This author asserts that U.S. higher education must greatly accelerate the rate at which it
innovates by fundamentally redesigning itself. The paper approaches this subject by first
outlining the significant challenges faced by American colleges and universities. It then
analyzes the case of a university that is facing these challenges by broadly integrating
design thinking into its curriculum and planning processes. The author frames the rationale
for pursuing an innovation agenda in this manner and critically presents the results. The
case suggests that under certain conditions it is possible for universities to become
designable, and when this occurs innovative and integrative change is possible.
DRS 2012 Bangkok
innovates by fundamentally redesigning itself. The paper approaches this subject by first
outlining the significant challenges faced by American colleges and universities. It then
analyzes the case of a university that is facing these challenges by broadly integrating
design thinking into its curriculum and planning processes. The author frames the rationale
for pursuing an innovation agenda in this manner and critically presents the results. The
case suggests that under certain conditions it is possible for universities to become
designable, and when this occurs innovative and integrative change is possible.
DRS 2012 Bangkok
