Teaching Innovation and Creativity: Turning Theory into Practice

Innovation and creativity are the lifeblood of organizations. As such, businesses expect college graduates to exhibit the skills necessary to engage in these behaviors. This research explores the concept of innovation, whether it is innate, or if the skill can be taught within the university setting, and how universities are addressing the need for, and teaching innovation. A search of the word “innovation” within educational courses found that most courses are theoretically-oriented or are efforts to cultivate entrepreneurs and/or new inventions, though some appear more practical in nature. A sampling of 50 ACBSP and AACSB accredited universities offering courses in innovation found that approximately half the universities reviewed offered courses in innovation but most courses appeared theoretical. This work contributes to the discussion of business education regarding innovation and the importance of aligning business education with organizational needs.