Sociological Perspectives on Social Innovation in Education

Innovation in education represents a strong need in today's societies. Innovation in education from a sociological perspective offers a stronger link of society's involvement in education, rather than focusing on understanding innovation as the use of technology in education.

Social innovation in education remains an under-researched concept despite the current global crises and challenges in education. Research on social innovation shows the need for new perspectives on innovation, more towards the participation of society, e.g. civil society and non-governmental organisations.

In this panel, the focus will be set at a sociological approach which recognises innovation in education as a result of local needs for change and implement alternative models of education, but especially to include society in the design and provision of education. Innovation in education can range from systemic change to small changes in a classroom.

In this sense, the sociological perspective of social innovation in education focuses on studying and understanding new partnerships to improve education, new development of institutions, new methods and new forms of collaboration between communities, schools, local government and non-governmental organisations, all with a special focus on the participation of society.

Some potential topics in this panel are:

• Alternative education as a pathway to innovation
• Innovation in higher education
• Innovation in Vocational Educationl and Training
• Innovation of education with communities and non-educational actors (e.g. education in marginalised areas or marginalised communities)
• New learning processes of educational organisations
• Case studies of innovation in education
• Theoretical frameworks of innovation in education