UCD Design Thinking for Innovation Short Course
(5 ECTS-Part-time-Online)
15th - 19th* February 2021

Design Thinking is a proven and repeatable process that any organisation, business, network or profession can employ to uncover new opportunities, gain new perspectives and insights on problems, and develop innovative solutions of value. It is increasingly being regarded as a core skill in the workplace today with more and more Irish and global organisation adopting this process to address key issues and challenges within their business.

This course is offered free or 90% subsidised rate of €50 for eligible applicants through the Government of Ireland July 2020 Stimulus Provision. See below for further information.

*Individual reflection and Group Report to be submitted by 5th March 2021. See ‘How will I Learn?’ section below. 

Register Your Interest

Who is this course for?

Sectors Impacted by Covid19

Individuals in sectors that have been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic (e.g. hospitality, tourism, entertainment) who want to upskill for a new direction to enhance their employability or who want to learn to innovate for a redefined industry.

Aspiring and early stage Entrepreneurs

Individuals who are currently or recently self employed who want to develop their innovation and digital skills to enhance their venture and to develop new revenue streams.

Professionals who want to up-skill

Professionals working in industry who may want to upgrade their skill set to enhance their career trajectory and support their organisation to thrive.

UCD Innovation Academy Alumni

This course offers a great opportunity for graduates of UCD Innovation Academy Postgraduate programmes to 'deep-dive' into Design Thinking and build on the skills and tools already gained.

What you will learn.

On completion of this course, you should be able to

  • Gain an in-depth practical understanding of the five stages of Design Thinking and their interdependence.
  • Develop an understanding of the appropriate application of Design Thinking and develop an appreciation for its benefits and limits across disciplines and sectors
  • Learn to add value to the Design Thinking process by applying practiced skills of empathy, creativity, idea selection, facilitating teamwork, rapid prototyping, iterative design, pitching and story-telling
  • Demonstrate the application of the five stages of Design Thinking in the context of a complex ‘real world’ challenge
  • Apply reflective practices to identify lessons learnt about the project, the process and the teamwork
  • Develop the ability to make sound judgements regarding timing, process and number of iterations of Design Thinking appropriate for a particular problem and be able to guide others to enhance outcomes.
  • Develop team working, communication and presentation skills.

Full module description 

What you will gain.

  • Leverage and demonstrate your strengths in action
  • Learn online from the comfort of your home with a user-friendly interface
  • Build a cross-industry peer network of friends, contacts and collaborators
  • Engage with guest speakers from Industry​
  • Gain immediate value by building in demand skills that you can quickly apply
  • Gain 5 ECTS towards a level 9 TU Dublin - UCD Professional Diploma in Transversal Skills (as available) and an academic transcript from UCD for this module
  • Learn from a faculty of practitioners, experts in their field who have ‘walked the talk’

Meet Your Facilitators

Maurice Knightly

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPECIALIST

He is currently a director of several companies ranging from food and catering to new media. From 1992 to 2009 he was deputy managing director of the O’Brien’s Irish Sandwich Bars franchise, responsible for operations, training, marketing and purchasing. He worked to grow the chain to 282 outlets in 10 countries and developed the brand’s initial presence in each new market.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MAURICE>

Dorcas Réamonn

FACILITATOR

Dorcas is an award-winning educator who has been with the Innovation Academy for the last 2 years. She has been teaching entrepreneurs for 10 years, and lectured M.Sc. students in The Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD modules related to the technical side of Digital Marketing for 3.5 years. Dorcas is passionate about learning, discovering and trying new ways to facilitate learning – both in the classroom and online. Dorcas has a strong interest in entrepreneurship, and has founded some businesses including the award-winning Zonua. She was part of Team OSV, an open-source ventilator response project founded in 2020 to fight COVID-19. 

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT DORCAS >

How will I learn?

Learn by Doing Live Online 

This course takes a practical, ‘hands-on’ approach to learning facilitated through highly interactive ‘live online’ workshops combined with individual and team challenges and their Innovation Sprint project. 

Between the 15th – 19th February, participants engage in live online classes in the morning beginning at 9.30am – 1.30pm and individual or group assignments in the afternoon running from 2.30pm to 4.30pm (may vary). Students will work in teams of six to apply Design Thinking to prototype and pitch a solution for a real world challenge set by an external host organisation (can be from any sector).  

As the course involves continuous assessment, participants must attend all class sessions.

After this intensive classroom based week there are 2 further weeks of non-classroom, flexible learning to complete the module (i.e. complete by 5th March). During these weeks students are required to meet with the project group they worked with during the first week to complete a comprehensive report and feedback to the Host Company. Students will also review and study all module materials with support from their peers and mentors. Finally a ‘Final Reflections’ piece of work will be completed. 

