Strategic approaches for entrenching a culture of innovation in teaching and learning in a research-intensive university context: Impact of the scholarship of educational leadership

Drawing on appreciative inquiry methodology and institutional leadership experiences, this chapter examines the strategic role of the scholarship of educational leadership (SoEL) for entrenching a culture of innovation in teaching and learning in an Arabian Gulf research-intensive university. We provide a theoretical framework, as well as practical examples for entrenching a culture of innovation in teaching and learning within and across diverse disciplines. Data suggest that strategic institutional supports including incentives, rewards, promotion and reappointment criteria, and faculty professional development initiatives play a critical role in implementation. Furthermore, networked improvement communities grounded in educational inquiry is central to enhancing and sustaining a culture of innovation in teaching and learning in a researchintensive university context. Key institutional supports, challenges and applications of SoEL for entrenching a culture of innovation in teaching and learning are discussed.