Global Call to Action: Sustainability, IT and Innovation

Take action

You will have the opportunity to explore global calls for action in tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the circular economy, IT, and climate. This minor enables you to develop concepts and pre-products for the better. For example: apps to recognize greenwashing, alternative ways to share fashion, an algorithm on limiting food-waste, sustainable blockchain technology, or an educational program that supports healthy choices. We give you the tools to develop something, you bring the creativity!

This minor has two phases of 15 ECTS. In the first part (Global Call to Action) you work on your concept. In the second part (make it happen) you deliver a working prototype an/or proof of concept, work on your sustainable start-up or find suitable partners to make impact. 

Teaching format

You will follow online/on campus lectures, workshops, and work on individual and group challenges in design sprints.

This includes:

• Interactive online workshops with international lecturers and students.
• International project teamwork on sustainable challenges (for example SDG's, climate change, biodiversity, micro-plastics)
• An intensive week during which you will meet your international team members and work together on campus. 
• Project week in Amsterdam or Tenerife (Spain) in block 1.
• Project week in Stuttgart (Germany) or Split (Croatia) in block 4.

For the international projects there are some weeks mandatory evening sessions on Monday 20:00 and Thursday 20:00.

Subjects

In this minor you will spend 30 ECTS on connecting the following ‘dots’ which will be offered as a combination of online & campus modules:

• Sustainability and you
• Sustainability and digitalization
• Sustainability in an international context
• Sustainability, research and design

You will work as an innovation professional in a multidisciplinary international digital context. By following this minor you will be able to define, identify and/or apply innovation tools and creativity techniques building upon the concepts of Design Thinking and Frame Innovation.

Upon completion, you have developed and presented a sustainable and innovative IT related concept.

For whom?

IT knowledge and experience is an asset, but not necessary. Therefore, if you have a strong interest in sustainability and IT, this program is something for you. Connecting the Dots is open to all students at HvA who want to work on a sustainable future. 

Learning Outcomes

• You are familiar with the core concepts: sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), circular economy, donut economy, greenwashing and can reflect critically on these.  
• You can name, recognize, and connect current IT themes with her/himself, the other students, the concepts from the first learning objective, and the design process in an international context.
• From a personal fascination with the core concepts, you can start a structured design process and go through it with an IT-related concept, product, service, etc. as the result.  
• You can communicate findings in a comprehensible and coherent manner in an international context. 
• You can formulate a solid business, marketing, and financial plan for your sustainable start-up or partnership. 

Contact

Contact Gideon Bazen g.h.bazen@hva.nl for more information.