This excerpt and presentation was developed as a five-minute snapshot session for the July 2018 Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference. The conference focuses on exploring the transitions and mechanisms by which students and staff support each other in enhancing their academic practice.
The Innovation Programmes at the University of Bristol Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers undergraduate students the opportunity to study one of 11 core disciplines along with innovation; a first of its kind offering in the UK.
The curriculum is based on a practical, applied approach to learning. Over the course of four years, students work in teams from across disciplines to tackle a series of real-world challenges. Taught content and assessment is directly related to these team projects to support the development of knowledge and skills in design, innovation and entrepreneurship. The aim is to support the next generation of innovators who, in order to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, will need to find new ways of working across traditional boundaries.
This snapshot session will introduce the design for a learning progression that transitions through a series of six projects within the first two years of the programme. The progression begins with a focus on mindset development, moving to client-led projects which give students the opportunity to explore the role of consulting with an industry-based client. During the proceeding discussion, experiences and results from the first taught year will offer a model for developing similar collaborative, project-based learning experiences.
Topic: Enhancing employability through curriculum design
Keywords: Project based learning, collaborative learning, innovation, curriculum design