What will I learn on this module?
What will I learn on this module?
This overarching module descriptor covers the Year in International Multidisciplinary Innovation which is made up of 4 modules that the students will study in Amsterdam (semester 1) and Newcastle (semester 2).
This additional year of studies has been designed to develop students’ creative thinking and practical problem-solving skills in the context of design thinking approaches, all of which will significantly development academic and research skills and so strengthen employability on graduation. This year of study enhances your employability by unlocking and developing your creative problem-solving skills, knowledge, and expertise to make you more employment and industry-ready when you graduate through in multidisciplinary teams throughout your year of study in Amsterdam and Newcastle to creatively tackle and solve real-world challenges.
Semester 1 in Amsterdam comprises of two 20-credit modules aimed at students new to design thinking which also equips them for a semester in Newcastle, working in creative teams on a series of real-world projects that enhance creative thinking skills and attributes and multidisciplinary working practices. The modules studied in Semester 1, Innovative Design Practices and Tools and Multidisciplinary Exploration and Value Creation provide students with analytical design-inspired tools that enable students to examine real-world case studies that require multidisciplinary professional team-based responses and solution formation and implementation. In Semester 2, students will move to Newcastle to study two modules at Northumbria University. The first module, Design-Inspired Research Methods enables students to critically investigate key social, cultural, and technological challenges that modern urban spaces, cities, and professions. The final module, Creative Cities, enables students to engage in the creative comparative research of problems, challenges and potential innovative developments between Amsterdam and Newcastle (in terms of mobility, sustainable practices, energy provision, smart and digital technologies, urban design, or the role of cultural and humanities-oriented institutions).
The modules are outlined below:
Semester 1
AT5005 Innovative Design Practices and Tools (20 credits)
AT5006 Multidisciplinary Exploration and Value Creation (40 credits)
Semester 2
DE5012 Design-Inspired Research Methods (20 credits)
DE5013 Creative Cities (40 credits)
In semester 1, students will learn in a creative environment in the Amsterdam campus dedicated to full time programmes. A mixture of large group and small group sessions will take place in sessions and workshops that bring together AUAS and Northumbria students and staff. The focus of the teaching and learning is on creative interdisciplinary team activities that develop creative thinking and address real-world issues and problems. In semester 2, students engage in comparative city-based research to identify differing challenges facing Amsterdam and Newcastle. Students will approach a range of real-world issues from the perspective of their academic discipline and work with students from other perspectives to see how differing knowledges and skillsets can combine to address challenges in innovative and creative ways. These can include cultural institutions, design, technology, IT, and engineering, architecture, history, and the social sciences. Therefore, the programme is relevant for students from a range academic disciplines who will work together to stress how differing disciplines combine to provide solutions to challenges. Assessment has been developed in accordance with Northumbria’s Assessment for Learning principles including a broad mix of assessment appropriate to the learning outcomes being assessed and with opportunities for formative feedback.
A student who passes all modules will, on successful completion of their undergraduate programme of study, have these recorded on their transcript and HEAR record.
How will I learn on this module?
You will learn through a combination of taught and workshop-based sessions. In addition, students will form creative research groups and identify key challenges in the cities of Amsterdam and Newcastle as the basis of creative research projects and problem-solving initiatives. Students will also learn from visiting professionals from a variety of agencies and institutions to explore how social and urban challenges are solved through the work interdisciplinary professional teams. Each of the modules is presented and delivered according to a Teaching and Learning Plan and is supported through its suite of module-based e-learning portals. The e-learning portals will encompass various standard interventions in line with Faculty and University expectations. These include Panopto recordings of lectures, electronic reading lists and Electronic Marking and Assessment (EMA) submission. Platforms such as Blackboard Collaborate can also provide forums for online collective workshops and tutor-led taught sessions. Research provides an essential pillar to the teaching of the programme, with a research-led approach being adopted within various modules with directed reading towards various research outputs.
As this is a programme delivered at Level 5, research papers and professional industry-produced reports play a part in the delivery of the module sessions, and as such, research tutored interventions are central to the learning experience. The group-based assessments will provide instruction on how to undertake research in a team-setting and therefore demonstrates research-oriented approaches, whilst the individual research activity gives you experience of enquiry-based approaches to research and engagement with a series of real-world issues for which you will provide research-informed solutions.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Support will be provided to you by academic staff leading the modules and providing the lectures and workshop input. Workshops are delivered in groups, so you will learn alongside fellow members from your particular module and research team.
Your modules are supported by an e-learning portal, which houses lecture materials, alongside other electronic support facilities such as indicated above. You will be provided with a wide-ranging reading list that comprises of various academic and journal articles
Your module descriptor for each individual module covers the support available in more detail.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Please refer to the individual module learning outcomes for each module
Semester 1
AT5005 Innovative Design Practices and Tools (20 credits)
AT5006 Multidisciplinary Exploration and Value Creation (40 credits)
Semester 2
DE5012 Design-Inspired Research Methods (20 credits)
DE5013 Creative Cities (40 credits)
Available to download from:
http://gloucesterroad/Reports/report/Module%20Data/Module%20Specification
How will I be assessed?
Please refer to the assessment outcomes for each module
Semester 1
AT5005 Innovative Design Practices and Tools (20 credits)
AT5006 Multidisciplinary Exploration and Value Creation (40 credits)
Semester 2
DE5012 Design-Inspired Research Methods (20 credits)
DE5013 Creative Cities (40 credits)
Available to download from:
http://gloucesterroad/Reports/report/Module%20Data/Module%20Specification
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
The Year in International Multidisciplinary Innovation presents an exciting opportunity for current undergraduate students who had not previously considered a Study Abroad option. This opportunity is open to non-design and (design students wishing to specialise in differing aspects of creative design-inspired thinking) at Northumbria University and is designed to overcome some of the barriers known to deter some students from a period of international study. Study Abroad, Amsterdam Exchange also offers students an innovative and employability-enhancing exposure to creative and innovative thinking and multidisciplinary theory and practice.
The Year in International Multidisciplinary Innovation is a one-year award for Northumbria students of a non-design background who have successfully completed Level 5 of their undergraduate studies and who are seeking to complement their degree and experiences with a year of design-inspired and creative thinking and practice-related study including study abroad. The one-year will involve a semester of taught study in Amsterdam, followed by one semester in Newcastle where students will engage in dynamic research and real-world-oriented problem-solving working with other students from differing academic disciplinary backgrounds and understanding how social and urban developments and problem-solving require multidisciplinary working skills, attitudes, and abilities.
Course info
UCAS Code N1NC
Credits 120
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 2 years full-time or 3 year sandwich
Department Newcastle Business School
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2023 or September 2024
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses starting in 2023 are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but may include elements of online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.
Full time Courses starting in 2023 are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but may include elements of online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.
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