Das Neue in der Hochschullehre: Erweiterung des Blickes

Promoting educational innovations and change through networks between higher education teachers

“…However, Valente (2012) noted that (network) interventions can positively affect social network structure. Typically, government funds or the university's efforts support such interventions, including teaching conferences, team-based workshops, training, and networking events (Kauffeld et al, 2019a;Benz-Gydat et al, 2021;Gast et al, 2017;Hellmann et al, 2014;Jütte et al, 2017). One example of network interventions' potential positive influence on higher education teachers' networks is the opportunity for higher education teachers with different backgrounds (e.g.…”

“…Such tasks mandate communication and information exchange between higher education teachers in networks. Furthermore, educational reform programmes provide additional funding for teaching staff and learning (Kauffeld et al, 2019a;Benz-Gydat et al, 2021;Jütte et al, 2017), reducing conflict and enhancing communication, knowledge, and idea transfer. Accordingly, we propose that: H3: Educational innovation networks created and supported by educational reform programmes exhibit small-world characteristics (e.g.…”

“…Due to higher education's societal role, various educational reform programmes have facilitated change processes in higher education to enhance teaching quality and support change through educational innovations. Such innovations have involved new projects or programmes aiming to change attitudes, ideas, cultures or pedagogical practices (Kauffeld et al, 2019a;Benz-Gydat et al, 2021;Civis et al, 2019;Fullan, 2010;Jütte et al, 2017). These endeavours have focused on improving teaching at different levels (e.g., the course, programme, or system level; see Hasanefendic et al, 2017) and enhancing student learning (e.g.…”

“…While significant financial and human resources have been deployed to develop and implement educational innovations (Kauffeld & Othmer, 2019;Benz-Gydat et al, 2021;Hannan et al, 1999;Jütte et al, 2017), some scholars have described educational innovations as "difficult, technically and emotionally demanding as well as complex" (Towndrow et al, 2010, p. 451). Consequently, the question arises as to whether educational innovations can lead to change in higher education teaching.…”

“…Hence, educational reform programmes often employ various strategies to support such networks (e.g. de Lima, 2010;Kezar, 2014), including networking events, training, or teaching conferences, which can help create professional communities between higher education teachers and can be defined as network interventions (Kauffeld et al, 2019a;Benz-Gydat et al, 2021;Gast et al, 2017;Jütte et al, 2017;Van Waes et al, 2018).…”