IDEAS FOR FUTURE – Megatrends & Design Thinking

Organization

  • Semester: Summer Semester 2023
  • Degree programs: cf. the corresponding Bachelor's degree program lists (also under the old name).
  • Scope: 2 SWS/ 3 CPs
  • Exam: Presentation(s), term paper
  • Material: Own laptop/tablet is to be brought along
  • Dates: 22.06.2023 and 23.06.2023
  • Time: 9.30a.m. -5.30p.m.
  • Rooms: Graduate Centre C9 3
  • Registration: Registration for the key competence is possible until 15.05.2023 by mail to franziska.janz(at)uni-saarland.de. To register, please provide us with your name, matriculation number, degree program and semester. Please note that there are only 20 places available for this event.
  • Contact: Franziska Janz (franziska.janz(at)uni-saarland.de); Slawka Jordanow (slawka.jordanow(at)uni-saarland.de)
  • Please note that the course will be held in German. 

Content

Lecture

 

Individualization, neo-ecology, connectivity and urbanization are just some of the megatrends that are already influencing our private and professional everyday lives today and will continue to do so in the near future. As a result, there are new opportunities and challenges in all areas of society. For (future) founders, companies, government institutions and research facilities, it is therefore essential to recognize and exploit the potential that these megatrends entail. Understanding these trends as well as learning appropriate tools for creative idea generation and prototype development will be part of this key competency. For this purpose, the "Design Thinking" process is used, an innovation method that promotes problem-solving potential and encourages creative thinking. This key competence is aimed at all students who want to meet the future with innovative ideas and / or are interested in founding a company.

 

Content Overview

  1. Presentation and elaboration of selected megatrends and the associated challenges
  2. Application of various creativity techniques to solve predefined problems
  3. Identification of a relevant entrepreneurial opportunity and creation of a prototype

Test performance

 

To successfully pass the course, students must be present throughout the module and actively participate in group work/presentations of results.

 

Download

Course material

 

Lecture notes

 

The following programs can unpack ZIP files

 

Apple - iZip

 

Windows - Winrar

Learning Goals

 

After attending the key competence "IDEAS FOR FUTURE - Megatrends & Design Thinking", students will be able to better assess current developments and challenges with regard to future products, processes, services and business model trends and use appropriate means ("design thinking" process, creativity techniques, etc.) to force idea generation and prototype development for innovative solutions.

 

Students are introduced to current megatrends in a theory- and practice-based manner in order to provide them with a profound understanding of future, socially relevant issues. Based on these new challenges, participants will develop innovative products and business models with the help of guided creativity techniques.