ABSTRACT
Leadership requires domain-related knowledge, but also transversal skills such as the ability to think critically, take initiative, problem solve and work collaboratively will prepare individuals for tomorrow’s varied and unpredictable career paths (‘Rethinking Education’, EC 2012). Real world experience through new and creative ways of teaching and learning and enterprise links, should be embedded across all disciplines and tailored to all levels of education (lifelong learning). Main objective is the launch of an innovation leadership platform for the continuous professional development of business leaders, regional innovation trainers and administrators. The platform will reach-out to European regions through a network of regional hubs. It will make available modules, courses and programmes of top universities in the field. It will not just focus on generic skills, but also on domain-specific knowledge and competences, e.g. by involving collaboration with four EIT KICs, It will also build on initiatives of regional development, bringing in region-specific perspectives and expertise and enhancing the relevance of the platform by localisation. A diversity of educational content and formats will be used, according to the results of the prior needs analysis. Both real time face-to-face and video-conferencing modes of teaching and learning will be used as well as online and asynchronous formats, enhancing flexibility in terms of place, pace and content. Online tools will be used to create small and intensive learning communities and to organise rich learning environments linking with research, innovation and the professional world. This learning environment will also function as a knowledge sharing network, linking with relevant open educational resources, open access articles, doctoral theses, MOOCs and other resources. The project will have a duration of 48 months and the partners will work around 10 dedicated work packages to produce tangible outcomes.