Development and Coordination of an Erasmus Mundus Joint MSc – Global Innovation

Management

Ross Maclachlan, Martin GregoryUniversity of Strathclyde

Global Innovation Management (GIM)2 year, 120 ECTS, Joint MSc programme

For graduates of Engineering, Science and Technology

Programme Objectives:

• Expand the Innovation Management student’s perspective to include design as integral to the innovation process and as a practical approach to product/service development;

• Produce graduates with a truly global perspective of Innovation Management;

• Provide candidates with skill sets that can be applied in both larger multinational organisations, and SMEs;

• Develop research capable graduates with an increased understanding of activities inputting into the innovation process.

Consortium Development• Initiated a strategic institutional level

• All partners are members of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU)

– Aims to ‘To develop high-quality collaborative educational programmes, by building on research and teaching strengths within individual ECIU member institutions.’

• University of Strathclyde (UofS)

– Department of Design Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM)

• Aalborg University (AAU)

– Center for Industrial Production (CIP)

• Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)

– Institute of Technology and Innovation Management (TIM)

• Swinburne University of Technology (SUT)

– (AGSE) since 2010 Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship

Consortium Operation• UofS elected as the coordinating partner as the largest institution and

academic department

• Formed the Joint Course Management Committee (JCMC) including key academics and administrative staff from each partner meeting at least twice per year.

• Functions include:

– QA – course review, joint exam board

– Promotion

– Development of progress and final reports for Erasmus Mundus

• Collaborative agreement signed by all partners sets out the functions of the JCMC, the responsibilities of partners, fees and administrative budgets. This was essential for Erasmus Mundus selection.

Development Challenges• Integrating 3 differing regulatory and administrative systems, in

particular:

– Award type

– Fees

– QA

• Development of an integrated curriculum

• Provision of interesting, academically sound and manageable mobility routes

Programme Structure/Mobility• Initially considered a variety of very flexible semester structures

with multiple programme entry points and mobility possible on a semester basis

Programme Structure/MobilityProposed joint Supervision of Thesis project between host institution and another partner

• Mobility provides global experience and choice based on location and style of learning

• Common Foundation year - consistent MSc award and establishes student community

• Mobility (more!) easily managed

• Eased QA and admin where all students spend time at administering institution

Integrated Curriculum• Partner expertise, mobility structure, existing modules considered simultaneously

to develop curriculum.

– DMEM capability in practical innovation (design, engineering) and its management

– CIP focussed on ‘problem based learning’ within service and product innovation management

– TIM now linked to business school with leading research and teaching in radical global innovation management

• A shared understanding of innovation management, in particular a global perspective.

• Different enough to dictate a ‘complementary’ curriculum type.

• Development meetings focussed on integration of taught modules across 2 years identifying common thread.

Curriculum OverviewYear 1 UofS50 ECTS of Compulsory Modules

• Product Development Partnership • Innovation Management

• Design Management • Strategic Technology Management

• Design Methods • Supply Chain Operations

• Global Design • People, Organisation and Technology

10 ECTS of Optional Modules

Year 2, TUHHSemester 3, 18 ECTS Compulsory

• Business Planning • Marketing of Innovation

• Product Strategy • International Management

• Technology and Innovation Management

12 ECTS of Optional ModulesSemester 4, 30 ECTS

• Thesis Project

Year 2, AAUSemester 3, 30 ECTS

• Industrial Internship

Semester 4, 30 ECTS

• Thesis Project

OR

Global Design Module

• Prepares students with the knowledge, skills and experience to become competent members of global/distributed design teams.

• GIM students bring a further multicultural element to the class

• Global Projects, VC lectures, key to programmes underlying theme and future integration of the curriculum

Award

• Strathclyde take a particular stand point in not awarding Double degrees.

• Former partner could not award joint degrees.

• Some issues with joint awards in Denmark, but these have now been addressed.

• AAU and TUHH do not classify MSc awards and therefore the Joint award is unclassified i.e. no distinction, merit, pass

• Diploma Supplement is therefore important in explaining the award externally.

• Both AAU and TUHH use ECTS locally. Scottish/Australian credits map easily to ECTS, therefore this is the common credit system for the programme – no issue.

The Students• Approx. 400 applications in 2008, 600 in 2009.

• 50-70 Countries represented each year.

• Students are excellent – highly motivated and proactive.

• Brings a diversity to the PG population that is beneficial for all students and teaching (particularly our Global aspects).

• EU student scholarships have been a good addition, but we have found attract less applications.

• Can be very demanding, more so than other students.

The Students

Challenges for the Future

• UK Tuition fees.

• Currency rates – all payments to students must be the exact Euro amount, and once fees are set must take account of fluctuation.

• Work towards sustainability of programme beyond the funded period – Increasing EU graduate application numbers– Converting more of the scholarship applications to self-funded applications– Continue to look for co-financing opportunities

• Streamlining application processing.

• Developing a strong Alumni network and retaining the best students for PhD study.

• Ensuring SUT are an integral part of the consortium operation.

Questions?