Innovation Summit

2023 Innovation Summit

In 2022, more than 120 business leaders from across the Quad Cities and throughout the Midwest came together with the goal of identifying new curricular approaches and teaching practices that will best prepare SAU students for the next generation of work. This year, we reimagined the learning ecosystem. Hosted on April 13, 2023, 100 area business leaders and educators came to campus focused on how to foster a growth mindset around learning that is developed in the classroom and built for the workplace. We invited new perspectives into what attributes contribute to and define this attitude towards learning. What attracts people to engage in workplace learning? When do we know we have created a culture where all employees have learning plans, one in which learning is embedded into performance? Together, we answered these questions and redesigned the future relationship between work and education.

The 2023 World Economic Forum on Jobs highlighted that analytical thinking and creativity will remain critically important skills for workers in the next decade. These two attributes were followed closely by the self-efficacy skills of resilience, flexibility, and agility. The report furthered that 44% of workers’ skills will be disrupted in the next five years.

Mindful of this reality, we engaged in conversations about how you build a resilient, curious, and adaptive workforce, exploring how learning becomes a strategic investment that builds your organization's capacity to grow and adapt in a rapidly changing and complex world. We were excited to listen as local leaders and educators worked together to construct the workplace of the future, sharing insights to inform your leadership and strengthen your talent retention strategies.

Download program Agenda (.pdf)

Have Ideas?

Tell us how your business fosters a growth mindset and commitment to continual learning by sending us an email.

Reimagining the Learning Ecosystem

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We are curious learners, critical thinkers and innovative problem-solvers. The workforce is changing and we are prepared to be an active leader, collaborative partner and incubator for economic growth and entrepreneurial thinking for decades to come.

2023 Innovation Summit

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More than 100 business leaders and educators from across the Quad Cities and throughout the Midwest region joined in the 2023 Innovation Summit: Learning to Work | Working to Learn.

Innovation at SAU on KWQC INSIGHT

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SAU President, Amy Novak, EdD, discusses future labor force needs, key takeaways from the 2022 Innovation Summit and goals for the 2023 Innovation Summit with the KWQC INSIGHT team. Click to watch the full interview.

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