Unit information: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Programme in 2021/22

Unit name	Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summer Programme
Unit code	INOV10003
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Ms. Cole
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Centre for Innovation
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The world of work is changing rapidly; new products and services are creating not only new companies but new ways of working. Small companies are disrupting established businesses and permanent jobs in many sectors are being discarded in favour of flexible contractors and freelancers. Even established old companies are furiously trying to innovate new products, services, and markets to keep up and avoid being disrupted out of business.

To succeed in this emerging economy, you’ll need to not only be innovative but also be enterprising and entrepreneurial in your behaviour to spot and seize opportunities for yourself and for the companies you’ll work for. Entrepreneurial thinking is not just the preserve of Silicon Valley, it’s a way of searching for and executing on business ideas that is relevant to anyone trying to create value for themselves and others. The aim of this unit is to develop your understanding, abilities and skills which are essential to setting up or being part of an entrepreneurial venture.

You will work in a team to come up with an innovative idea and develop a business plan and presentation. We’re also interested in how your idea developed; through the reflective assessment you will reflect on the process through which your team, idea and business plan developed and what you have learnt over the course.

The broadest view of entrepreneurship is taken in this unit - the entrepreneurial venture could take one of several forms, for example:

• A commercial start-up company which is solely economic growth/profit oriented
• An initiative concerned with social entrepreneurship or a not-for-profit enterprise which combines economic sustainability with some form of social impact

Lectures and workshops will cover examples and latest thinking in several areas related to entrepreneurship. However, groups will be expected to identify and engage with a wider range of material, both of an academic and business nature, as required by their particular venture. The unit is delivered in an activity-driven, problem-solving way. Students will be asked to collaborate in class and in their assignments, working together to change ideas into possible solutions and future potential businesses. The unit also includes many practical components on local entrepreneurship complemented by industry engagement sessions, aimed at empowering students to engage directly with companies and industries in a way that reflects the theories and contexts learnt in class.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Apply theory, tools, techniques and skills to develop a robust enterprise plan,
2. Apply and evaluate business models and environments facing an enterprise,
3. Reflect critically on their own entrepreneurial experience creating an enterprise,
4. Examine key concepts and practice using design systems thinking,
5. Apply strategic thinking to create a sustainable and successful enterprise,
6. Work collaboratively and in a team to develop ideas,
7. Research ideas and concepts with and for potential customers,
8. Build a fully costed and considered business proposal and plan,
9. Prepare a high-level, investor-ready presentation,
10. Pitch their proposals to potential clients and investors.

Teaching Information

Interactive workshops with focused teaching from key staff to deliver the key concepts. Students work in pairs and groups on specific tasks to produce a business idea and deliver a pitch to potential investors. The programme mixes skills and knowledge and also includes visits to key local innovative businesses.

Assessment Information

Individual Reflective Assessment (40%) [ILOs 1, 3-5]

Group Business Plan (30%) [ILOs 1-2, 4-8]

Group Presentation Pitch (30%) [ILOs 7-10]

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. INOV10003).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.