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IA20140

Academic Year 2026/2027

Design a Sustainable Future (IA20140)

Subject:
Innovation Academy
College:
VP - Research, Innov & Impact
School:
Innovation Academy
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Thomas Macagno
Trimester:
Autumn and Spring (separate)
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Pass/Fail (GPA Neutral)

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module empowers students to develop practical sustainability skills for addressing real-world challenges. Students will explore innovative solutions rooted in biomimicry, circular economy thinking, and regenerative practice.

Module Overview

This hands-on module introduces students to the principles of circular and regenerative economies. With a focus on circularity, biomimicry, and practical innovation, students will learn how to develop solutions that are both ecologically responsible and economically viable. The module also incorporates a startup mindset, encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, rapid experimentation, and the development of sustainable business models.

Key Components

Sustainable Business Models:
Apply the Sustainable Business Model Canvas to create business models that support sustainability, resilience, and long-term value creation.

Circular Economy:*
Explore circular economy principles by designing solutions that minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and generate social, environmental, and economic value.

Biomimicry:
Investigate how nature-inspired design can inform sustainable innovation in products, services, and systems.

Regenerative Economy:
Learn the principles of regenerative practice, with a focus on restoring, renewing, and supporting natural systems through enterprise and innovation.

Startup Approach:
Embrace a startup mindset through rapid prototyping, iterative design, and entrepreneurial skill-building for sustainable business development.

Grow Your Own Mushrooms:
Use upcycled coffee grounds to grow oyster mushrooms, offering a fun, practical, and memorable way to experience the circular economy in action.

Learning Approach

The module uses a hands-on, practical approach to learning and is centred at UCD Greenacre, a unique sustainability learning space on the UCD Belfield campus. Students will take part in group discussions, interactive workshops, and direct fieldwork. Alongside mushroom cultivation, past cohorts have created seaweed-based bioplastics, helped build a living willow dome, and planted an urban hedgerow.

The UCD Innovation Academy brings together educator-practitioners with real-world experience to guide students through an action-oriented, experiential learning journey.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

Develop sustainable business models using Design Thinking, circular economy principles, biomimicry, and regenerative approaches to address real-world sustainability challenges.

Apply insights from circular economy case studies, biomimicry, fieldwork, and hands-on Greenacre activities to inform the creation of ecologically and economically viable sustainability solutions.

Prototype and communicate sustainable business solutions clearly, demonstrating the design process, the rationale for your decisions, and opportunities for further development.

Reflect on personal and collective learning experiences, including practical engagement with Greenacre, to identify opportunities for growth and continued development as agents of positive change for a sustainable future.

Indicative Module Content:

Creative Thinking: Exploring creativity through tasks, techniques and discussion
Idea Generation Techniques & Ideation Tools
Circular Economy principles
Sustainable business model canvas
Peer-peer feedback and learning
Hands-on projects

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 3

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 3

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 3

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss 3
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

9
Small Group

9
Conversation Class

3
Field Trip/External Visits

3
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

104

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
All Innovation Academy modules take a 'learning from doing' approach, combining individual and group activities including presentations, discussion, and reflection.
Active/task-based learning
Real-world challenges
Teamwork
Reflective Learning
Enquiry & Problem-based learning
Student Presentations

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Team Project Presentation Week 1 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
40
 Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: The module requires active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at all Scheduled classes.
Week 1 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
30
 Yes
Reflective Assignment: Short weekly reflection on class activities and a final reflection report Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
30
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback can be given to students upon request. This may include feedback on their participation during the module and/or their deliverables.

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