Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Applicants from outside the Nordic countries: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester. 

Type of course

Subject can be taken as single course.

The course is relevant for Bachelor of Northern studies and compulsory for students choosing the BNS advanced emphasis programme Arctic Innovation and Enrepreneurship (30 ECTS)

Admission requirements

Admission requirements:
Nordic applicants: Generell studiekompetanse

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English.

A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the web site
from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). For language requirements we refer to
NOKUT's GSU-list.

Admission code: 9199 (Nordic applicants).

Course content

Core of this learning-by-developing course is practical innovation work cooperating with a real-life case (SME, public organisation etc.) Case representatives present a problem or need which has to be solved by teams of students. Students are provided with theoretical topics and methodological tools which directly support their practical work.

(International) student teams will learn to compete for best ideas, but also to cooperate with each other as possible stakeholders. Teams have to detect potential (business) partners for the firm / organisation and do other practical efforts in order to develop their idea to a sustainable solution for the firm / organisation: a competitive advantage, entering a new market, designing of new products, services etc.

• Theory basics on

Entrepreneurial Behaviour, Networking, Business modelling and planning, Lean Start-up

• Methodological tools

Models of analysis and planning such as SWOT, Business Model Canvas; Work journal writing

Objectives of the course

Knowledge

By the end of the course, students will know basics about:

- Selected methods of creating ideas

- Detecting business relevant value of ideas

- Key principles and elements of entrepreneurial behavior

- Distinctive entrepreneurial practices of SME

Skills

By the end of the course, students are expected to have:

- Communication / team-work skills

- Ability to establish and use networks

- Project and time management

- Information gathering and proceeding skills

- Decision skills and familiarity with risk assessment and strategic thinking

- Both individually and as part of a group, students will be able to communicate problem solutions in a concise way

General competence

Over the course, the following main competencies will be trained:

- Recognizing and developing innovation / business opportunities;Relationship competencies in person-to-person or individual-togroup-based, partly cross-cultural, interactions; Conceptual competencies, reflected in entrepreneurial behaviors; Organizing competencies. 

- Strategic competencies, i.e. setting, evaluating and implementing the strategies of the team / firm; Commitment competencies, i.e. capability to move ahead with a project; Self-reflection and selfassessment. 

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Learning by developing:

Team work and cross-border communication with firms and competing student groups

The course is based on team work, guided by a teacher who acts as coach / mentor

Stage 1 - Developing business idea

Introduction into the case by case representatives

Introductory lectures / seminars on theories and methods

Exemplary video lectures, Video conferences with firm representatives and competing groups

Group work, -discussions, brainstorming

Use of Open learning environments and Social media

Stage 2 - one-week Workshop and contest of ideas

Meeting firm representatives; Refreshment, improvement and presentation of the Idea, and final individual and team evaluation

Assessment

Work Requirements: 

Stage 1:
- Individual work journal
- 2-3 individually written assignments

Stage 2:
- Business opportunity team report: Presentation of business idea and tentative action plan for
   implementation Peer evaluation. You will be evaluated by each of your teammates for your participation.

Examination: 

Evaluation of individual Work Journal, oral group presentation of a business idea / opportunity and Business opportunity team report

Evaluation of the final result will consist of two parts:

1. Refined project report and final presentation at the International workshop (50% of the grade)
2. Individual course evaluation after completed Business Innovation Workshop (50% of the grade)

- Grades A - E for passed exam, F for failed.

- Possibility of re-sit exam in case of F.