The implementation of professional development for lecturers in higher education: from national to local educational innovation with IT

Abstract Initiation and implementation of nationally developed innovations within local educational institutions is a complex process. Innovations often fail to become part of the organizational routines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify how two types of information technology-related educational innovations for lecturer professional development, created by a nationally driven program, were received and implemented in local higher education institutions, and what factors supported or hindered this process. Results from 38 interviews with representatives of the institutions and professional development providers showed that the initiation and implementation of the innovations at the local institutions varied. These differences could be explained by factors related to the innovation itself, the innovation’s development, individuals and the educational institution; in particular, the last three categories were found to be related to the stages of the innovation-process model used.