Innovation and Enterprise

The module forms part of the common Engineering curriculum for the University. It is intended to be practical, with students developing some appropriate ideas of their own in such a way that they recognise aspects influencing how they could become practical, profitable propositions. Students will practice ways of finding ideas, testing those ideas and developing them. They will investigate project management, business strategies, risk assessments and business simulations so that they can understand the commercial viability of their ideas.

One of the assignments will require students, working in groups, typically to investigate hot topics for innovation and devise plans to deliver one of them. Hot topics in engineering are likely to be those topics that deal with issues such as energy usage, sustainability, water supply, accidents, safety, ethical concerns such as fracking or intellectual property, and professional issues such as pay for engineers, discrimination in the workplace etc. The other assignment - also working in groups - will consist of investigating an existing engineering or design company (associated to their discipline) with the aim of completing a Business Model Canvas to illustrate the structure and interrelated business functions which exist in the types of businesses they are likely to encounter when leaving university.

Topics students will experience will include project management, intellectual property, market research, market placement, advertising and finance. On their e-portfolio site students are expected to provide weekly e-journal entries and regular reflections on provided content and specific topical projects.