MOØ224 Innovation in cross-disciplinary student teams

Contents and structure

The aim of this course is to give students knowledge about and practical experience with an innovation process. In the course, the students will develop a knowledge-based idea into an innovation through close interaction with relevant actors such as inventors, researchers, users and potential customers and more. The students can i) develop their own idea, ii) work on  knowledge-based ideas from regional research and business milieus or iii) work on an innovation idea or innovation process within an established company. HVL will cooperate closely relevant regional actors regarding the selection of ideas.

 

The course will be a combination of seminars and practical work in cross-diciplinary student teams. The students will adopt a Design Thinking method and a Lean start up approach in their practical work. Through the practical assignments, the students will gather data from technical experts, potential users and customers, competitors and others. The students will be supported by a mentor group consisting of experienced entrepreneurs, business developers and industry experts as well as internal HVL mentors. Student teams will be composed of different disciplinary educational backgrounds: engineers and business administration students will work in cross-disciplinary teams. 

Learning Outcome

After finishing the course the student:

• has advanced knowledge about innovation processes and what role interaction and iteration between various actors play in such processes
• has advanced knowledge about various methods and tools for developing innovations, and are able to reflect critically about application of such methods

After finishing the course the student:

• are able to assess the relevance of various methods and tools for developing innovations, and are able to apply such methods and tools in developing ideas
• is able to reflect upon triggers and barriers for cross-disciplinary cooperation in teams
• is able to communicate and disseminate results from innovation projects to industry experts

After finishing the course the student:

• Understand the challenges relating to cross-diciplinary teamwork and be able to contribute in crossdiciplinary teams through demonstrating coopearation, creativity and responsibility.
• Understands the various development phases in an innovation process and be able to develop an innovation in close interaction with a team and other relevant actors/users.
• Are able to contribute to innovation and creativity in innovation processes

Entry requirements

Admission requirements for the master's programme.

Teaching methods

The course will be a combination of how to do seminars, teamwork and practical assignments related to developing the knowledge-based ideas. Several practical how to do seminars will be organized: Design Thinking (DT), team management, Lean startup/business model generation, and networking. The students will work independently in teams with practical assignments, with guidance from a mentor group consisting of external mentors from the industry as well as mentors from HVL. The student teams will use various innovation methods, such as DT, Lean, diverse analysis tools and desk research to develop their project. The teams are required to present their preliminary work at a mid-term seminar. Student teams will deliver one final Project report including a description of the methods, analyses and data used in the innovation process.

The students will also present and defend their final work at a mini-Springbrett to an external jury (in collaboration with Connect Vest). The students will also write individually a short reflection report relating to their learning experience during the course.

Compulsory learning activities

Students have to attend at least five seminars. Student teams have to present their preliminary work at a mid-term seminar.

Mandatory assignments are valid the examination semester and 3 following semesters.

Assessment

Exam in three parts:

1. Evaluation is based on a project report (group work) (60% of the final assessment).
2. One individual reflection report (20% of the final assessment)
3. Presentation and oral examination of project results to an external jury (group work) (20%)

Grading scale is A-F where F is fail.

All parts must get a passing grade in order to get a final grade for the course. 

Examination support material

None

More about examination support material

Course reductions

• INN524 - Innovasjon i tverrfaglege studentteam - Reduction: 7.5 studypoints