External summary

Entrepreneurship and innovation play vital roles in knowledge creation and exploitation to generate value and drive sustainable economic, social, technological and organisational development. Processes and behaviours central to entrepreneurship and innovation may be observed more easily in new and early stage ventures but are equally important within existing organisations. The effective use of resources to support innovation (product, service, process and management/organisational) helps create value and drive sustainable development and growth. The innovation process is influenced by a wide range of internal and external factors which may support and facilitate or thwart and impede development. Public, private and third sector organisations need individuals who understand internal and external influences on innovation and entrepreneurship and know how to think creatively about leveraging capabilities and resources to exploit opportunities and bring about change.
The University of Edinburgh Business School's MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation combines theoretical and empirical perspectives with the development of practical skills and opportunities for the application of knowledge to real-life organisational issues faced by those establishing and managing innovation-driven organisations. It provides opportunities to leverage research and teaching strengths within the Entrepreneurial & Innovation Group and tap into the rich entrepreneurial ecosystems within the University and wider Edinburgh area, enabling learning through direct engagement with practice via live projects with organisations. It offers participants the knowledge and skills to identify and screen opportunities and implement them within new and existing organisations, preparing them for a range of careers, including as venture founders/builders, managers of innovation within existing organisations, or in policy and business development roles in agencies supporting innovation.

Educational aims of programme

The UEBS MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation aims:

• To provide students with a critical understanding of the theories, processes and behaviours underpinning entrepreneurship and innovation, and an appreciation of the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in local, national and global contexts;
• To enable students to understand how organisations in a range of contexts build value through the application of entrepreneurial and innovative practices;
• Provide students with opportunities to learn experientially about the opportunities and challenges in building new ventures and pursuing innovation in existing organisations, helping to enhance capacity and confidence to build value in organisations;
• To enable students from diverse educational and national backgrounds to develop the knowledge and skills required to be highly competent entrepreneurs who can also lead and support innovation across a range of different sectors and organisational contexts.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the programme, students will have knowledge and understanding of:

i. Key concepts underpinning entrepreneurship and its application in the recognition and exploitation of product/ service/process opportunities;
ii. Key concepts underpinning innovation and the issues associated with developing and sustaining innovation within organisations;
iii. How to design creative strategies for pursuing, exploiting and further developing new opportunities;
iv. Issues associated with securing and managing financial resources in new and established organisations.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
i. Critically apply theory and practice on innovation, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial venturing;
ii. Develop viable creative and innovative sustainable solutions in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
i. Respond positively and effectively to problems in unfamiliar contexts;
ii. Apply new ideas, methods and ways of thinking;
iii. Engage with a range of stakeholders to deliver creative and sustainable solutions to specific problems.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:
i. Work effectively with colleagues with diverse skills, experiences and be able to critically reflect on own practice in working with colleagues with diverse skills, experiences and ways of thinking;
ii. Consider the ethical and environmental issues and responsibilities which managers take into account in making decisions.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

These skills are covered in the headings above.

Programme structure and features

Degree Criteria

MSc full-time (12 months). It consists of 180 SQCF credit points, of which 120 constitutes the taught portion of the programme with the remaining 60 devoted to the dissertation component of the degree.

Degree Programme Table and Modes of Study:

The Degree Programme Table can be viewed at:

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/22-23/dpt/drpsindex.htm

Progression and Exit Awards

The programme conforms to the University's taught Assessment Regulations.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/policies-regulations/regulations/assessment

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

The learning outcomes of the programme are achieved by a mixture of formal lectures, seminars, computer labs, student presentations, guest speakers, research assignments, and the research dissertation. Delivery of the taught element of the programme is primarily via a combination of lectures and seminars. These are supplemented for some courses by practicals, computer labs and meetings with the students' designated Personal Tutor and the Programme Director. The programme will offer extensive opportunities for experiential learning, for example, through projects with external organisations. At MSc level a substantial amount of independent study and pre-reading for lectures is also required of students.

Assessment methods and strategies

The courses will employ a range of assessment types, for example group presentations, group and individual reports and essays. Students will receive extensive summative and formative feedback during the duration of the programme, embedded within each of the course/programme elements. Timely formative feedback will be provided during each of the courses, orally during the in-class lectures and seminars, and verbally and in written form where other forms of assessment, such as projects and presentations, are employed. Summative feedback will be provided in writing for the assessed elements of the programme, including group project work, presentation, and other assessments (such as reports and essays).
The will be no examinations as multiple types of assignments are considered the most appropriate way to assess learning in these subject areas. Careful consideration will be given to the timing and submission of assessments across courses to ensure, as far as possible, that assessments deadlines are spread out to avoid excessive pressure point each semester.

Career opportunities

The programme opens a number of alternative career pathways:

The MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation offers students from a range of degree backgrounds the opportunity to complement their original field of study with a deep theoretical and practical understanding of the programme's two areas as well as the critical interplay between them. Students will develop the knowledge and skills to work in a variety of organisational contexts and sectors where they may require to identify, screen and implement new opportunities or effect change within product, service, process or organisational domains. They will also be suited to roles managing innovation or supporting externally the development of innovative and entrepreneurial organisations.

Some graduates are likely to start a new venture in the short or longer term with others pursuing roles involving managing and supporting innovation in existing organisations. Students from a family business background will be well-placed to join the business and succeed to senior positions in the short or longer term. Some graduates may work in the public sector or for agencies supporting new ventures or other forms of organisation.

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