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IA40110

Academic Year 2026/2027

Creative Thinking & Innovation (IA40110)

Subject:
Innovation Academy
College:
VP - Research, Innov & Impact
School:
Innovation Academy
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Eileen Diskin
Trimester:
Autumn&Spring&Summer(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 is run as part of the Graduate Certificate in Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and is not ordinarily open to other students.

The aim of this module is to help students access their innate ability for creative thinking and innovation, in its broadest sense, and to aid them in discovering the potential for the development of their new ideas in a multi-disciplinary team environment.

This module encompasses four different areas of skill development and learning:

• Developing confidence in creative thinking initially focuses on participants as individuals and mechanisms for developing effective multi-disciplinary teams. Team dynamics are explored through short challenges and altering team composition. Participants explore the different processes of idea creation and idea selection and experience first hand how they form and develop creative ideas around challenges
• Evolution of innovative ideas in multidisciplinary teams builds on team working through targeted activities where participants are introduced to cycles of risk, failure, self-evaluation and change as a means for reaching an end goal. Participants are immersed in processes including creative design and opportunity realisation where they are expected to utilise their networks as teams develop their project based learning activities outside the university
• Translating ideas into value creation brings the preceding two topics together. The definition of ‘value’ is explored in the context of the objectives and the perceptions of the various stakeholders and encompasses: economic, social, environmental and cultural. Participants develop their own tangible outputs which reflect the team values and skills of the team members.
• A hosted interdisciplinary team project provides participants with an opportunity to apply the substance of the three themes of the module to a challenge of practical importance to an external organisation. Teams of students embark on a short intensive project with a host from the public or private sector. These projects foster the potential for long-term relationships between peers and potential future patrons or employers. Teams showcase their outcomes at an event known as ‘Disruption’ to which all hosts, participants and interested parties are invited

https://www.innovationacademy.ie/courses/ucd-graduate-certificate-in-creativity-innovation-and-entrepreneurship/

Notes:

Enrolment in an innovation academy module means a commitment to active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at all scheduled classes.

We limit our class size to 40 students or less. We require a minimum of 16 participants to ensure enough people for teamwork and a dynamic classroom environment. On very rare occasions, if few have less than 16 registered students, we will offer students the opportunity to join another class.

UCD Innovation Academy: About Us

At 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, activities, discussions, presentations and reflection. All of our teaching is rounded in academic rigour and your focus is on learning from doing in a real-world context.

https://www.innovationacademy.ie

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion, participants should be able to:

• Generate innovative ideas in isolation and in a team environment
• Recognise and apply creative thinking in their own discipline and appreciate its value in other arenas
• Develop ideas and resourcefulness to utilise team dynamics to their advantage
• Understand fundamentals of creative thinking and innovation
• Build their network of peers spanning numerous disciplines and organisations

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. Proficient

Critical Thinking

The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

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

Strategic

The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Proficient

Self-awareness

The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Proficient

Normative

The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Novice

Anticipatory

The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Advanced Beginner

Digital Literacy and Judgement

The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Novice

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Novice

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.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

80

Autonomous Student Learning

70

Lectures

8

Small Group

40

Conversation Class

8

Total

206


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
All Innovation Academy modules take a ‘learning by doing’ approach, combining individual, and group activities and tasks including presentations, discussion and reflection. Guest speakers will share their own experiences and lessons learnt. 

• Active/Task-Based Learning
• Peer And Group Work 
• Reflective Learning
• Enquiry & Problem-Based Learning
• Student Presentations
• Case Study Learning

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
IA50004 - Creativity & Innovation

Equivalents:
Creative Thinking & Innovation (GEMP40110)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Group Work Assignment: Group work project due 2 weeks after last day of module Week 1 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
30
Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in class is mandatory Week 1 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
40
Yes
Reflective Assignment:
A personal reflection report due 2 weeks after last day
Week 1 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
30
Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
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 will be given to students upon request. This will include feedback based on their participation throughout the module and their deliverables

Name Role
Dr Eileen Diskin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Thurs 09:00 - 13:50
Autumn Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Wed 09:00 - 13:50