The Palgrave Handbook of Applied Creativity in Global Higher Education

This handbook explores how colleges and universities worldwide are fostering creativity as an essential skill for success in today’s complex and fast-changing world. Featuring over 30 case studies, this volume presents innovative curricula, certificates, degrees, and initiatives designed to equip students with the creative thinking and problem-solving skills demanded in today’s workplace.

Despite the growing recognition of creativity as a crucial life and work skill, few institutions explicitly offer programs to cultivate it. This volume bridges that gap, presenting real-world examples from faculty who have developed applied creativity programs—and first-hand student testimonials that describe their transformative impact. Drawing from psychology, business, and education research, this book demonstrates that creativity is not just an innate talent but a teachable, trainable expertise.

Essential reading for educators, administrators, and policymakers, this book provides practical insights into designing programs and institution-wide strategies that empower students to navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.

Gerard J. Puccio is a State University of New York Distinguished Professor and Department Chair at the Center for Applied Imagination at Buffalo State University, USA. A leading creativity scholar, over 70 publications, he has delivered training and consulting services across the United States and in more than 20 countries.

Amanda Lohiser is Clinical Assistant Professor of Management Communication at Simon Business School at the University of Rochester, USA. With teaching experience in the United States, Singapore, and Denmark, her educational background is in communication studies, public relations, creativity and leadership, and face coding.

Camille A. McKayle is former Provost and Professor of Mathematics at the University of the Virgin Islands, USA. Her research focuses on organizational creativity, creativity and self-efficacy in students, and higher education leadership focusing on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

Frederik Hertel is an Associate Professor at the Business School of Aalborg University in Denmark. His research focuses on organizations, the philosophy of science, qualitative research methods, leadership philosophy, and applied creativity in organizations. He has experience as a project manager and a manager in higher education institutions.