Abstract:

A case study of the experience of UNAN-Managua the largest university in the second poorest county in the Western Hemisphere with the University Innovation Fellows Program. The UIF is housed in the D School of the Hassno Plattner Institute of the Leland Stanford University. Here was a chance for four students and a faculty member to experience cutting edge of innovative thinking. The idea was driven by a suggestion of two professors from the United States. The case includes the challenges, the ups and downs and the recommendations for the future to the administration of UNAN-Managua. This is the case of exciting energized people working together to make the impossible dream a reality.

UNAN-Managua is Nicaragua’s largest university with over 40,000 students on five campuses and more students in the program for students in the rural areas called UNICAM. In 2004, one of the authors started to work with the university at one of its regional campuses in Estelí, Nicaragua. The program grew and transformed from a student program to a faculty program. Because of this close working relationship two professors from Michigan who work with the program University Innovation Fellows (UIF), at the Leyland Stanford University thought it would be great if UNAN Managua could advance a team. The authors were looking for change agents and this is what the UIF is designed to accomplish.

The idea of UNAN Managua participating in the Stanford University Innovation Fellows program was suggested to the Rector in May of 2017, that set-in motion budget and process discussions. The idea was quickly taken up by the then Vice Rector of Investigation and Innovation and his staff. The budget problem was huge especially with the cost of flights to San Francisco from Managua in March. The US Embassy was approached in the summer of 2017 by the Rector for a reunion with the US Author who has put together a budget.

The embassy had some restrictions as understood by the authors:
1. The money had to be used for taking excellent English speakers to the United States
2. The US Embassy required that air travel be on US based airlines for example, American, Delta, or United.

Step by Step:
1. Students needed to be selected by UNAN Managua.
2. Students needed to complete the on-line portion of the University Innovation Fellows Program. In 2017, this was is an intensive six-week program.
3. An objective was set with the UNAN selected Faculty Advisor to have a January workshop. This was an opportunity to bring together the Advisors from the Midwestern University and from UNAN along with the students of both universities.

Results:
Upon returning from Stanford full of energy and passion for Design Thinking the students planned to do six workshops in several areas. They considered Anthropology, Education, Physics, Languages, Medicine, Nutrition and Physiotherapy. The University Innovation Fellows were able to complete three workshops impacting 61 people on the campus.
Nutrition – 30 students served
Physical Therapy -24 students served
Anthropology -7 students served
While they had hopes of getting everything they planned done, their campus was closed for several months. In those months, each person was doing their own thing and meetings were dangerous.

This paper and presentation will be the expose people to the University Innovation Program and some of the opportunities and challenges for a school like UNAN-Managua.

Keywords:

University Innovation Fellows, UNAN-Managua, Innovation, Design Thinking,, Culture