Innovation course prepares students for the business world

From a broad problem to a specific solution

Iben Holm Schmidt, who is studying Manufacturing and Management in her sixth semester, is particularly impressed by how good you become at identifying and solving problems when you participate in the innovation course.

“The Innovation Pilot has really taught me to think more innovatively and out of the box. We have been introduced to several problem-solving tools which are easy to use in all kinds of situations,” she says and continues:

“We have worked with innovation in a structured way through models such as the ‘double diamond’, where we learn to explore the problem broadly and then define the exact challenge before moving on to possible solutions. This means that we don't just jump straight to a solution but really understand what needs to be solved and why.”

The Innovation Pilot takes place during the sixth semester of the BEng programme and culminates in a Demo Day, where the students present their solutions to the participating companies, lecturers and their fellow students.

Waseem Massoud, who studies Chemical and Bio Engineering, sees it as a big plus that the course is interdisciplinary, so you get the opportunity to learn from each other.

“It's great to get out there and be creative at a company, meet students from other programmes, learn from each other's strengths and gain some common skills. It's a great addition to some of my other courses, which are very specialised and subject-specific,” he explains.

This year's Demo Day was held on Wednesday, the 7th of May and ended with an award ceremony for the best project. This year, it went to Group 27, who had solved a case for the company Leca, which produces lightweight clinker-bricks. 

Lightweight clinker-bricks are expanding clay balls which come in many different sizes. They can be used in construction, but also when creating roof gardens.