, Online Learning Consortium, POD Network in Higher Education, Acadeum University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, Auburn University Auburn University Biggio Center, EdPlus at Arizona State University, Bentley University,The Badavas Center at Bentley University: Innovation in Teaching & Learning, IntelliBoard #highered #innovation #higheredleadership #edtech #studentsuccess #academicinnovation

? Has the mission of your academic innovation unit substantively changed within the last three years? According to the Leading Academic Change National Survey 2.0, 36% of academic innovation units say yes! Another third anticipate it may change in the next three years. Priorities are also shifting: Today, missions revolve around program or course development (both on-campus and online), funding and supporting new academic initiatives, and adopting and developing new academic technologies. Compared to 2014, this reflects a stronger focus on resilience and embracing change. These results show that academic innovation is far from stagnant: we are all continually adapting to meet new challenges and opportunities for student and institutional success. Read more valuable takeaways from the full report:?https://lnkd.in/dCBWFKjP Caitlin Hayward James DeVaney University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation Quantum Thinking Class Technologies Online Learning Consortium POD Network in Higher Education Acadeum EdPlus at Arizona State University Bentley University University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation Auburn University Auburn University Biggio Center IntelliBoard #highered #innovation #higheredleadership #edtech #studentsuccess #academicinnovation #futureoflearning

The landscape of academic innovation #leadership has undergone significant changes compared to a decade ago, reflecting a shift in priorities, reporting structures, budgets and staff. Quantum Thinking and University of Michigan - Center for Academic Innovation launched the Leading #AcademicChange National Survey 2.0 to empower #highereducation with the right data to inform better #leadershipmodels, technology and support structures that leverage innovative approaches to #teaching and #studentsuccess. Learn more and download the survey results: https://lnkd.in/g6gicKvg