Abstract:

Introduction:
Educational innovation plays an important role in enhancing student learning and engagement. However, there is a gap in understanding how research driven innovations contribute to the improvement and transformation of education. Addressing this gap is essential for developing effective and sustainable educational strategies. The objective of this paper was to explain the value of research in education innovation within public research universities from the Netherlands and Italy.

Methodology:
By examining six specific examples of education innovations and using a project-based framework, this study aims to show how research-driven innovations have been implemented in the educational sphere. A mixed-methods approach was used, which combined qualitative insights gained from interviews and focus groups with quantitative data gathered from surveys. This research covered three innovation projects from a public research university from the Netherlands: the MyESL app, the Immersive Tech project, the Ace Yourself app, and three innovation projects from a public research university from Italy: the HackaPrompt, AI as a Team Member, and the Problematic Use of Smartphone projects. Each project was assessed using a unique framework which highlights the value of research for education innovation and summarized using a structured synthesis table that provided a comprehensive overview of their main characteristics and outcomes.

Results:
This study underscored the importance of research-informed educational innovations in increasing communication, integrating immersive technology, supporting skills development, and enhancing collaborative learning. We observed that the focus of all the projects analysed was on student-centric approaches and technology integration to enhance learning experiences and outcomes. Additionally, half of the education innovation projects used mixed methods research approach. Both, the MyESL app and the Immersive Tech project showed increased student satisfaction and positive attitudes towards technology use in education. The Ace Yourself app and AI-related initiatives demonstrated how current technology can support the development of 21st-century skills, and the Problematic Use of Smartphone project identified a detrimental relationship between smartphone addiction and academic performance.

Conclusion:
Research is crucial for educational progress, providing a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in creating and experiencing new educational tools and technologies. Integrating research into all the different stages of the innovation process could better inform whether the innovations designed are effective, relevant, long-lasting, and adaptable to new educational paradigms.

Keywords:

Education, Innovation, Research, Learning.