Case Study: University of Oxford achieves campus-wide, transparent digital innovation and engagement with Wazoku Idea Spotlight

Oxford University uses Idea Spotlight to manage world leading digital innovation initiative

Oxford University wanted to tap into its staff and student community to seed digital innovations that would improve learning, teaching and research, but IT was seen as reactive and ideas were trapped in departmental silos. With a plan to use part of a £100m budget for seed funding, the university needed a simple, transparent way to collect ideas, build a community of innovators and quickly select feasible projects outside the IT department.

They selected Wazoku’s Idea Spotlight after evaluating 20 platforms and ran time-limited Challenges with upvoting, shortlisting and Dragon’s Den–style pitches, plus departmental “Communities” for smaller campaigns. In two years the programme drove 1,350 users, 222 ideas, 1,400 comments and 9 Challenges, produced projects like Hidden Museums and Go Girl, broke down silos, increased engagement across departments, and delivered a faster, more transparent innovation selection process.

University of Oxford

Stuart Lee

Deputy CIO