Workplace Innovation Skills for Employment Success

Abstract

For full details about the module, please view the Instructor Guide.

This course module was developed by the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto. It is an adaptation of open educational resource, Workplace Innovation (Baregheh & Carey, 2022), published through eCampusOntario’s Open Library. We have worked closely with the authors, Thomas Carey and Anahita Baregheh, to adapt their content and would like to express our sincere appreciation for their support, collaboration, and guidance on this project.

ASIP combines 12 to 20 months of paid work experience with specialized professional development training. Students complete this course module while on work term. Although Workplace Innovation Skills for Employment Success could be used as a standalone module, it draws from and refers to many of the skills covered in another Virtual Learning Strategy-supported course called ‘Ideation and Planning Skills for Employment Success’. Students complete Ideation and Planning Skills prior to starting their work term and completing the Workplace Innovation for Employment Success module.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has proven, and in line with the Government of Canada’s Innovation Plan, the future is uncertain and our role as educators in supporting future-ready graduates is to ensure they have the innovation skills to “embrace global changes” (p.6). As the Innovation Plan explains, “as technologies become commodities that are widely available to everyone, the only competitive advantage for countries—and businesses—is the distinctive talent and creativity of their people” (p.10); Canadian employers are seeking out creative and innovative people who can “turn ideas into solutions” (p.4). Workplace innovation is the employee-led social process of mobilising new ideas to create better work (Carey, 2017). In this module, we teach students about how to leverage workplace innovation, and in particular job crafting, to better meet their professional development goals while also supporting the goals of the organization.

You may preview and explore this course as it was designed in the Canvas learning management system by visiting: https://q.utoronto.ca/courses/307280