This subject area uses insights from Innovation Studies and Science, Technology and Society (STS) theories and has an interdisciplinary focus, drawing on academic areas such as Sociology, Economics, Cultural Studies and Information Technology. It investigates the economic, social and cultural relationships between innovation and societies, (including individuals and social groups). It analyses both the genesis/development of new technologies – in particular information and communication technologies – and their deployment and applications in a wide range of economic, social and cultural contexts.

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This programme forms a joint or minor component of a 3-level modular degree programme designed to be taught over three years. Full time students will take 6 twenty credit modules at each level and the full honours degree will be awarded after the student obtains 120 credits at each level. Students taking the Innovation Studies joint programme take 3 modules (60 credits) in this subject area at each level, and those taking the minor program take 2 modules (40 credits) in this area at each level. For more information on the UEL Combined Studies programme please see http://www.uel.ac.uk/combined

The programme incorporates interdisciplinary study of theories concerning technical change as it relates to users and consumers of information and communication technologies. It offers the study of the processes of innovation, the role of ICT in the economy, local and global perspectives, cultural theory relevant to technical change, issues relating to the internet and social networks, surveillance and problems of ICT governance and legislation.

In the 3rd year students undertake research and write a substantial dissertation on a relevant topic of their own choice. Students taking the joint programme may choose to situate their dissertation in the Innovation Studies area. The dissertation module lasts the whole academic year and students produce a large piece of work which will indicate to potential employers or postgraduate course leaders the student’s ability to conduct independent research with theoretical underpinning and the ability to structure a coherent argument.

Innovation Studies students will closely interact with students from several academic areas within the School of Law and Social Sciences and other schools. Within the Combined Honours Programmes especially good complements to Innovation Studies are Sociology, Politics, International Development, Education, Business Studies and Computing/IT.

While the students attend traditional lectures, they also meet in seminars and workshops in which the content of the lectures as well as the results of their independent learning and research are debated and extended. Seminars are characterised by small group work within the seminar group as a whole, and this normally results in the presentation of the results of this group work to other students in the seminar. Active participation in group and seminar discussions is very much encouraged.  Lectures are also given by invited speakers and visiting scholars. All our modules’ material is available on the UEL Plus virtual learning environment and some modules use UEL Plus more extensively as a mode of delivery.

• Assessment is primarily by coursework although there are some examinations. In addition to essays, there is a range of innovative assessments (such as reports, reviews, individual or group presentations and portfolios).
• The number of assessments per module varies. But the minimum is one and the maximum is three per module.
• Your final degree classification is based on performance in ten of the final twelve modules (taken at levels two and three).

Each module is assessed independently. First level (year) marks do not count towards the final classification; the first year is for the student to develop and improve good study skills and to create a practical and theoretical knowledge base on which higher levels are built. We encourage students to achieve high standards in the first year so they can then go on to maximise their potential in the second and third year, and obtain the best possible degree.

Level three marks are assigned double the weight of level two marks in the calculation of the final award so that the class of degree awarded closely reflects the achievements of the student at the end of the course.

At level 3 students are given the option to choose a placement module incorporating work-based learning. Following planning and preparation phases, students work for at least one day a week for a minimum of 8 weeks with an appropriate work organisation and during this time carry out an identifiable project agreed with the host organisation. The host organisation provides the student with a project that may be realistically completed within the time period and appoints a staff mentor to oversee the student’s work, providing guidance and support. Students critically analyse a work related situation/theme using appropriate social science methods and engage with a ‘real-life’ work related project which will enable them to put academic knowledge into practice and place practice in an academic context, utilising the knowledge and skills learnt throughout their degree course. This module enables students to identify, reflect upon and develop key personal and professional skills such as team working, time management, working under pressure and self evaluation.

Students taking the dissertation module in the Innovation Studies programme will leave after completing a large independent research-based dissertation, which they take over the period of the whole of their last year of study. This project, worth 40 credits, combines the students’ knowledge and understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of Innovation and Society. Each student will be assigned a supervisor who will help and guide them on a one to one basis. The project gives the students the opportunity to develop and research their own ideas and interests and to leave the university with a showpiece of work for potential employers or postgraduate programme leaders. There will also be a number of opportunities to practice independent research skills in undertaking small projects that form a part of individual modules’ assessment.

Technical change and innovation are pervasive features of today’s globalised economies and societies. Knowledge of the driving forces behind innovation, the conditions of its success and failure and its implications in a wide range of occupations and industries is a valuable asset for career development. There are a large number of employment opportunities for graduates with an understanding of innovation processes and issues. As people knowledgeable in the field of STS theory, they will be able to enter any employment field where an expertise of the role of technical change in the field’s development is necessary, such as charities and NGOs, national and local government or corporate management. Careers in consultancy, research and social commentary are also suitable. In addition, this programme will enable students to gain confidence in a large number of transferable skills, for instance communication, independent thinking and analytical skills, group work, organisation and time management.

• The relationships between innovation, economy, society and culture, and more specifically:
  • Contemporary social change related to the development of technology
  • Innovation and technical change
  • ICT and the economy, in a global context
  • The Internet and online society
  • Innovation and cultural theory
  • ICT governance and politics: legal and ethical issues
  • Issues of surveillance, technology and society
  • Independent research in any of the above areas

• Intellectual challenge
• Working both independently and in a group
• Learning about innovation processes and about information and communication technologies in relation to the society and the world you live in
• Investigating, evaluating and analysing issues and relationships of technical changes in their social and economic contexts
• Assessing and expressing critical views and ideas

• An open and flexible choice of modules
• Understanding of social and technical innovation processes and of how society and technologies interact
• To understand current and potential issues of networking, including internet controversies, surveillance in society and the implications of social networking
• To be aware of the issues of governance of ICT and the ethical and professional issues faced by technology developers and users
• To understand and critically evaluate the interaction between visual art, film and literature and the application of technologies
• To learn how to be an effective student, and how to research all sources including digital information
• To discuss intellectual issues and relate them to your knowledge and understanding of your everyday life
• The opportunity to explore and reflect on work practices in an organisational placement
• To meet interesting people from different cultural backgrounds and make new friends
• To spend three years in a culture of research, knowledge and inquiry

• A range of jobs involving competent decision-making relating to the assessment and management of technical change
• A range of careers where a critical evaluation of the driving forces and implications of innovation is necessary. These careers can be found in private and public companies, government, NGOs and all kinds of organisations where the role of technical change is investigated
• A range of jobs requiring critical analysis and research skills, for instance consultancy and programme/process evaluation
• Social and technical commentary on the relationships between technology and society

In general, graduates from the Innovation Studies programme can develop careers in a number of areas of management, journalism and all careers in consultancy where critical decision making is required.

The campus is positioned in the new commercial and financial development of the London Docklands. The Docklands Light Railway stop, Cyprus, is immediately adjacent to the campus. There are great views of the Royal Docks, London City Airport and the Canary Wharf/Isle of Dogs development. The campus has a large well stocked library and a large number of personal computers available to students 24 hours a day. There is wireless network connection throughout the campus. UEL students who pass all modules in a year at the first opportunity receive vouchers worth up to £500 that can be spent on books, computers, etc. within the University.