Global Innovation Teams

We applied for this project in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, aiming at creating an alternative to standard internships that was meaningful and could emulate the characteristics of a traditional on-site experience. Now, in a new post-pandemic scenario, remote and flexible work has become the norm and graduates are required to possess a whole new set of skills to succeed in their future career. Transversal skills including teamwork, innovation, time management, autonomy and communication skills are not only crucial, but also often expected by employees at junior entry level. This shift towards a more flexible way of working has particularly impacted the IT sector as teams in tech companies are frequently international, with different teams and individuals operating from different parts of the world and posing several communication and cultural challenges. Global Innovation Teams designed and implemented a model for flexible internships that foster the acquisition of these crucial transversal skills, while proposing reflections and tools for the implementation of the model in other Higher Education Institutes, and a staff training dedicated to academic staff and industry practitioners in supporting participating students.

Our vision was to design a model for international and interdisciplinary virtual/blended internships, that was just as significant and meaningful as traditional internships. The Global Innovation Teams model allows students to complete technology internships and technology-driven projects by working together virtually on real world challenges, guided by industry mentors and academic mentors with a special focus on the development of transversal skills. This partnership believes it is crucial to equip education institutes to face the challenges presented by the post-pandemic scenario, including safeguarding the inclusive nature of learning opportunities. This entails mainstreaming innovative curricula items and upskill academic staff in their delivery and at the same time transfer the acquired knowledge to other Higher Education Institutes.

Global Innovation Teams designed a model for a structured learning experience within an international team of students tasked with working on a substantial technology-driven innovation challenge. The GI teams model is designed to help learners develop their transversal skills in a multidisciplinary and international context, while interacting with real world clients and having access to dedicated industry and academic mentors. Global Innovation Teams was piloted in TU Dublin in 2022 and subsequently tested in the other European partner institutions. A continuous monitoring and feedback collection mechanism allowed for the amelioration of the model and for the production of a report and guidelines aimed at supporting other Higher Education Institutes in the implementation of similar initiatives. Two staff trainings were designed, one targeted at academics, aiming at upskilling teaching staff in fostering innovation among students, managing a team of students and liaising with industry partners, while a training targeted at industry practitioners focuses on mentorship and collaborating with academia.

The Global Innovation Teams model is now mainstreamed in four out of five partner institutions that piloted it. Thanks to the continuous monitoring and feedback collection from all stakeholders involved, the model has been ameliorated at each implementation and adapted to each institution's need becoming part of the offering in the partners' standard Computer Science curricula. Our experience has been encapsulated in a report that shall support other Higher Education Institutes in the implementation of the model. The pilot contains reflections on the advantages and challenges of implementing the GI teams model and includes guidelines targeted at students, academic staff, Higher Education institutes and industry partners. Two staff trainings for the acquisition of skills relevant to the implementation of the model or other similar initiatives have been created and are available asynchronously open access and in TU Dublin. A training targeted at academics aims at upskilling teaching staff in fostering innovation among students, managing a team of students and liaising with industry partners, while a training targeted at industry practitioners focuses on mentorship and collaborating with academia.