Paper #4

Managing Innovation in Technical Education: Revisiting the Developmental Strategies of Politeknik Brunei

Bashir Ahmed Bhuiyan, Mohammad Shahansha Molla and Masud Alam

Abstract: Present study aims at exploring the strategies for managing innovation in technical education by using blended learning philosophy and practices with special reference to Politeknik Brunei. Based on literature review and desk research, the study found out salient characteristics, explored constraining factors, elicited strategies of Politeknik Brunei, and suggested some options and a framework for innovations management and development of effective blended teaching and learning. The limiting factors identified are: the unwillingness of the top-level management, lack of structural support, dearth of readiness of the stakeholders, the gap between teachers’ expectations and changed students’ characteristics, and blended teaching myopia on the way of effective application of blended learning strategies. Notable suggestions for strategic development are developing wide-angle vision and self-renewal processes, analyzing the environment for needs determination. Clarity of purpose and tasks, technological adaptability, data-driven decision making, prompt feedback, flipped classroom, and development of learning clusters are other dimensions that may go a long way toward innovating teaching-learning and the overall development of an academic institution. Finally, the study suggested important guidelines for applying the strategies and proposed framework for quality blended learning and managing innovations in technical education.

Keywords: Blended and Sequential Learning; Education Cluster; Flipped Class room; Fluid Infrastructures; Innovations; Technical Education; Technological Myopia.