University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2018/19 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Arts > Centre for Innovation > Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MSc) > Specification
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
Programme code | 1INOV001T |
---|---|
Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Kirsten Cater
|
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
School/department | Centre for Innovation |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
The programme aims to offer entrepreneurial and innovation learning in a creative incubation space, giving guidance and resources for those who aspire to be successful innovators. As such it will encourage the combination of subject-specific expertise with interdisciplinary breadth, creative teamwork and entrepreneurial skills. Students will share insights from different disciplines and perspectives in order to address real world challenges, developing understanding and appreciation of how ideas and innovations evolve into sustainable enterprises.
Students will study and gain firsthand experience of entrepreneurship and innovation through working on practical projects. They will come together from different disciplines to work creatively in teams; building upon students’ academic strength from their undergraduate degrees in disparate core disciplines they will learn how to apply subject-specific knowledge to real world challenges through a range of trans-disciplinary units. These will focus on innovation-led entrepreneurial skills, design and systems thinking, creativity, rapid-prototyping, making and user testing. The programme will support students to access personal and external resources needed in order to develop the necessary skills to translate their ideas and innovations through to the creation of successful enterprises.
Innovation and entrepreneurial group project challenges will focus on three core thematic areas: health and healthcare; environment and sustainability; and education and learning in order to equip students to design innovative solutions which may address key issues such as keeping everyone healthy; educating everyone; and living within the planet’s resources.
This programme aims to develop the student’s:
Knowledge and understanding of the practical, financial and legal requirements of setting up, running and maintaining a new social or commercial enterprise.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Knowledge and understanding is developed through lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials and through critical individual and peer reflection (1-11). Independent learning is achieved through assigned tasks and projects (1-11). Practical skills in innovation and entrepreneurship are developed through workshops and projects (1-11). Self-awareness is developed by critical reflection, mentoring, and formative feedback (1-11). Case studies will be used to help students learn from past and present success and failure and think about future opportunities (1-4, 6-7, 10). Students will work with real world clients in order to develop empathy for the people they are designing for and learn skills in how to communicate with a variety of different stakeholders in their projects (1, 5, 6, 10). Students will be supported by external mentors and coaches in order to underpin key learning about current methods in order to take forward their ideas into start-up enterprises (1-11). |
Methods of Assessment | |
Knowledge and skills are both tested through individual and group portfolios and presentations. These are assessed by both peer review and by expert evaluation by programme staff and industrial partners (1-11). Reflective accounts of practical work and learning are assessed against criteria that are set for each assignment (1-11). Individual critical analyses and research submissions test critical and analytical skills and capacities (1-11). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Acquisition of intellectual skills to innovate, design and create enterprises are developed through lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials (1-7). All units are structured in such a way that the skills of problem-solving, research, analysis, synthesis and evaluation are developed. In addition specific units focus on opportunities for practising these skills. Workshops and demonstration to develop student practical innovation skills acquisition (1-7). Innovation challenges to develop students’ skills in practical innovation and entrepreneurship (1-7). Supervision and mentoring meetings alongside the innovation and entrepreneurship project challenges to provide formative feedback (1-7). |
Methods of Assessment | |
The knowledge base is largely tested through individual and group innovation coursework portfolios (including rapid prototyping and proof of concepts) and presentations (1-7). Reflective accounts of practical work and learning (1-7). Iterative and agile practice based innovation and entrepreneurship challenges (1-7). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Acquisition of skills to innovate, design and create enterprises occurs through lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials (1-11). Workshops and demonstration to develop student practical innovation skills acquisition (1-11). Innovation and entrepreneurial challenges to develop students’ skills in practical innovation and entrepreneurship (1-11). Supervision and mentoring meetings alongside the innovation and entrepreneurship project challenges to provide formative feedback (1-11). |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment of transferable skills is primarily through individual and group innovation/entrepreneurial coursework portfolios (including rapid prototyping and proof of concepts), research project/enterprise plan and presentations (1-11). Reflective accounts of practical work and learning (1-11). Iterative and agile practice based innovation and entrepreneurship challenges which also develop team work (1-11). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Masters |
Students will be able to pull together prior learning and experience to create an enterprise; this may focus on an innovative digital and creative product or service, or a social innovation. Students will be able to research and assess the market, feasibility, IP, sustainability, finance and desirability of the proposition and create a proof of concept prototype to test with real world users. Students will have shown originality in the application of knowledge, and they will understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research, experimentation and rapid prototyping. They will be able to deal with complex issues both systemically and creatively, and they will show originality in tackling and solving problems. They will have the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative, in complex and unpredictable professional environments. They will have had experience of designing, building and testing a product or service with the aim of bringing it to market. |
---|---|
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
The student will have a functional foundational knowledge of some key basic concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship, and will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems. He or she will be able to communicate accurately, and will have identified and developed the qualities needed for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility. They will also have gained a basic understanding in how design thinking, systems thinking, frame creation, and disruptive thinking can be applied to problems to innovate and unearth novel and creative solutions that may have been missed from undertaking a purely analytical approach. They will have gained experience in working in multidisciplinary teams to achieve defined aims. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
The student will have developed an understanding of a more complex specific body of knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurship. Through this, the student at this level will have developed analytical techniques and problem-solving skills that can be applied in many types of employment. The student will be able to evaluate client, user and stakeholder needs, reach sound judgements and innovative solutions, and communicate them effectively. Should have the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making. Within the transdisciplinary group projects the students will be expected to have invented, explored and analysed potential solutions efficiently and effectively for a set of innovation and entrepreneurial briefs. They will be supported by mentors and coaches to explore how their proposed solutions may be turned into an enterprise. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tools and Methods for Innovation: Design and Systems Thinking | INOVM0004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Team Challenges 1: Working with difference | INOVM0005 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
In The Wild: Understanding your users | INOVM0006 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Past, Present and Futures | INOVM0007 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
New Venture Creation | INOVM0008 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Team Challenges 2: Client Led Briefs | INOVM0009 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Start-up Funding and Finances 101 | INOVM0010 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Creativity and Innovation | INOVM0011 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Innovation Led Entrepreneurship in Practice | INOVM0012 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
University of Bristol,
Senate House,
Tyndall Avenue,
Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000