Multidisciplinary Innovation MA/MSc
1 Year Full-Time | September Start

During this module, you will be introduced to and undertake design-led innovation practice. You will develop a detailed understanding of the principles and a range of approaches to innovation practice, through the phases of: Set-up, Problem & Solution Exploration, Strategy Development, Pitch, and Unpack. You will learn about the range of methods and resources that support design-led innovation practice and be encouraged to challenge and adapt them.

You will be introduced to key knowledge and concepts about the practicing professional, his/her self-development and the broader contexts of the team, the organisation, and the commercial environment. You will enter into the process of personal and professional development within the context of multidisciplinary innovation teams, and in the aspects of project planning, coordination and management.

You will tackle, as part of a multidisciplinary team, a range of innovation projects, working with external organisations and communities. During these projects, you will be coached, supervised and challenged as you learn how best to contribute your knowledge and expertise within a multidisciplinary team. You’ll learn about different forms of innovation and design-led co-creation, by practicing:
• Project scoping and planning
• Creative research and insight development
• Reflective practice and collaborative workshops
• Ideation, concept refinement and evaluation
• Strategy development and communication
• Value definition and impact assessment
• Client pitches and reporting.

During this module, you will refine your understanding of, and undertake, design-led innovation practice with a particular focus on responsibility in innovation. You will learn, through practice, how to lead organisations and communities; responding to their local issues in the context of mega trends; developing a detailed proposal informed by an understanding of the impacts and consequences of innovation.

Within a multidisciplinary team you will undertake design-led responsible innovation framing and addressing a complex innovation project within your client’s context. Individually you will produce a change plan for enabling your team’s proposal.

You will identify key knowledge and concepts related to ‘responsible business practice’, ‘resilient communities’, and ‘mega trends’. You will continue the process of personal and professional development within the context of multidisciplinary innovation teams, and in the aspects of ‘innovation horizons’, ‘local, national and global policies’, and ‘knowledge and transformation economies’.

Within a multidisciplinary team you will undertake an in-depth innovation project working with an external organisation(s) or community(s). During this project, you will be coached, supervised and challenged as you learn how best to contribute your knowledge and expertise within a multidisciplinary team. You will refine your understanding about the value of design-led co-creation, by producing a business proposal, defended as responsible, that justifies a vision and resourcing based upon:
• Understanding of a complex issue
• A critical appraisal of current action and initiatives
• An innovation tapestry and strategy
• Personal reflexive positioning of drivers, competencies and future action.

During this module, you will develop your understanding of, and undertake, design-led innovation projects demonstrating your developing strategic innovation practice. You will learn how design-led innovation enables ‘co-created strategy’, develops new organisational ‘creative functionality’ and establishes ‘strategic insights and assets’.

Within a team, you will develop pathways to realise strategic value by designing innovative policies, systems, services, products, communications, strategies and ways of working.

You will be introduced to key knowledge and concepts related to ‘understanding and leading teams’, ‘communities of practice’, and ‘competitiveness and strategy’. You will continue the process of personal and professional development within the context of multidisciplinary innovation teams, and in the aspects of brand development, strategic goal setting, and business modelling.

You will tackle, as part of a multidisciplinary team, a range of innovation projects, working with external organisations and communities. During these projects, you will be coached, supervised and challenged as you learn how best to contribute your knowledge and expertise within a multidisciplinary team. You will continue to develop your understanding about different forms of innovation and design-led co-creation, by:
• Practicing in depth and meaningful value creation
• Understanding interconnected perspectives through stakeholder mapping
• Creating cohesive arguments using the outputs of design-led innovation methods
• Building compelling narratives to shape and support project outcomes
• Practicing integrated strategy mapping to influence positive change
• Creating and presenting innovation pathways that highlight the link between local issues and mega trends.

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Effective reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.