 

CLICK HERE FOR AN INDICATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE>

How to apply for a place

UCD Academic Criteria

All applicants must hold a minimum of an honours degree (Level 8) in any discipline – OR – in the absence of a degree applicants who have 5 years or more of relevant employment history can apply under UCD’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy.

In the absence of a degree, 5+ years of relevant work experience may be considered under UCD’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Such applicants must submit their CV and any transcripts, certificates. We also ask that RPL applicants provide 2 professional/employment references recently dated and on headed paper or from official email addresses which include name, role and email address along with referees contact details.If you are applying under RPL, please review your CV to ensure that it:-
1) demonstrates where you have shown leadership and self-direction 
2) describes management or entrepreneurial experience 
3) Describes responsibilities in the areas of eg. employees, budgets, clients.

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Criteria to avail of a free or 90% subsidised place through the July 2020 Government Stimulus Package 

If you are applying for a fully or partially funded place on this course funded by the July Stimulus Package you must satisfy the following criteria depending on your status.

Unemployed (In receipt of an eligible DEASP Payment):

Applicants with this status must be in receipt of an eligible payment from the Department of Social Protection (see complete list here – OR – Be signing for social insurance contribution credits – AND – Be actively seeking employment. Applicants must upload Written confirmation from the Department of Employment Social Protection (DEASP) that you are in receipt of a social welfare payment (this should include your name, the name of payment and date) OR receipt from Post Office -OR- a statement from DEASP OR proof of payment into your bank account (this must include your name, the name of the payee and the date). All financial details can be redacted. You may also log into www.mywelfare.ie  or mygov.ie to download details of your claim for verification purposes.

COVID 19 PUP Recipient: 

Applicants with this status must be currently living in Ireland, ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding your entry to the programme and be an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state citizen or hold a Stamp 4 visa for 3 years prior to the start of the course. Applicants must upload Written confirmation from the Department of Employment Social Protection (DEASP) that they are in receipt of a social welfare payment (this should include your name, the name of payment and date) -OR- receipt from Post Office -OR- a statement from DEASP -OR- proof of payment into your bank account (this must include your name, the name of the payee and the date). All financial details can be redacted.

Returners (previously referred to as homemakers and carers):

Applicants with this status must be a Returners (Homemaker/Carer) for a minimum period of 9 of the previous 12 months prior to your application -OR- be economically dependent on a partner or spouse and been unemployed for 9 of the previous 12 months. Applicants must be currently living in Ireland, ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding your entry to the programme and be an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state citizen or hold a Stamp 4 visa for 3 years prior to the start of the course. You must swear a declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths attesting to your status. A form to complete this process is available here  and it should be signed, stamped and dated.

Formerly self-employed:

Applicants with this status must be currently living in Ireland, ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding your entry to the programme. Applicants must upload a letter from Revenue stating that you are no longer trading -OR- a similar letter from your (former) accountant – OR – Swear a declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths stating that you are no longer self-employed.

Employed:

Applicants with this status must be currently living in Ireland, ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding your entry to the programme and be an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss state citizen or hola a Stamp 4 visa for 3 years prior to the start of the course. Employed applicants must upload your most recent payslip OR letter or email from employer OR your Employee Details Summary from Revenue. All financial details can be redacted. Note: Employed applicants will be required to pay a fee which equates to 10% of the actual total fee cost of the course

UCD English Language Criteria

If English is not you first language, you must meet the English Language Requirements for UCD. Click here for the list.

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As part of your application to this course, you will be required to complete an online form and upload the following information.   

  1. Your CV
  2. Academic transcripts of your results or a copy of your academic parchment 
  3. Your status verification. This will vary depending on whether you are employed, unemployed, a returner or previously self-employed. 
  4. A copy of the photo page of your passport
  5. English language certification in line with the criteria above.. 

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LEARN MORE ABOUT SPRINGBOARD+ REQUIREMENTS >

Places will be offered on a rolling basis as eligible applicants complete their application.

Places on UCD Innovation Academy courses are in high demand. If you like the sound of this course, we encourage you to register your interest now and begin your application.

If you don’t have all the required documentation to hand, we would encourage you to begin your application and upload these at a later point before the deadline.

We often run online information sessions for anyone who has registered their interest in a particular course with us. 

Contact our Admissions Team

Mary Saunders | Karina King | Jojo McDonnell

MARKETING & RECRUITMENT

EMAIL MARY, KARINA or JOJO WITH YOUR QUERY >

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