4 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

This paper investigates the perception amongst insiders of the degree of innovativeness of organisational culture in Ireland's higher education institutions. While the role of higher education institutions has expanded to include being a driver of innovation, we suggest that any such body is perhaps best suited to achieve this if it itself is innovative. We review the literature on corporate innovation, discuss a recent metric of innovativeness in culture and present the results of a large-scale survey on said culture within the higher education sector in Ireland. There is a divide between the university and institutes of technology sector, with organisational culture in universities being perceived to be much more innovative than that in institutes, despite these latter being designed to be closer to industry. We also find that STEM faculty members see culture as less innovative than others. These findings raise questions around the implicit and explicit thrusts of Irish higher education policy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)533-553
Number of pages21
JournalHigher Education Policy
Volume30
Issue number4
Early online date3 Feb 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 International Association of Universities.

Keywords

  • innovation
  • institutes of technology
  • Ireland
  • organisational culture
  • universities

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Sociology and Political Science

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