A Practice of Community Problem Solving through the Collective Impact Approach －Focusing on the ‘Urban Innovation School’ by a Private-Public-Academic Partnership

Abstract

This study aims to provide the meaningful insights and practical implications for community problem solving through a collective impact approach by examining the case of the ‘Urban Innovation School’--a community problem solving program involving university students and local residents based on collaboration among universities, nonprofits, corporations, and government agencies. To this end, this study analyzed the outputs of the Urban Innovation School program and conducted written interviews with staff members from working organizations and participating university students in order to investigate the perceptions and experiences of the Urban Innovation School from the perspective of collective impact. The findings are as follows. A common understanding regarding the purpose and goals of the program were indeed found to exist. However, a system that can measure the educational and social impact of the Urban Innovation School, along with a backbone organization to coordinate the overall collaborative relationship, and one that can support the entire project process, are still needed. This study suggests that the Urban Innovation School can serve as one wherein useful educational practices can take place through the collective impact approach, as well as a school that can pursue both educational and local innovation by creating positive changes in the community through collaboration among various sectors.