Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will adopt a person-centred approach to developing creativity, innovation and user engagement skills. Students, in interdisciplinary teams will work together to 'forensically' examine insights and assumptions around global and industry problems from which to identify actionable opportunities. Students will be expected to interact with potential users and stakeholders to collect primary research data to support the opportunity that is identified. The product of this work is a Market Opportunity Report demonstrating what has been learned and what the next steps might be to realise the social/economic viability and impact of a new opportunity.

There is follow-on support for opportunity development beyond the module available through the NU Start Up offer in the Careers Service, there are many examples of students who have started a new venture as a result of this module.

Outline Of Syllabus

Approaches to design thinking, innovation and problem solving
Future trends
The challenge of finding the insights which lead to opportunities.
The design evolution process
Value Proposition tools
Methods of evaluating opportunities
Intellectual Property
Challenging assumptions to ensure feasibility and viability of opportunities
The entrepreneurial mindset

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

•       Understand and engage with the process of identifying problems and exploring the problem space to identify opportunities
•       Understand the criteria for evaluating and summarising a range of value propositions
•       Ability to evaluate, construct and present actionable problems stimulated by global challenges

Intended Skill Outcomes

•       Identify, evaluate and research the viability of a range of ideas
•       Evaluate critically concepts of market need, supply and demand, raising finance, cost, price, profit and
competition
•       Plan and execute market research to learn objectively about potential areas for innovation
•       Communicate and work effectively with an interdisciplinary team to produce an assessed report
•       Identify innovation and enterprise as a means to solve global problems and challenges
•       Build a network and tool-kit for the future
•       Self-appraise individual skills sets and interests and collaborate with others to fulfil the needs of a
performing team

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module uses a varied range of teaching methods and opportunities for experiential learning. These will include workshop activities alongside guest lectures and case study examples.
A significant focus of the module is on the individual’s ability to self-appraise their own creativity, innovation and market research capabilities with a view to how they may be deployed to solve problems and approach work in the future. The portfolio captures what students have applied and learned as a result of the module and independent learning activities.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Formative Assessment: Pass/Fail
Individual students will submit a sample reflective blog post to ensure that they are undertaking the process of self-reflection as learning, and drawing consistent outcomes. Feedback to support the likelihood of success in Assessment 2 will be given. Alongside this, students can select how they would like to be assessed for their portfolio. 3 items must be chosen, but there is complete flexibility and choice as to which items an individual student feels best represents their capabilities in this area.

Assessment 1: Market Opportunity Report (40%)
Drawing upon research work, skills and practice throughout the module, this group assessment will document a rationale for spending more time/money/effort on the development of an opportunity. Rather than producing a business plan, this is a preliminary document which concludes what has been found, with evidence, which makes for a strong value proposition.

Assessment 2: Individual Skills Portfolio (60%)
Student will develop awareness and a wide range of key skills within the graduate attributes framework through experiential learning that contextualises an innovation mind set. Through reflection and review students will draw outcomes and develop an evidence base for the future. This will be captured through 3 items in a portfolio chosen by the individual student. Students will have received approval of their portfolio choices in the formative assessment.

Group assessment will be subject to peer assessment using the University’s tool for peer evaluation of group work contribution.

General Notes

N/A