Creativity 2.0, student style

According to a survey made by IBM in 2010, more than 1,500 CEOs from 60 countries and 33 industries worldwide identify “creativity” as the most important leadership competency for the successful enterprise of the future. The fact that this survey was done after the last economic downturn indicates us an important shift in attitude. Today´s students are the future leaders of tomorrow. During their learning in school, they develop several leadership competencies including creativity. This study examines how students create in teamwork to find solutions to today´s and tomorrow´s problems. Since 2007, a creative contest named “The 24 hours of innovation” gathered around 3,500 students from 70 schools and universities of 40 countries. They were asked to find a creative solution in 24 hours to different technological problems submitted. We have analyzed the creative process of around 1,500 participants during those contests held from 2007 till now. In 2012, we have invited high school students to participate. Results show some similar processes used to create for the universities students but different creative patterns developed by high school students. Those different approaches could be the “creativity 2.0, student style” that could emerge from our future industry leaders.