A joint initiative by the Bilkent University Faculty of Applied Sciences and the University of Malta’s Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation, made possible by support from Malta Ambassador Theresa Cutajar, resulted in a new educational opportunity for Bilkent students.
The institute focuses on instruction in four subject areas: creativity, innovation management, entrepreneurship and futures studies. For Bilkent students, a 20-hour study unit on “Ideas and Innovation” was offered via a virtual platform during the 2022 spring semester. More than 50 students from different faculties applied to participate; the first 24 applicants were enrolled.
Three instructors at the Edward de Bono Institute – Dr. Margaret Mangion, Prof. Leonie Baldacchino and Prof. Sandra Dingli – explored topics that included an introduction to creativity and application of the creative problem-solving framework; ideas, opportunities and entrepreneurship; and innovation management in organizations.
Interactive sessions were conducted on Zoom, and students had access to a virtual learning environment platform where the study unit readings and other material were made available by the institute. Students who wished to receive credit for the unit from the University of Malta had the option of either conducting an audit of an organization in Turkey or submitting a start-up proposal, after which their work was assessed by the instructors.
The Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Edward de Bono Institute plan to offer the program again in the coming semesters in the belief that it will help students become more creative and ease their transition from university studies to employment.