SM9723 - Entrepreneurship & Innovation Challenge

An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of participation, both individually and within small teams. You can therefore expect the reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all lecture sessions. Your entrepreneurial teams will be supported via seminars as they come up with solutions to each challenge.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and working with your teams on each of the challenges. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject area.

The first challenge will be set as part of an intensive residential experiential learning event. This will provide you with opportunities to interact in group-based activities with your peers on the programme. The individual work on your entrepreneurial-self, alongside the skills incrementally developed during the first 3 challenges will all contribute towards the final challenge, which you will be assessed on.

Formative feedback will be provided to you as part of the residential learning event and during the challenges.

The module takes place across the whole semester. Every two weeks the focus will change, so after the initial introductory lecture and residential, you can expect a lecture and seminar every week, with 2-weekly blocks focusing on: mindset and the entrepreneurial self; venture teams; design-sprints; entrepreneurial leadership. These sessions will incrementally build upon each other, supporting you with your final assessment.

The teaching is supported by a teaching and learning plan which sets out independent learning, directed study, session recordings, reading and activities prior to, and for, each of those sessions. All learning and teaching materials are available to you in various formats on our e-learning portal. As well as developing your entrepreneurial self, we also want you to develop your skills of critical evaluation. To this end, there will be an early essay based assessment, which will help you understand the level required for assessments in other modules.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading and preparation for interactive activities. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject area.

Formative feedback will be provided to you during seminars and based on your self-reflection and work on the entrepreneurial challenges. Formative feedback helps you to reflect on your progess in developing your entrepreneurial capabilities as well as ensuring that you understand the assessment criteria and tutor expectations.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1: Develop the necessary knowledge and understanding to develop your entrepreneurship and innovation mindset and capabilities, which will enhance your personal and professional development and subsequent career progression and life-long learning

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO2: Demonstrate ablity to work in culturally diverse groups and teams and make appropriate and personal contributions to team effectiveness

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO3: Have critically evaluated personal strengths and weaknesses and have demonstrated the ability to engage in reflective self-development
MLO4: Have critically reviewed the development of inter-personal and intra-personal skills in relation to entrepreneurial competencies

The module will be assessed by an individual essay and a team presentation.

In the first assignment you will critically reflect upon entrepreneurial mindset and your entrepreneurial capabilities. [MLOs 1, 3 and 4]

In the second assignment your team will present the solution to challenge [MLO 2 and 4] (15 minute presentation)

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This module uses entrepreneurship and innovation challenges to develop your professional mindset, capabilities and attributes. Each challenge will involve you working in teams to achieve specified aims and will focus around contemporary real world socio-economic problems identified in the local community, internationally and within the business community. During the module you will analyse your entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities and develop key skills around entrepreneurial learning. You will build on this understanding of your entrepreneurial self to one where you can assemble and work with teams to complete entrepreneurship and innovation challenges. This will set the foundation for professional life following graduation and set you up for personal and professional learning during and after the programme.

You will be involved in 4 challenges and be supported through lectures and seminars that will deliver relevant theory and practice on: entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities; how to work effectively within dynamic teams; how to adopt a design-ethos in problem solving; and in how to lead entrepreneurially. During the process you will use your understanding of your entrepreneurial self to to enhance your skills profile in relation to the global graduate market. An interactive approach to lecture sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of participation, both individually and within small teams. The reflective-practitioner approach to learning is embedded in all sessions. Your entrepreneurial teams will be supported via seminars as they come up with solutions to each challenge.