Bringing Platform University to Life: A Deep Dive Webinar
Transforming universities with platform models: innovation, autonomy, and adaptive collaboration.
Boundaryless Team
The second webinar in the Platform University series took the ideas of platform organization models and addressed the challenges and opportunities in implementing them within the higher education sector. Building on the foundation set by the Platform University whitepaper, this session explored the practicalities of creating entrepreneurial ecosystems in universities, with an emphasis on small-scale experiments and pilot projects.
Get a quick recap of the first webinar – which introduced the concept of The Platform University – and what was the purpose it set out to achieve.
This webinar featured Pete Cohen and Peter Thomas from RMIT FORWARD, Frank Buechele, founder of Convivial Ideas, and Simone Cicero from Boundaryless. We also featured a pre-recorded interview with Prof. Bill Fischer, a renowned expert in organizational transformation and distributed models, as well as being a very experienced teacher at private universities for several decades, who shared some special insights.
Webinar Highlights: A Framework for Transformation
Simone opened the discussion by introducing Bill Fischer’s analysis of universities’ current challenges. Fischer emphasized the outdated structures and silos in many institutions and the need for universities to rethink their roles, primarily as centers of knowledge are no longer confined within their walls. He emphasized the importance of decentralizing decision-making, empowering autonomous units, and fostering entrepreneurial cultures.
Peter then reflected on the unique contexts of different universities, highlighting how challenges such as globalization, competition, and financial constraints are universal, but solutions must be tailored to each institution’s specific context. He also pointed out that although entrepreneurial activities already exist in universities, they often happen despite institutional structures rather than because of them.
This creates a strong case for platform organization models to enable systematic and scalable innovation.
A recurring theme in the webinar was the significance of starting with small, strategic pilots. In this, Frank highlighted that choosing the right entry point within a university is essential. Pilots need to be located in areas where they can grow and influence broader organizational change, and from his experience of agile transformations – how success requires both initial experiments and a clear scaling strategy.
Pete went on to provide a real-world example through RMIT FORWARD, whereby leveraging a network of global fellows, they created reciprocal value for its participants, the university, and the market. He re-emphasized that such pilots also help reduce risk while capturing valuable insights to inform broader adoption.
The discussions also acknowledged the cultural barriers that can hinder transformation. Peter spoke about the administrative challenges in universities and the need for cultural shifts to empower autonomous teams and embrace new ways of working through means like coaching and skill-building.
Moving Forward with a Vision for the Platform University
The webinar concluded with reflections on the future of universities. Bill’s insights about the changing purpose of universities—from being the sole repositories of knowledge to becoming facilitators of learning and collaboration—were one of the key takeaways that set the stage for a broader vision. Together, we envisioned universities as entrepreneurial hubs where students, faculty, and external partners co-create value through a fundamental reimagination.
As universities navigate a rapidly changing landscape, the platform organization model offers a roadmap for agility, innovation, and impact. This webinar explains why and how to approach it.
The Whitepaper
The whitepaper serves as a roadmap, offering practical guidance on beginning this journey through experimentation, collaboration, and the adoption of entrepreneurial principles.
The Platform University initiative is not merely an academic exercise but it wants to be a blueprint for the future of higher education. By embracing these ideas, universities can position themselves as dynamic hubs of innovation and collaboration, equipped to navigate the challenges of the 21st century while creating lasting value for students, staff, and society.
For those ready to take the next step, the Platform University whitepaper offers detailed insights and actionable strategies. The conversation has begun, and it is an invitation for educators, policymakers, and university leaders to reimagine what higher education can be in an interconnected and rapidly evolving world.