Innovation for Impact: real-world problem-solving through open innovation
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Start dates
May, September 2026
January, May 2027
Duration
12-week course
Learning mode
Online delivery
Overview
Innovation for Impact is a 12-week postgraduate short course for professionals and postgraduate students who want to solve real-world challenges through open innovation and collaborative problem-solving.
Delivered in partnership with Wazoku, a global idea and innovation management platform, the course gives students the opportunity to work on live challenges from industry and public sector organisations.
The course is delivered through the Institute for Connected Communities (ICC) and the Royal Docks School of Business and Law and it is subject to UEL’s standard quality assurance and monitoring processes, including mid-module and end-of-module student feedback surveys.
The course combines academic study with industry-focused practice. Students explore innovation theory and strategy while developing structured problem-solving skills through design thinking and systems thinking. They also build expertise in pitching, prototyping and measuring impact.
On successful completion, students gain 30 Level 7 credits. These credits can contribute towards a postgraduate qualification or stand alone as a recognised continuing professional development (CPD) achievement.
Cost
The course costs £2,500 per person.
Delivery
This course is delivered online, making it flexible for working professionals while still offering an intensive learning experience. The course duration is 12 weeks.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for:
- Mid- to senior-level professionals looking to build or strengthen organisational innovation capabilities
- Entrepreneurs and innovation leads who want to apply open innovation models to real-world challenges
- Early-career professionals aspiring to roles in strategy, product development or innovation management
- Postgraduate students who want to complement their degree with a practical, industry-embedded module
- CPD learners seeking flexible, credit-bearing upskilling without committing to a full degree programme
What makes this course different?
Learn from anywhere
Study entirely online through live weekly sessions and flexible content you can access on your schedule. Develop master’s-level innovation skills without leaving your job, your city or your time zone.
Solve live industry challenges
Work on real, active innovation challenges sourced from industry and public sector organisations through Wazoku, not simulated case studies. This gives you a genuine portfolio piece and direct exposure to how organisations manage innovation at scale.
Expert-led learning
Benefit from direct access to Wazoku’s leadership team, including senior innovation consultants and guest speakers. You will receive regular mentoring, expert insights and pitch feedback throughout the course.
Entry requirements
To apply for this course, you will need:
- A minimum 2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution
- English language proficiency: IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components) or equivalent
- A demonstrated interest in innovation, entrepreneurship or organisational problem-solving
- Current enrolment as a UEL or partner institution postgraduate student, or as a stand-alone CPD applicant
Preferred backgrounds (not mandatory): Business, Computing, Engineering, Design or Social Sciences. Equivalent professional experience is welcomed from mature learners.
What you’ll gain
Students who successfully complete all summative assessments will receive:
- 30 UK credits at Level 7 (module code INN7001), which may contribute towards a postgraduate qualification where applicable
- an official UEL transcript recording the module title, level and grade achieved
- the opportunity to earn additional rewards, financial or otherwise, by getting involved in real-world challenges.
How you’ll learn
You will learn through a combination of interactive online teaching, practical workshops and industry-led mentoring. This includes:
- Weekly interactive online lectures and seminars led by UEL academic staff
- Hands-on innovation workshops using the Wazoku platform
- Guest lectures from industry experts and innovation consultants
- Mentored sessions and regular touchpoints with Wazoku’s innovation professionals
- Group-based problem-solving and online peer collaboration
- Asynchronous recorded content and flexible self-study resources via UEL’s Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle)
You will also benefit from support from UEL’s academic and professional service teams, as well as our delivery partners, including:
- A named academic tutor for guidance, formative feedback and assessment support
- Weekly mentoring from Wazoku innovation consultants
- UEL Wellbeing, Disability and Dyslexia, and Academic Skills Support Services
- UEL Careers and Employability Service, including coaching and networking opportunities
- IT helpdesk and onboarding support for all digital platforms
- Learning materials designed to meet accessibility standards, including captioned content and screen-reader compatibility
What you’ll study
This course covers:
- Introduction to innovation - definitions, types and the significance of innovation in contemporary organisations
- Innovation theories and models - Schumpeterian innovation, open innovation, disruptive innovation and the diffusion of innovations
- Innovation strategy - aligning innovation with business strategy, building an innovation culture and leadership in innovation
- Idea generation and creativity - techniques for fostering creativity, brainstorming and using idea and innovation management platforms
- Innovation processes - stages from ideation to implementation and commercialisation
- Managing innovation - overcoming barriers to innovation, managing risk and measuring innovation performance
- Case studies and practical application - analysis of real-world innovation successes and failures, supported by guest lectures from industry experts
Indicative 12-week schedule
| Week and Topic | Learning activity |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduction to innovation and open innovation | Case studies, platform walkthrough |
| 2. Problem identification and challenge briefs | Scoping real challenges via the innovation platform |
| 3. Systems thinking and design thinking | Ecosystem mapping, empathy interviews |
| 4. Ideation techniques | Brainstorming, creativity tools |
| 5. Business models and value propositions | Business Model Canvas workshop |
| 6. Feasibility and impact assessment | Risk analysis, cost-benefit evaluation, scalability |
| 7. Mid-project feedback and iteration | Peer review, industry mentor feedback |
| 8. Prototyping and experimentation | MVP development, storyboarding |
| 9. Innovation metrics and success criteria | Defining KPIs, measuring social and business value |
| 10. Pitching and communication | Storytelling, presentation techniques |
| 11. Final pitch day | Presentations to industry and academic panel |
| 12. Reflection and portfolio submission | Team retrospectives, personal insights |
How you’ll be assessed
The assessment is designed to help you apply innovation theory and frameworks to real-world challenges.
- Coursework 1: Formal oral presentation - 30 per cent weighting
A 30-minute individual presentation in which you develop and present an innovation proposal. This is assessed on creativity, feasibility and the application of innovation management principles. - Coursework 2: Written assignment - 70 per cent weighting
A 4,000-word individual assignment applying theory and frameworks to an innovation challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for professionals, postgraduate students and CPD learners who want to develop practical innovation skills and solve real-world challenges through open innovation and collaborative problem-solving.
It is particularly suitable for mid- to senior-level professionals, entrepreneurs, innovation leads, early-career professionals and students seeking industry-embedded learning.
Is the course delivered online?
Yes. All teaching is delivered entirely online.
The course combines live weekly sessions, practical workshops, mentoring and flexible self-study content, making it suitable for working professionals and learners across different time zones.
Will I work on real industry challenges?
Yes. Students work on live challenges from industry and public sector organisations through the Wazoku platform.
These are real active innovation challenges rather than simulated case studies, giving students practical experience and portfolio-ready work.
What qualification will I receive?
Students who successfully complete all summative assessments will receive 30 UK credits at Level 7 (module code INN7001).
These credits may contribute towards a postgraduate qualification where applicable.
Students will also receive an official UEL transcript confirming the module title, level and grade achieved.
What career opportunities can this course support?
This course is designed to support progression into roles such as:
- Innovation manager
- Strategy lead
- Product development specialist
- Business transformation consultant
- Entrepreneur or founder
- Organisational development lead
It is also suitable for professionals looking to strengthen innovation capability within their current role.
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