Undergraduate Course: Entrepreneurship in the Mathematical Sciences (MATH10099)
Course Outline
| School | School of Mathematics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The applications of mathematics and statistics to business and industry are widespread and pivotal. This course details a range of case studies in which our discipline has made a significant contribution to real-world applications, and introduces the skills required to develop entrepreneurial ideas into a successful business. The course culminates with teams of students presenting and critically evaluating their own business ideas, which are derived from the context of the mathematical sciences. |
| Course description |
This course will introduce the key steps that lead from an entrepreneurial idea to the development of a business, including the safeguarding of business ideas, the implementation and execution of the idea, market research, customer validation, and pitching the idea to clients or investors. Students will also be introduced to practical examples of mathematical techniques and concepts that have made a clear contribution to the world of business and industry. The course will be assessed through three pieces of coursework: a technical essay detailing the mathematics behind one of the industry case studies; a collaborative report analysing the feasibility of a new business idea relating to the mathematical sciences (including a description of the customer base, future business scenarios, revenue model, and so on); and a group pitch developed by the students. Alongside the mathematical material, the course will provide a range of valuable business skills which will be applicable to any future career in commerce or industry.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students to have passed at least 40 credits of Level 10 School of Mathematics courses |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students are advised to check that they have studied the material covered in the syllabus of each prerequisite course before enrolling. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 12,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
70 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. Mathematical Report on a chosen case study - 40%
2. Group Pitch - 20%
3. Collaborative report analysing the feasibility of a new business idea relating to the mathematical sciences (including a description of the customer base, future business scenarios, revenue model, etc.) - 40%.
All collaborative assessments (see 2. and 3.) will involve peer feedback. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of ideas relating to entrepreneurship, and of case studies where mathematics and statistics have contributed to business and industry
- Produce a scientific outline of a mathematical application in industry
- Demonstrate knowledge of and facility with techniques for idea generation, safeguarding business ideas, implementation and execution of business ideas, customer validation, and feasibility studies for business
- Develop entrepreneurial ideas relating to the mathematical sciences
- Construct and deliver a business pitch in a group, leading to enhanced skills in teamwork, enhanced presentation skills, and a greater appreciation of real-world mathematical applications
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Reading List
Francis Greene, Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 2020, Palgrave.
Avner Friedman and Walter Littman, Industrial Mathematics: A Course in Solving Real-World Problems, SIAM, 1994.
Glenn Fulford and Philip Broadbridge, Industrial Mathematics: Case Studies in the Diffusion of Heat and Matter, Cambridge University Press, 2010. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | EMS,Entrepreneurship,Mathematics for Industry |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Moritz Linkmann
Tel: (0131 6)50 5060
Email: Moritz.Linkmann@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Alison Fairgrieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 5045
Email: Alison.Fairgrieve@ed.ac.uk |
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