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Making Ideas Happen - University of Sheffield

  • Making Ideas Happen (MIH) is a 20-credit multi-level, multidisciplinary module, introducing the fields of enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation, whilst emphasising the generation and development of ideas with a distinctly social flavour.

MIH’s principal delivery mode is distance learning via the University’s VLE.  There is limited timetabled contact time; face-to-face input comprises an introductory ideas-generation session, business planning workshop, and small group meetings facilitated by postgraduate student ‘mentors’.  USE also negotiates site visits and Q&A sessions with external partners where available.  Sessions are timetabled to minimise clashes and ensure flexibility around students’ schedules, given the variety of subject disciplines represented.
The module focuses strongly on social innovation and external engagement.  For the pilot, University of Sheffield Enterprise (USE) partnered with Sheffield City Council’s Department of Environment and Leisure, tasking interdisciplinary project groups with developing social enterprise solutions to several environmental and community cohesion issues.

For 2001-12, USE is working with organisations in Shiregreen, a housing estate in Sheffield, to develop sustainable business ideas to increase the social capital of this area, and with Energy2B to develop energy-related social innovations.
Assessment breaks down into 50% weighting each for group and individual components.  Group assessments comprise a business poster presentation and a full business plan.  The individual coursework portfolio comprises a reflective report, weekly reflective blog and a summary skills statement.
MIH has no prerequisites. It is promoted both to students who already have some business/enterprise experience and to those for whom enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation are relatively uncharted waters.

MIH piloted successfully at Level 2/3 during the Spring semester 2010-11 to 37 students, representing 10 academic departments across six of the University’s seven Faculties, including four Computer Science students from the University’s International Faculty in Thessaloniki, Greece.  The module is now being rolled out more widely across the University.

A more detailed version of this case study can be found in the document that can be downloaded below.

Type Undergraduate
Impacts The module achieved high student attainment levels and overall grades. Students valued working with peers from beyond their own subject discipline and getting outside their comfort zone. One module feedback questionnaire respondent reported that MIH offered “a unique approach to learning”; another had “learned skills that will benefit my career”. The project increased students’ awareness of social issues in their local area, and engendered enthusiasm about taking initiative and doing independent market research.
What worked well Interdisciplinary group work was very successful and highly valued by the students. Some students had misgivings about working in multi-level groups (comprising second and final year students), but this approach was much praised by the external examiner. Community engagement was another key contributor to the module’s success. Students enjoyed the format of the online learning materials, and praised the enthusiasm and approachability of USE teaching team. Reflective writing powerfully measured students’ learning and their development of skills and understanding.
What could be changed/improved USE faced a steep learning curve in being a ‘non-academic’ department delivering its own curricula. Tightened procedures are being developed resulting from action learning during the module pilot phase. Scalability considerations necessitated moving from a resource-intensive ‘elevator pitch’ format for one of the assessment components, used in the pilot, to a poster event. Other challenges included managing student/stakeholder expectations and communicating the importance of long-term financial sustainability; issues being addressed through improved advice and written guidance, and enhanced mentor training.
Partners Previous: Sheffield City Council. Current: Energy2B; Shiregreen Neighbourhood Challenge (comprising: Shiregreen Community Homes Ltd, a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association; Shiregreen Neighbourhood Centre Committee; Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme; Get Hooked on Life; Firth Park Community Arts College; Beck Primary School; Hartley Brook and Hatfield Federated Schools)
Funders Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF)
Website link http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/enterprise
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