Explore UCD

UCD Home >

IA40210

Academic Year 2026/2027

Professional Practice (IA40210)

Subject:
Innovation Academy
College:
VP - Research, Innov & Impact
School:
Innovation Academy
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Ms Fiona Martin
Credit Split by Trimester:
Autumn 5
Spring 5
Trimester:
2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Pass/Fail (GPA Neutral)

Curricular information is subject to change.

Please note that this is a programme based module and cannot be taken by UCD undergraduate or graduate students

The aim of the module is to enable participants to apply and build on lessons learnt from the Creative Thinking and Leadership Development Modules to to a real-world project to further develop their creativity, leadership and entrepreneurial mindsets as well as developing their overall professional practice as a Creative Leader. 

Participants will be given the opportunity to undertake independent project work in a professional environment, either as an extension of their original Innovation Academy project proposal or on a project identified as directly deriving value from their field of interest. The project provides the opportunity to draw from prior learning around creative thinking and innovation and consider how it can be applied in their organisation and the real world.

Through full participation in active learning, students will practice and develop creative and innovation skills that allow them to address needs or surface opportunities in a real-world context. With the support and guidance of an Innovation Academy facilitator, participants will consider how to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to effectively lead change by creating, testing and innovating new methods, approaches and solutions to creatively define and implement solutions.

This module is run as part of Professional Diploma - Creativity, Innovation & Leadership.

UCD Innovation Academy

**Enrolment on an Innovation Academy module means a commitment to active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at all scheduled classes**

Our teaching is grounded in academic rigour. Our focus is on ‘learning by doing’ in a real-world context. Classes include a combination of individual and team tasks and activities, along with discussions, presentations and reflection.



About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module participants will:
* Have applied their prior learning to develop and implement a project in a professional environment
* Understand the barriers and obstacles involved in developing and implementing innovative practices and solutions in a real-world context
* Demonstrate the use of problem-solving tools and techniques
* Understand the process for initiating and using creative techniques within project structures
* Apply reflective practices to both the process and outcome of the applied project and reflect on failures, improvements, and opportunities
* Develop expanded personal networks, in conjunction with the invaluable professional experience of working on a focused independent project


Indicative Module Content:

Participants will identify an action-learning project based on the needs or opportunities within their organisation or community or context.

Participants will guided by an Innovation Academy facilitator.

At the end of the project phase, participants will share their project and lessons learnt with their class and an audience of their peers.

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

Critical Thinking

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

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Competent

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. Competent

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. Competent

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. Competent

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. Not addressed

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. Not addressed

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. Not addressed

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. Not addressed

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

120
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Small Group

10
Project Supervision

4
Total

204

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active/task-based learning
Peer and group work
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
Reflective Assignment: Reflection Report or a video or creative component equivalent.
Note: "Schedule Details" will adjust based on the length of the module.		 Week 15 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
30
 Yes
Report(s): Project Report and Presentation. Note: "Schedule Details" will adjust based on the length of the module. Week 15 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
70
 Yes

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
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual feedback is available upon request.

Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.