International Conference on Higher Education and Economic

Development

3-5 September 2012

Prof Yashwant Ramma – Mauritius Institute of Education

Ajit Gopee – University of Technology, Mauritius

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology –

bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary

levels of education

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Pre-Conception

Dynamic knowledge

New sets of ski l ls

Values ( including ethics)

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Aims

To situate whether there is a gap between secondary and tert iary levels of education

How it impacts upon creativity and innovativeness at tert iary level

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Theoret ica l F ramework

C r e a t i o n o f k n o w l e d g e h a s a d i r e c t i m p a c t o n s o c i e t y ( M e e k e t a l . , 2 0 0 9 )

V i s i o n a r i e s a r e c r e a t i v e p e o p l e w h o m a ke t h i n g s o u t o f n o t h i n g ( H a n d y , 1 9 9 9 )

T h e d e v e l o p m e nt o f c r e a t i v i t y n e e d s a s o c i a l d i m e n s i o n a s w e l l a s a c o ntex t u a l p e r s p e c t i v e ( C s i k s z e n t m i h a l y i , 1 9 8 8 ; D e B o n o , 1 9 8 3 )

C o l l e g e ( P a r m e s s u r e t a l . , 2 0 0 3 ) & u n i v e r s i t y ( C a r r e , 1 9 8 1 )

s t u d e nt s a r e s t i l l r e s o r t i n g to r o te m e m o r i z -a t i o n to l e a r n c o n c e p t s

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Study

The Part ic ipants (27)

U n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s

Tr a i n e e Te a c h e r s

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Study

Surveys

Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s

P e r s o n a l b a c k g r o u n d

C o u n s e l i n g f a c i l i t i e s

A p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e f a c u l t y

C h o i c e o f s u b j e c t r e l a t e d t o s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y

U n d e r s t a n d i n g o f c r i t i c a l m i n d

M o t i v a t i o n t o p u r s u e f u r t h e r s t u d i e s

W e a k n e s s e s o f t h e p r e s e n t e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Study

Semi-Structured Interviews

6 u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s

1 0 t r a i n e e t e a c h e r s

Tr i a n g u l a t i o n o f d a ta to va l i d a te t h e r e s u l t s

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Distribution of students from two universities

52.94

11.76

5.88

11.76

11.76

5.88

Field of study (%)

IT and related Food science and related Mathematics and related

Biology and related Natural Sciences and related Electronics Engineering and related

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Findings

Assessment categories %

Counselling facilities 64.7

Appreciation for the faculty 87.0

Choice of subject related to Science/Technology 50.0

Development of a critical mind 95.0

Motivation to pursue further studies 82.0

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Findings

• No interest from students to benefit from such facility

• Teachers are preoccupied with their teaching and ‘lesson plans’

Counselling facilities 64.7 %

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Findings

• A good lecturer is one who ‘spoon feed’ students

• Help from laboratory technicians are sought during project work (on academic issues)

• Teachers (secondary) claim time to be the predetermining factor for adopting the traditional approach

Appreciation for the faculty 87.0 %

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Findings

• Half of the respondents claimed that they opted for their 2nd

or 3rd choice

• Choice of subjects act as a demotivating factor

• The need to relate the programme with demands from the job market – partnership between public and private sectors

Choice of subject related to Science/ Technology 50.0 %

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Findings

• Participants confirmed they have developed a critical mind

• Interview demonstrated ‘critical mind’ is strongly associated to grades rather than to a way of thinking – a shift in mindsets

• Students would refrain from having group discussion for fear ideas would be picked up by the group

• Learning of concepts/procedures by rote

• Extra-curricular activities to form part of academic programmes

Development of a critical mind 95.0 %

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

The Findings

• Not prepared to face the change from secondary to tertiary

• Critical mind posed a serious problem

• Fully motivated (intrinsic); extrinsic motivation almost inexistent

• Limited job prospect is the determining factor to pursue higher studies

Motivation to pursue further studies 82.0 %

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Limitations

• 3 institutions only

• Small sample of students

• Group interview

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Concluding Remark

• Review of the whole education system – integration of critical

thinking in every aspect of the curriculum/modules to rise up to the

challenges of globalisation

• Bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary education

• Linking the tertiary with the job market

• Creativity and innovation should be the norm – paradigm shift from

consumers to producers of knowledge

Creativity and Innovation in Science and Technology – bridging the gap between secondary and tertiary levels of education

Thank You