University Framework: Innovating Continuously.
Successful and progressive, Bangor University's School of Educational Sciences needed a new framework to secure a culture of continuous improvement, to realise its ambitious vision.
To raise standards and inspire change
NEEDS
The School of Educational Sciences had ambitious goals for raising standards, ideas for ways to improve were plentiful but knowing where to start was challenging. Even a hard-working and committed team can only do so much, without clearly identified priorities.
The leadership wanted to set the tone of innovation clearly from the beginning, recognising that improvement means change and change is challenging.
SYCOL were invited to bring a fresh pair of eyes to shape culture, engage staff and inspire transformation.
An improvement framework to drive innovation
SOLUTION
This work had to be collaborative, supportive, and have tangible, positive impacts for everyone. From the outset, the improvement programme was framed as something positive, to be seen as an opportunity.
The team worked collaboratively with SYCOL to research, build and implement a framework to intentionally shape culture. Five key stages of work were undertaken with staff and senior leadership to build the mindset, skillset and framework necessary.
Core Framework
High-bar culture manifesto and fuel for all professional practice, autonomous but aligned with the wider university’s vision, mission and values.
Innovation Areas
Clear overarching areas of work that lent themselves to collaboration and cross-expertise innovation.
Systems Mapping
Audit of quality systems in each innovation area, built through conversations between front-line staff who experienced the challenges and saw the solutions.
Strategy Summary
A one-page document for school-wide circulation that encapsulated the strategy for continuous improvement. This included a summary of culture (Core Framework) and strategic and tactical priorities for innovation. Concise, meaningful, and clearly showing how small steps lead to big improvements.
Innovation Cycle
Research-driven operational framework to enable the smooth running of innovation teams. Including all members of staff – creating beautiful work and products culminating in presentations of learning.
The leadership team were led through a series of Sprints (learning cycles) and guided in building the framework with staff themselves.
SYCOL worked onsite, face-to-face and virtually. The project continued successfully during and beyond the pandemic. Delivery, design and implementation was also conducted entirely bilingually.
A framework for continuous innovation - driven by culture and people
A world-leading school of education
IMPACT
The School of Educational Sciences are now working together to continuously achieve their cultural and operational objectives. Leaders cultivate a professional continuous improvement culture with staff that parallels the empowering culture they foster for students.
Staff build trust so that they can take risks, show vulnerability and explore new practices that lead to increased student achievement. People bring their unique ideas and solutions to the table, and continually improve their ability to work productively with each other. This means colleagues invite and facilitate honest, direct feedback, and, when needed, courageous conversations.
“We have been able to express who we are, whilst creating beautiful work. By beautiful work – I mean it is of high-quality and uses powerful knowledge to make a positive difference.”
Dr Nia Young, Director of Teaching and Learning
Tell us about your challenge.
If you like the way we think and work, that helps excavate and cement culture across an organisation, then let’s get the conversation started.
