Innovation culture of selected agricultural state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Regions 3 [Central Luzon] and 8 [Eastern Visayas, Philippines]

This paper extends the concept of innovation culture to higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly in the context of doing research and development (R and D) in agricultural state universities and colleges (SUCs). Through the synthesis of related literature, we learned the different organizational, human, and collaborative dimensions of innovation culture. Using case study research design, 40 R and D managers and administrators, innovators, and faculty-research personnel from selected Levels 3 and 4 agricultural SUCs from Regions 3 [Central Luzon] and 8 [Eastern Visayas] were involved in a series of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Institutional statements such as mission, vision, and organizational goals were used as secondary data. Explicitation techniques and content analysis were applied to identify themes and concepts related to innovation, innovation culture, and the challenges in doing R and D in the university. Results revealed that the aspects of innovation and the concept of innovation culture were embedded in the institutional statements, as well as in the values of the participants. It was observed that the participants widely understood and appreciated the concept and attributes of innovation culture in relation to R and D activities in the university. Authors learned that creativity and flexibility, innovation resources, training and capacity development, and coaching and mentoring were key elements of innovation culture that can help address the managerial and institutional challenges in the university. Lastly, identifying, assessing, and determining the impacts of the specific dimensions and elements of innovation culture on R and D productivity, as well as in producing innovative graduates, were deemed relevant areas for research.