Science for Education Today, 2023, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 45–72
© Kicherova M. N., Trifonova I. S., 2023
UDC: 
101+37.01+316.4

Principles of the ecosystem approach: Possibilities for modeling educational ecosystems

Kicherova M. N. 1 (Tyumen, Russian Federation), Trifonova I. S. 1 (Tyumen, Russian Federation)
1 University of Tyumen
Full text (Open Access) — Downloaded 965
Abstract: 

Introduction. The article reveals the problem of applying the ecosystem approach for the transformation of education in the face of current global socio-economic and technological challenges.
The aim of the article is to identify and summarize the principles of the ecosystem approach to education, to justify the possibilities of their application for modeling the national education system.
Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of the study includes systematic approach, socio-environmental approach, comparative analysis and thematic content analysis. In order to achieve the purpose of the research, an analytical review has been conducted in a comparative context: more than 60 full-text sources revealing the features of the ecosystem approach have been studied using the method of qualitative thematic content analysis. The comparative analysis made it possible to identify and clarify different points of view on the ecosystem approach and the prospects for its implementation in modern education. At first, the article examines the operating conditions of ecosystems. The authors have identified and described their key principles in business and entrepreneurship. In the second phase, the logical and methodological method of extrapolation has allowed the authors to implement these principles to education. A conceptual architecture of the educational ecosystem has been designed based on modeling method.
Results. The authors have identified the key principles of social ecosystems functioning in business and entrepreneurship, substantiated the possibility of their application to the education sector. The authors have outlined and revealed six fundamental ecosystem principles in their entirety and systematic coherence: customer focus, configuration among participants’ relations, regulation and management, environmental influence, digital technologies and online platforms, symbiosis and co-evolution of participants. These principles have formed the basis for the conceptual architecture of the educational ecosystem. This meaningful mental model explicates inner meanings of ecosystem connections in education. It represents key features, new nature and configuration of relationships among dissimilar participants and stakeholders, such as formal and non-formal education, the state, the innovative business and the non-profit sector.
Based on the analytical review and the comparative analysis of international and Russian sources, the authors have substantiated theoretical and practical potential, advantages and limitations of the ecosystem approach to education, as well as designed the model of the educational ecosystem.
Conclusions. In conclusion, the authors summarize the identified fundamental principles of educational ecosystems; justify the possibilities of their application for the organizational, technological and content transformation of the national education system.

Keywords: 

Transformation of education; Ecosystem approach; Educational ecosystem; Principles of the ecosystem approach; Ecosystem links; Configuration of relations; Conceptual architecture; Non-formal education

