Selected Models of Diffusion of Educational Innovations in the Regions

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present two models of disseminating educational innovations for development and shaping entrepreneurial competences in regions and support for the decision-making process regarding the selection of the diffusion model. The first one is called institutional, since it uses existing institutional structures of educational sector and introduces the system of cascade trainings, augmenting the range of innovations through competent trainers (top-down model). The second model of disseminating innovations is called grassroots (social, subsidiarity based; bottom-up model), as it is driven by local activity existing in regions and realised in accordance with the subsidiarity principle. The concept of subsidiarity assumes that the supply of innovation solutions is the response for the need of active local agents in regions, as well as the supplementation and methodical support of their educational and social activity. Both models were tested (observations, case studies) by Malopolska Institute of Culture in Krakow (Poland) in cooperation with partners during the implementation of domestic educational projects with the use of economic games inspired by history. The projects were realised with financial support of the Polish History Museum (2010, 2015) and the National Bank of Poland (2012-2013) and embraced the bottom-up as well as the top-down model of innovation diffusion.