Responsible Innovation for Researchers
This Responsible Innovation course equips doctoral students and postdocs with the concepts and practices required to meet the biggest challenges facing society and their discipline.
Overview
By developing skills in creative problem-solving, public engagement, and ethics, the course offers a foundational understanding of Responsible Research and Innovation (RI). It also provides an introduction to the EPSRC's AREA Framework, with a focus on the Anticipation and Reflection elements.
Split over 5 weeks plus a reading week, between a live online 2-hour workshop and 15 hours of self-paced online learning, Responsible Innovation Foundations covers the history of responsible innovation; ethics, integrity, inclusivity and diversity, public engagement, and social responsibility.
Who this course is for
This course will be relevant to current PhD or post-graduate students, and you do not need to have prior knowledge of responsible innovation to attend this course.
Key information
Course type: Online (self-paced plus live workshops)
Start date(s): 2026 start dates to be confirmed. Register your interest below for alerts and news
Duration: 6-weeks
Effort: 24 hours (estimated)
Course Fees: £375
Course benefits
- Access to expert academics through the discussion forums who are more than happy to answer your questions.
- Self-paced online learning that can be completed at your own pace within the teaching week (with the exception of the live sessions which have set times for attendance).
- Reflective discussion-based approach that provides you with many opportunities to collaborate with learners from other organisations and sectors.
- 3-hour live workshop in Week 4 giving you the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills you have learnt and get feedback from discipline experts.
- Tailored individual feedback from course tutor(s) with subject expertise throughout the course, as well as detailed feedback on your assessment.
- Designed with the same rigorous approach we take when developing our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
- Real-world case studies frame the theory and concepts you are learning.
- Active learning provides you with the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge you are being taught.
About our courses
Self-paced online leaning that can be complted at your own pace within the teaching week
Find out moreExample case studies
Real-world case studies frame the theory and concepts you are learning
See case studiesCourse syllabus
- What is Responsible Innovation?
- Introduction to the AREA Framework
- Introduction to critical reflection
- Gendered innovation
- Gender biases in innovation
- Ethical responsibilities of innovators
- Professional responsibilities of innovators
- Social responsibility
- Hippocratic oath for innovators
This week also includes a 2-hour live virtual face-to-face session focussed on the first two week’s learning.
- Reading week – This week is for you to reflect on and consolidate your learning so far.
- There will be no formal learning activities this week.
- Live workshop (live virtual face-to-face session)
- Who is responsible when innovation goes wrong?
- Responsibility in sociotechnical systems
- Social values and design
- What problems are worth solving?
- Visions of the future
This week also includes a 2-hour live virtual face-to-face session focussed on everything learnt so far.
- The course is assessed by a 1000-word reflective statement.
- The deadline for submission is the end of Week 6 meaning you have two weeks (Weeks 5 and 6) to complete the assessment.
- To prepare for this, you will build up your writing skills by completing shorter formative assignments throughout Weeks 1-4.
- There are no scheduled online learning activities or live sessions during these weeks but you will still be able to ask the course tutors any questions you may have.
Accreditation and Certification
- The content of the course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles.
- Pass certificates will be awarded to learners who complete all of the required learning and pass the final assessment.
Who will you learn with?
Dr Cian O'Donovan is a Lecturer at UCL’s Department of Science and Technology Studies and Director of the Centre for Responsible Innovation. He is responsible for the delivery of UCL’s Responsible Innovation programme to EPSRC-funded Centres for Doctoral Training. His research explores how innovation can be aligned with what people in society want through means of democracy.
Entry requirements
- There are no entry requirements for this course and no previous knowledge of Responsible Innovation is needed.
The course is relevant to anyone working in academia, research and development, science, technology, and innovation. As well as those working in public policy, the charity sector and government.
Fees
- Standard course fee: £375
Please contact us directly for group bookings.
Learner reviews
I would highly recommend this course to my colleagues and friends, and to anyone interested in thinking further about their ethical and social responsibilities. It really was the best virtual course I have ever taken.
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