For citation:
Kicherova M. N., Trifonova I. S. Principles of the ecosystem approach: Possibilities for modeling educational ecosystems. Science for Education Today, 2023, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 45–72. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15293/2658-6762.2303.03
References: 
  1. Koul S., Nayar B. The holistic learning educational ecosystem: A classroom 4.0 perspective. Higher Education Quarterly, 2020, vol. 75 (3), pp. 98–112. DOI:  http://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12271
  2. Gedeon S. A. Theory-based design of an entrepreneurship microcredentialing and modularization system within a large university ecosystem. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 2020, vol.  3 (2), pp. 107–128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2515127419856612
  3. Wang Z., Zhang Q. Higher-education ecosystem construction and innovative talents cultivating. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2019, vol. 07 (06), pp. 146–153. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2019.73011
  4. Amonashvili Sh. A., Zajceva I. I. Humane-personal pedagogy: Theory and practice. Education and Self-Development, 2012, no. 5, pp. 28–32. (In Russian) URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=17956846  
  5. Rozin V. M. Ecosystem approach in education. Culture of Culture, 2021, no. 4, pp. 8. (In Russian) URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=47317510
  6. Adner R. Ecosystem as structure: An actionable construct for strategy. Journal of Management, 2017, vol. 43 (1), pp. 39–58. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316678451
  7. Niemi H. Building partnerships in an educational ecosystem. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 2016, vol. 6 (3), pp. 5–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.62
  8. Bischoff K., Volkmann Ch., Audretsch D. Stakeholder collaboration in entrepreneurship education: An analysis of the entrepreneurial ecosystems of European higher educational institutions. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 2018, vol. 43 (3), pp. 20–46. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-017-9581-0
  9. Cai Y., Ma J., Chen Q. Higher education in innovation ecosystems. Sustainability, 2020, vol.  12  (11), pp. 4376. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3390/su12114376
  10. Korshunov I. A., Gaponova O. S. Lifelong learning in the context of economic development and government effectiveness. Educational Studies, 2017, no. 4, pp. 36–59. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1814-9545-2017-4-36-59 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=35061791 
  11. Lingens B., Miehé L., Gassmann O. The ecosystem blueprint: How firms shape the design of an ecosystem according to the surrounding conditions. Long Range Planning, 2021, vol. 54 (2), pp.  102043. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2020.102043
  12. Llewellyn T., Erkko A. Innovation ecosystems in management: An organizing typology. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management, Oxford University Press, 2020. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190224851.013.203
  13. Clarysse B., Wright M., Bruneel J., Mahajan A. Creating value in ecosystems: Crossing the chasm between knowledge and business ecosystems. Research Policy, 2014, vol. 43 (7), pp. 1164–1176. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2014.04.014
  14. Gnyawali D., Ryan Charleton T. Nuances in the interplay of competition and cooperation: Towards a theory of coopetition. Journal of Management, 2018, vol. 44 (7), pp. 014920631878894. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318788945
  15. Holgersson M., Baldwin C., Chesbrough H., Bogers M. The forces of ecosystem evolution. California Management Review, 2022, vol. 64 (3), pp. 5–23. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00081256221086038
  16. Senyo P. K., Liu K., Effah J. Digital business ecosystem: Literature review and a framework for future research. International Journal of Information Management, 2019, vol. 47, pp. 52–64. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.01.002
  17. Ovchinnikova A. V., Zimin S. D. The birth of the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems and its evolution. Journal of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Law, 2021, vol. 11 (6), pp. 1497–1514. (In  Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.18334/epp.11.6.112307 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=46332124
  18. Graça P., Camarinha-Matos L. Performance indicators for collaborative business ecosystems – Literature review and trends. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2017, vol. 116, pp.  237–255. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.10.012
  19. Palmié M., Miehé L., Oghazi P., Parida V., Wincent J. The evolution of the digital service ecosystem and digital business model innovation in retail: The emergence of meta-ecosystems and the value of physical interactions. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2022, vol. 177, pp. 121496. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121496
  20. Kolloch M., Dellermann D. Digital innovation in the energy industry: The impact of controversies on the evolution of innovation ecosystems. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2017, vol. 136, pp. 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.03.033
  21. Hu H., Huang T., Zeng Q., Zhang S. The role of institutional entrepreneurship in building digital ecosystem: A case study of red collar group (RCG). International Journal of Information Management, 2016, vol. 36 (3), pp. 496–499.  DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2015.12.004
  22. Asriev A. Ju. The idea of the educational ecosystem in the modernization of cadet education. Review of Omsk State Pedagogical University. Humanitarian research, 2020, no. 3, pp. 104–109. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.36809/2309-9380-2020-28-104-109 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=44384434
  23. Fominyh N. Ju., Kojkova Je. I., Bubenchikova A. V. Educational environment as an ecosystem. World of Science, Culture and Education, 2021, no. 3, pp. 292–294. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.24412/1991-5497-2021-388-292-294  URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=46280364
  24. Kurennoj V. A. Philosophy of liberal education: The principles. Educational Studies, 2020, no. 1, pp. 8–38. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1814-9545-2020-1-8-39 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=42744434
