Module manager: Tony Morgan
Email: T.Morgan@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Previous 10-credit version of LUBS3990
This module is approved as a discovery module
Innovation is challenging, but it is essential for organisations of all kinds. Businesses, charities, public sector organisations and start-ups all need people who can develop new ideas, work effectively with others, and turn ideas into valuable solutions in uncertain and changing environments. In this module, students typically work in small, interdisciplinary teams on real-world innovation challenges developed in collaboration with external organisations. Learning is hands-on and project based. Students explore problems, generate and test ideas, respond to feedback, and reflect on experience as their projects develop. The module places strong emphasis on collaboration, professional judgement and commercial awareness. Students learn not only how to work in teams, but how to understand and manage collaboration in practice, including why certain approaches work better than others in different contexts. Throughout the module, students are supported to connect experience with relevant academic and practitioner perspectives. The module also develops digital and AI literacy. Students are encouraged to use digital and AI-enabled tools productively and responsibly as part of their project work, while learning to evaluate outputs critically, understand limitations, and make informed professional judgements. Designed for students from across the University, the module develops skills and understanding that are relevant to a wide range of career pathways.
This module aims to support students in developing the knowledge, judgement and confidence needed to contribute effectively to innovation and project-based work in professional settings. The module aims to increase student attractiveness to potential employers and enable students to make a faster impact in their careers once employed.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
LO1: Apply innovation and design thinking concepts and frameworks to analyse and address a real-world organisational challenge within an interdisciplinary project context.
LO2: Analyse how value is created and communicated in organisational and industry contexts, taking account of user needs, organisational constraints and broader environmental conditions.
LO3: Critically analyse innovation and change processes, drawing on project experience and relevant academic or practitioner perspectives.
LO4: Critically analyse collaboration, professional conduct, and individual contribution within an interdisciplinary innovation project to inform professional judgement and future practice.
LO5: Reflect critically on learning and development, integrating academic or practitioner perspectives to evaluate personal contribution, strengths and areas for future development.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
SLO1: Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams, demonstrating responsible participation, constructive engagement, and the ability to work sensitively and productively with others.
(Leeds Skills Matrix: Work-ready – Teamwork/ Collaboration)
SLO2: Communicate ideas, decisions and learning clearly and professionally, using appropriate written and oral formats for academic, professional and industry-facing contexts.
(Leeds Skills Matrix: Work-ready - Communication, Academic – Presentation skills)
SLO3: Exercise professional judgement and manage change constructively, by responding to feedback, adapting plans, and reflecting on decision-making in uncertain and evolving project contexts.
(Leeds Skills Matrix: Work-ready – Decision making and Personal/self/career management, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship - Managing uncertainty, ambiguity and risk)
SLO4: Demonstrate commercial and enterprise awareness, by engaging with organisational challenges, stakeholder perspectives and practical constraints when developing and evaluating innovation ideas.
(Leeds Skills Matrix: Work-ready – Commercial awareness, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship - Spotting opportunities)
The module will be centred around weekly interactive facilitated lecture / workshop sessions. These will use a matrixed approach, including development of a team-based innovation project, and practical learning and application of the range of skills covered. Learning is iterative and reflective. Students are expected to adapt ideas, respond constructively to feedback, and reflect on decisions as their project develops. The project will culminate in a final team presentation to a panel of senior industry and academic experts and a reflective learning review.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Workshop | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 169 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 31 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
This could include a variety of activities, such as reading, watching videos, team-based activities, reflection and essay preparation.
Students receive feedback each week during timetabled workshops and as part of their team group activity. Students receive written formative feedback on their reflections part way through the module. In addition, students receive formative feedback on their team’s final presentation.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Individual reflective learning portfolio integrating project experience with academic and practitioner perspectives | 60 |
| Reflective report/log | Mid-project individual professional reflection focused on teamwork and professional practice | 30 |
| Tutorial Performance | This component is based on weekly team-level observation of professional conduct and collaboration during timetabled workshops, supplemented by evidence of team-level engagement in the team’s online collaboration space. A single weekly score is applied at team level and cumulative scores determine the final mark for this component. Individual contribution, learning, and professional judgement are assessed separately through the other assessment components. | 10 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team