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Innovation Academies

Unlock the transformative power of innovation by mastering key principles and practical techniques needed to drive positive change in the communities you serve.

Anchored in Thomas Jefferson University’s signature Nexus Learning™ pedagogy, using our award-winning Design, Engineering & Commerce (DEC) Core Curriculum as a foundation, the Innovation Academies provide professional development opportunities designed to equip participants with the tools and techniques needed to propel innovation and transformation.

Drawing from user-centered design, systems thinking, business analytics and ethnographic research, our professional development programs empower their participants to tackle complex, real-world problems.

Our academies operate in a cohort model, fostering active and collaborative learning to help identify opportunities, analyze solutions and explore potential impacts across various organizational contexts. Specifically designed for the needs of each group, our professional development opportunities help teams discover innovative approaches that revolutionize how to solve challenges and collaborate effectively.

I liked the practice of breaking down the information to look at chains of events and effects throughout the system. Definitely put some things into a new perspective for me!

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Curricular Highlights

These programs are specifically designed to help participants:

  • Employ human-centered design tools to inform insights and identify opportunities
  • Apply an iterative approach to idea generation and problem-solving
  • Employ integrative thinking in finding and framing problems
  • Map interrelationships among variables within complex and dynamic systems
  • Evaluate complex problems and potential solutions through the implementation of systems thinking tools
  • Analyze human belief and behavior using ethnographic research tools
Clients have included:
  • The City of Philadelphia
  • SEPTA
  • Comcast
  • The Goddard School
  • Independence Blue Cross
  • University of Ulster 

Open the accordions below for details and contact information related to current Innovation Academy offerings.

Current Innovation Academies

Academy of Municipal Innovation (AMI) launched in 2012 as a partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology with a cohort of 20 participants from across city programs and departments. Evolving over the years to advance innovative development opportunities, this program has empowered 11 cohorts of participants to tackle complex, real-world problems, fostering collaboration among diverse groups to help frame opportunities, analyze solutions and explore potential impacts across various organizational contexts. Prompted by an AMI alum, the program expanded to include cohorts from SEPTA (South East Pennsylvania Transit Authority) beginning in 2023.


Fast Facts

  • Years running:  12 (11 cohorts, with a break during Covid)
  • Participants served: Over 220 alumni from the City of Philadelphia and SEPTA, across programs and departments from both organizations

Testimonials

  • "Learning how to make a better survey is helpful as my office creates a lot of surveys for public outreach. I could also see myself using the impact-interest matrix. I really enjoyed how much time we took all together to learn about these new tools before doing them on our own."
  • "This was well-structured. I liked that we introduced and walked-through an example as a class, then did it in pairs. Pairs was helpful to bounce ideas off of another person."
  • "I loved how welcoming and engaging the class was. It was nice to continue collaborating with others, but also having time to work on my individual problem statement."
  • "I enjoyed the opportunity we had to practice using the Impact/Interest Matrix. I also like engaging with other cohort members as it has given me different perspectives on how I should refine my problem statement."
  • "[I enjoyed] hearing from Alumni how they utilized the data in their work with real life examples."
  • "I have applied stakeholder mapping for a few outreach and information sessions related to ongoing Office of Immigrant Affairs programming. Each time focusing on creating the broadest list possible and then refining."

To learn more about how Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce's Innovation team can create similar opportunities for your organization, contact Dana Scott at dana.scott@jefferson.edu or call 215-951-2681.

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