  25. Utkin A. V., Shevchenko K. V. Ecosystem approach in education: From metaphor to methodology and practice. Cherepovets State University Bulletin, 2022, no. 2, pp. 175–189. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.23859/1994-0637-2022-2-107-14 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=48291515
  26. Efimov V. S., Lapteva A. V., Rumjancev M. V. Science and education of the region: The ecosystem perspective (the Case of the Krasnoyarsk Territory). University Management: Practice and Analysis, 2019, vol. 23 (3), pp. 40–55. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/umpa.2019.03.018 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=39137463
  27. Liu H., Kulturel-Konak S., Konak A. Key elements and their roles in entrepreneurship education ecosystem: Comparative review and suggestions for sustainability. Sustainability, 2021, vol.  13  (19), pp. 10648. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3390/su131910648
  28. Gordina O. V. The higher education institution as a participant of forming the city’s learning community. Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Problems of Higher Education, 2017, no. 1, pp. 31–34. (In Russian) URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=29031808 
  29. Permjakov O. E., Kitin E. A. Methodology of strategic planning for the development of educational ecosystems. Administrative Consulting, 2020, vol. 11, pp. 119–129. (In Russian) DOI:  https://doi.org/10.22394/1726-1139-2020-11-119-129 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=44514495  
  30. Sorokin P. C., Frumin I. D. Education as a source for transformative agency: Theoretical and practical issues. Educational Studies, 2022, no. 1, pp. 116–137. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1814-9545-2022-1-116-137 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=48162611
  31. Li Y., Hsu W. L., Zhang Y. Evaluation study on the ecosystem governance of industry –Education integration platform in China. Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14 (20), pp. 13208. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3390/su142013208
  32. Isakova G. S. Creation of the university educational ecosystem using cloud services. Professional Education in Russia and Abroad, 2021, no. 2, pp. 100–107. (In Russian) URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=46482919 
  33. Ermolova T. V., Savickaya N. V., Dedova O. V., Guzova A. V. The problem of choosing universal tools for foreign language teaching in conditions of changing educational paradigms. Science for Education Today, 2021, vol. 11 (6), pp. 179–194. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.15293/2658-6762.2106.10 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=47447644
  34. Perin A. P. J., Silva D. E., Valentim N. M. C. Investigating block programming tools in high school to support Education 4.0: A systematic mapping study. Informatics in Education, 2022, pp. 1–36. DOI:  http://doi.org/10.15388/infedu.2023.21
  35. Souto-Otero M. Validation of non-formal and informal learning in formal education: Covert and overt. European Journal of Education, 2021, vol. 56 (3), pp. 365–379. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12464
  36. Ishhenko-Padukova O. A., Movchan I. V. Educational ecosystem in methodological coordinates of a two-sector mixed economy model. State and Municipal Administration Scientific Notes, 2021, no. 3, pp. 106–110. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.22394/2079-1690-2021-1-3-106-110 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=46650936
  37. Vetchinova M. N. Forming a new educational reality: An ecosystem approach. Problems of Modern Education, 2022, no. 4, pp. 78–86. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.31862/2218-8711-2022-4-78-86 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=49530653  
  38. Izotova A. G., Gavriljuk E. S. Ecosystem approach as a new trend in the development of higher education. Russian Journal of Innovation Economics, 2022, vol. 12 (2), pp. 1211–1226. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.18334/vinec.12.2.114869 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=48939624
  39. Olejnikov B. V., Podlesnyj S. A. On the conception of “learning ecosystem” and development directions of education informatization. Knowledge. Understanding. Skills, 2013, no. 4, pp. 84–91. (In Russian) URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=21029469 
  40. Volodina G. E., Obolonskaja A. V., Ratt T. A. University-school cluster as an innovative form for teachers’ professional competence development. Educational Studies, 2014, no. 1, pp. 46–63. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1814-9545-2014-1-46-63 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=21700469
  41. Niemi H. Education reforms for equity and quality: An analysis from an educational ecosystem perspective with reference to Finnish educational transformations. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 2021, vol. 11 (2), pp. 13–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1100
  42. Kotljarova I. O., Potapova M. V. Praxeological component of higher education improvement based on the network interaction of universities with non-educational organizations. Bulletin of the South Ural State University. Series: Education. Educational Sciences, 2019, vol. 11 (4), pp. 21–29. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.14529/ped190402  URL:  https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=41353186
  43. Denkowska S., Fijorek K., Węgrzyn G. Formal and non-formal education and training as an instrument fostering innovation and competitiveness in EU member countries. Journal of Competitiveness, 2020, vol. 12 (3), pp. 82–98. DOI: http://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2020.03.05 
  44. Sidorova O. V., Sabirova Z. Je. Formation of educational ecosystems in the digital environment. Economics and Management: Scientific and Practical Journal, 2022, no. 4, pp. 150–155. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.34773/EU.2022.4.27 URL:  https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=49295655
  45. Kremneva L. V., Zavedenskij K. E., Rabinovich P. D., Apen'ko S. N. Strategizing education: Ecosystem transition. Integration of Education, 2020, no. 4, pp. 656–677. (In Russian) DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.101.024.202004.656-677 URL:  https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=44389218
Date of the publication 30.06.2023