Innovation is crucial for future proofing society. Informed by economic, ethical, societal and technological contexts, it requires an entrepreneurial mindset which is adaptable to constant change.
This Masters Degree in Creative Enterprise and Innovation aims to develop and launch students' own businesses through research-led practice and practice-led research, provides an academic pathway through which you can develop your enterprise idea and advance your business proposition ready for commercial development or launch.
It aims to evolve your entrepreneurial approaches to their practice, equipping you with the research and business skills needed for starting and sustaining a business.
Our Creative Enterprise MA allows you to explore a research and enterprise interest in relation to art and design, design craft, the cultural and creative industries or social enterprise; providing an environment for you to benefit from others working in neighbouring creative practices.
The programme enables you to establish and expand specialised knowledge through research-led practice and practice-led research spanning human centred design, wellbeing and inclusive design, human experience and ethical, sustainable practices.
We will enable you to locate your research interests within the wider global, ethical, social and political contexts relevant to the landscape of contemporary art and design research, fostering the critical thinking that will assist you in your career.
Methods of delivery will include studio-based assignments, lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, student-led presentations and discussion, experimental and live briefs, study trips, and reflective analysis.
All projects start with a live briefing, and a briefing document available via our virtual learning environment (VLE), Moodle.
PDP (Personal Development Plan): You will maintain reflective journals which will be submitted as part of assessed bodies of work; academic tutorials and the termly pastoral tutorials will monitor and respond to concerns arising across your learning experience and will focus on helping you refine your overall personal development objectives and learning style.
Lectures: Lectures deliver a coherent programme of study and general inspiration. They are supported by visual material and/or texts. The content may be historical, theoretical, contextual or practical. Where appropriate, lectures are structured to involve you in discussion.
Tutorials: Tutorials are meetings of a students or groups of students with a lecturer or lecturers and are used in two ways within the programme:
- Expanding upon material covered in lectures through an enquiry-driven problem solving approach
- Remedial work to overcome any deficiencies in background knowledge.
Seminars: Seminars are designed to encourage articulate and analytical presentation and, through group discussions, to develop an understanding of the subject and its context. This is a central teaching & learning method particularly when relating the learning gained to your personal research and back into the subject of Creative Enterprise & Innovation.
Seminars can take three forms:
- Those guided by staff where texts or artefacts are provided for you to present an analysis to your group.
- Those where you select texts or artefacts for discussion within your group.
- Those where you present your own work or research findings.
This strategy is used to extend specific theoretical or practical concepts as well as introducing problem solving exercises. Seminars provide you with valuable experience in presentation skills, blogs, wikis or podcasts, as well as providing staff with a method or assessing student-centred learning.
Practical workshops: Practical workshops enable you to practice and refine your skills in a supportive environment where you receive feedback from members of staff. Practical workshops represent a valuable transition between theory and practice.
Practical studio sessions: Practical studio sessions, emphasising the application of fundamental principles of Creative Enterprise & Innovation., focus on problem solving and development of creative and technical solutions to design problems. Simulation exercises and live projects, provide a stimulating challenge for you working both independently and in groups to experience real business challenges.
You are encouraged to articulate your proposals in an objective and critical manner and to develop interpersonal communication skills that are vital to an entrepreneur or innovator.
E-Learning: The virtual learning environment (VLE) is extensively used on the programme to enhance the student learning experience. Apart from its widespread use as a repository for learning material and resources, the VLE is used to engage you in your own learning. It is also valuable as a means of communicating, offering feedback and additional learning materials. Electronic feedback is issued through the VLE.
Critiques: Discussions involving staff and students are a central feature of the critiques in assignments and project work organised within the studio programme. Critiques are held at each assessment stage (interim or final) of an assignment or project in the studio-based modules where you present your work to your year group and tutor for feedback and debate. This event is a cornerstone of the learning process. Assignments are designed to ensure that you tackle a wide range of case studies or precedent that illustrates a variety of situations or solutions. The critique process ensures you learn from work being done by others as well as through your own efforts.