How might we improve the relationship between academia, industry, and government? If you are familiar with the structure of the question, then you should know that these questions are often used in design thinking sessions.
I have been participating in design thinking sessions/ challenges since 2020, and they have been my deliberate tool for cultivating my problem-solving skills while working with teams. Undoubtedly, each session has transformed how I approach human-centred design and problem-solving in general.
My best experience was with the PAUSTI Incubation Centre of Excellence. We did it for the Huntington Disease Africa Organization. My team addressed the question, “How might we grow awareness about Huntington’s Disease in Africa.”
My team interacted with Huntington’s Disease warriors, caregivers, medical experts, and policymakers to conceptualize a solution that won us prize money, a chance to present a conference paper at the first-ever HD conference in Africa held in Nairobi (2022), and a six months internship with HD Africa.
But all that success is beside the point. Here is what I am saying. Our institutional systems have not evolved much for centuries. For example, the structure, techniques, and methods used in academia have remained almost the same.
However, to pioneer a new way, we must challenge the status quo to successfully answer the question of improving the relationship between academia, industry, and government. So, why not integrate design thinking sessions into the university curricula?
EDEN UNIVERSITY: Why not build innovation hubs where students come to collect problem statements crafted by industry experts and answered by students through research in an incentivized manner?
Taking that route will train students in practical problem-solving while giving industries innovative talent to address societal challenges. Furthermore, we will be investing in the future of our country by growing the number of problem-solvers/ innovators.
I know that it is scary to change systems we have so long been comfortable in. But then, that is how you know you are innovating…When it is scary!
