IA20140 Design a Sustainable Future

Academic Year 2023/2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this module is to empower students to create sustainable business models that address real-world sustainability challenges through the lens of a Circular Economy. By exploring sustainable business model canvas and storytelling for sustainability, students will learn to apply Design Thinking and develop innovative solutions. Hands-on activities will enhance their learning experience.

Overarching Content:

In this module, we will dive into the principles of circular economy and learn how to develop Sustainable Business Model Canvas, empowering you to create sustainable products or services. You will apply these tools to design and develop sustainable products or services that address real-world sustainability challenges from a circular economy perspective. You will visit the Circular Business and learn about the sustainable business practices and technologies used on-site. We'll investigate how emerging technologies can address sustainability challenges.

You will also explore the art of storytelling for sustainability, equipping you with the skills to effectively communicate your ideas to diverse audiences. Throughout the module, you will work in teams. At the end of the module, you will present your Sustainable Business solutions. You will receive feedback on your presentations and solutions, enabling you to refine and improve your ideas.

The module will be based on experiential and collaborative learning. You will engage in group discussions, lectures, workshops, field trips, and guest lectures by experts. The focus will be on hands-on learning, grounded in academic rigor.

UCD Innovation Academy

At the UCD Innovation Academy, we are a group of Educator Practitioners with extensive real-world experience as academics, business and social entrepreneurs, tech thinkers, creative professionals, and design thinking practitioners.

We take an action-oriented approach to learning, with a combination of individual, group, and class tasks and activities, including discussions, presentations, and reflection. All of our teaching is grounded in academic rigor, but our focus is on learning by doing in a real-world context.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

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

Develop sustainable business models using Design Thinking and circular economy principles to address real-life sustainability challenges.

Apply knowledge gained from evaluating circular economy case studies and field trips to inform and create sustainable business solutions.

Effectively communicate sustainable business solutions, showcasing the process and identifying areas for improvement.

Reflect on personal and collective learning experiences, identifying 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

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 Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Presentation: Team Project Presentation Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

20
Assignment: Reflection Report Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

20
Continuous Assessment: Online and offline tasks and activities Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

20
Attendance: This module requires active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at ALL scheduled classes (80% attendance is required to pass this component) . Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

40

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.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 Fri 14:00 - 16:50
Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 22, 26 Fri 14:00 - 16:50
Spring