Towards a multi-faceted framework for planning and evaluating innovation in Engineering Education

Abstract

For universities, educational change at institutional level is a slow process [1], [2]. To keep up with societal and technological advancement, education innovation project leaders at universities need practical guidelines and procedures in place that will enable sustainable and scalable innovation that can meet the needs of industry as we transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 [3]. To develop such guidelines and procedures, we need to conduct socially responsible, evidence-based educational research [4]. This paper is part of a larger study during which we will conceptualize the planning and evaluation of innovation in engineering education at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). From this conceptualization, a framework for planning and evaluation of education innovation will emerge. The data collection process will take place in six phases: (1) Exploration of the problem (2) feasibility studies; (3) conceptualization and development of the framework; (4) piloting of the framework and its associated processes; (5) field study; and lastly, (6) evaluation of the framework. This paper provides an initial overview of the literature, as well as an explanation of the proposed research methodology.