IDEA LAB - 2027/8

Module Overview

Enterprise and entrepreneurial skills are highly valued by employers seeking graduates who can navigate uncertainty through creative thinking and effective problem-solving in a wide range of business contexts. This module creates the opportunity for students to actively engage with Interdisciplinary Design and Enterprise in Action (IDEA). 

This practical, hands-on module is designed for students who enjoy active learning and collaboration. You will develop creative and innovative thinking skills by working in teams on a series of challenge-based activities, where building effective relationships quickly is essential. 

Students are expected to take an active role in their learning, contributing ideas, testing solutions, and reflecting on outcomes throughout the module. The challenges are intentionally dynamic and require you to adapt your approach, learn from setbacks, and build resilience and resourcefulness - key capabilities for both entrepreneurial and professional environments. Several activities are framed around global themes, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging consideration of the wider social and environmental impact of enterprise. 

On completion of the module, students who are interested in developing their own business ideas may choose to progress to the Surrey Hatchery to further explore and support their entrepreneurial ventures.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

LANHAM-NEW William (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 90

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

This module uses an active experiential learning challenges that include: 

• Launchpad: quipping students with the right blend of social and academic skills to succeed 
• Field Trip 
• Hackathon 
• Global Challenge

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual Report

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to support students in reflecting on a series of enterprise challenges undertaken across the module. Students are encouraged to create, test, and refine ideas at key stages, culminating in two complementary forms of assessment. Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

1. A group hackathon
The group hackathon provides an opportunity to work intensively in teams to address a live or simulated enterprise challenge, applying creative problem-solving and collaboration skills in a time-pressured environment.

2. An individual video presentation
The individual video presentation enables students to reflect on their learning and communicate their ideas and insights in a professional and engaging format, demonstrating problem-solving and communication skills.

Formative assessment is delivered throughout the module as students complete a series of challenges. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their learning at the end of each challenge and to take this learning forward into the next challenge and their second summative assignments.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment as detailed by the Code of Practice for Assessment and Feedback. An overview report will be shared with the cohort to highlight key metrics and themes found in the marking and feedback process.

Module aims

• To develop students' enterprise and entrepreneurial capabilities through experiential, team-based challenges that promote creative thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability in uncertain business contexts.
• To enable students to apply innovative approaches and reflective learning to real-world challenges, building resilience, resourcefulness, and effective collaboration skills.
• To encourage students to evaluate the social, environmental, and global dimensions of enterprise by engaging with challenges linked to themes such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and by considering pathways for future entrepreneurial activity.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to actively engage students in experiential, challenge-based learning that develops enterprise capabilities, creative problem-solving, and reflective practice through collaboration and real-world contexts. 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• interactive workshops
• team-based enterprise challenges
• facilitated discussions,
• short input lectures
• peer feedback
• reflective activities that support applied learning and professional communication skills.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN2225

Other information

Surrey Business School is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas: 

Digital capabilities: Students develop digital capabilities through the creation of visual presentation content, use of collaborative digital tools, and effective communication of ideas using digital media. 

Employability: The module enhances employability by developing enterprise mindsets, teamwork, problem-solving, and professional communication skills that are highly valued across a range of graduate roles. 

Global and cultural capabilities: Students explore enterprise challenges framed within global contexts, including social and cultural considerations, encouraging awareness of diverse perspectives and international issues. 

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Through iterative challenges and reflective practice, students learn to adapt to uncertainty, respond constructively to feedback, and develop resilience by learning from experimentation and setbacks. 

Sustainability: Sustainability is embedded through the use of real-world challenges aligned with themes such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, prompting students to consider social, environmental, and ethical impacts of enterprise activity.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2027/8 academic year.