Overview

Responsible innovation is an emerging field that equips organisations with skills and tools to innovate ethically, inclusively, sustainably, and in socially desirable ways.

This 6-week online course will give you a foundational understanding of responsible innovation, and help you develop skills in creative problem-solving, public engagement and ethics.

The course covers:

• the history of responsible innovation
• ethics
• integrity
• inclusivity and diversity
• public engagement
• social responsibility

You'll also learn about the AREA Framework, a widely recognised tool for applying responsible innovation in a wide variety of settings. In this course we focus on the 'anticipation' and 'reflection' elements of the framework.

Who this course is for

This course will be relevant to anyone working in innovation, science, technology, research and development (R&D), and product development.

It will also be relevant to those working in public policy, the charity sector, government and innovation-adjacent sectors.

You don't need to have any knowledge of responsible innovation to attend this course.

Course content

Week 1

Topic covered this week include:

• What is Responsible Innovation?
• Introduction to the AREA Framework
• Introduction to critical reflection
• Gendered innovation
• Gender biases in innovation

This week includes a 2-hour live session to introduce the course and tutors, and give you a chance to network with other learners.

Week 2

Topic covered this week include:

• Ethical responsibilities of innovators
• Professional responsibilities of innovators
• Social responsibility
• Hippocratic oath for innovators 

This week includes a 2-hour live virtual session on the first two week’s learning. You'll have the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills you've learnt and get feedback from discipline experts.

Week 3: Reading week

This week is for you to reflect on and consolidate your learning so far. There will be no formal learning activities.

Week 4

Topic covered this week include:

• 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 includes a 2-hour live virtual session focused on everything learnt so far. You'll have the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills you've learnt and get feedback from discipline experts.

Weeks 5 and 6: Assessment

You'll work on your assessment, a 1000-word reflective statement, during these 2 weeks.

There are no scheduled online learning activities or live sessions, but you'll be able to ask the course tutors any questions you may have.

Teaching and structure

This online course runs over 6 weeks.

Except for 3 live sessions, you can complete the activities for each week at your own pace.

Throughout the course you'll:

• learn about real-world case studies to help frame the theory and concepts you're learning
• apply the skills and knowledge you are being taught
• collaborate with learners from other organisations and sectors
• have access to expert academics through the discussion forums who can answer your questions
• receive tailored individual feedback from course tutors, as well as detailed feedback on your assessment

This course has been designed with the same rigorous approach we take when developing our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Assessment

The course is assessed by a 1000-word reflective statement.

You'll need to submit this at the end of Week 6. You'll have 2 weeks (weeks 5 and 6) to complete it.

To help you prepare, you'll build up your writing skills by completing shorter formative assignments during weeks 1 to 4.

Certificates and CPD points 

You'll receive a certificate when you've completed all the required learning and passed the final assessment. 

The content of the course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service. The course is estimated at 26 learning hours.

Learning outcomes  

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• appreciate different perspectives on the meaning of responsibility
• identify potential biases in research and develop approaches to address them
• discuss how past innovations can help us think about responsibility in the present
• reflect on who is responsible for intended and unintended consequences
• consider whose values should be embedded in innovations

Cost and concessions 

The standard cost of this course is £1,200.

Discounts are available for group bookings, for more information email uclengineeringonline@live.ucl.ac.uk

Course team

Dr Stephen Hughes

Stephen is a Lecturer and Teaching Fellow at UCL’s Department of Science and Technology Studies. He's responsible for the delivery of UCL’s Responsible Innovation programme to 13 EPSRC-funded Centres for Doctoral Training. His research explores cultures of responsibility in research contexts and the role that emotions and affects play in researchers’ conceptions of responsibility.

Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 16:00