UCD Graduate Diploma in Design Thinking for Sustainability

Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Design Thinking for Sustainability will: 

• Gain an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the design thinking and related system thinking processes for creating innovative user-centric solutions to complex real-world problems across a wide variety of domains and sectors, in particular as applied to the challenges of sustainability. 
• Develop a sustainability mindset – Gain a broad perspective of the wider context around sustainability (from environmental, business and societal perspectives) including key trends and underlying issues, an appreciation of synergies and conflicting approaches across sectors, an understanding of the systemic nature of the challenges and need for systemic solutions. 

• Develop their ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team to apply a user-centred design approach to develop and test a viable, sustainable solution for a client organisation. 
• Develop their supporting career, communication, creative, entrepreneurial, leadership, learning agility and teamwork skills. 
• Create a diverse network of peers from across multiple backgrounds and disciplines and meet with leading practitioners across Ireland and the world. 
• Gain an awareness of relevant and possible career pathways and the skills and tools required to effectively navigate a way ahead. 

The deadline for applications is 12pm 4th September 2023. 

This course is open for applications through the HEA Springboard+ website and you can begin your application here. If you require more information, please register your interest and we will be in contact with you shortly.

Applications will be reviewed and places offered on a rolling basis until the course is full.

We may call you to discuss aspects of your application and/or request further supporting documents if necessary.

Below is a summary of the application procedures and funding eligibility. 

The full document requirements are on Springboard+. Please read them carefully.  

Supporting documents

You will need to upload some supporting documents as part of your application:

1. Current CV and Letter of Motivation.
2. Your academic transcript to show you have a level 8 qualification. Alternatively, you can apply through Recognition of Prior Learning. See ‘Entry Requirements’ for full details.
3. For full or part-funded places, we’ll need to see proof of your relevant employment status, as outlined in Springboard+ Eligibility Guidelines.
4. Your passport if you are an EU, EEA, UK, or Swiss citizen. Or a Stamp 4 Visa for 3 years prior to the course start date if you are applying under a status other than ‘Unemployed in receipt of an eligible DEASP Payment’.
5. Applicants who are employed, formerly self-employed, self-employed must demonstrates that you have been resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK for three of the past five years.
6. If English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required. Click here for full English Language Requirements for UCD.

Funding

FREE for eligible jobseekers: those who have received eligible DEASP Payments for 9 of the previous 12 months. 

FREE for returners to work and carers. 

90% subsidised (student pays €650) for recent graduates, eligible individuals in employment or self-employment, and the formerly self-employed. 

This course is supported by the HCI Pillar 1 Funding which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

Your success throughout this course will be assessed through a number of presentations, team projects, and your individual reflections and self-evaluation. 

With the help of the Academy’s educators, guest speakers and your fellow learners, you’ll receive constructive feedback to improve throughout the course.

Module after module, your learning will build iteratively as you progress through the course. You’ll carry forward the insights, mindset, and skills you’ve learned into the central module, ‘Design for User-Centric, Sustainable Solutions’. Here you’ll have the opportunity to apply everything you have learnt throughout the rest of the course. 

Learners will receive a pass/fail grade for each of the seven modules, and an overall grade for the Graduate Diploma qualification.

As the course involves continuous assessment, students must attend all class sessions.

All courses at the Innovation Academy are developed and facilitated by our exceptional team of educators. 

The team boasts a wealth of experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. They are international entrepreneurs, doctors (both medical and academic), robotics experts, storytellers, conservationists, campaigners, and creatives. 

What they all have in common is their love of the innovative, learning-by-doing approach to learning and their devotion to delivering a world-class student experience. 

Read more about the people behind this course.

• Dr. Thomas Macagno Entrepreneurial Innovation Lead - Sustainability
• Ann Foulds Facilitation Specialist
• Dr. Jakub Urbaniak Facilitation Specialist

During the course, you will meet leading academics, practitioners, activists and policy makers across all sectors, from Ireland and around the world. We envisage that graduates of this course will have a strong advantage in the emerging green economy and be equipped to progress into a wide variety of Sustainability roles across enterprise, social enterprise and government.

Whether you have a technical or non-technical background – a foundation in real-world innovation is highly valued and opens up key opportunities in sustainability across all sectors. Examples may include Sustainability Manager, Design Strategist, Innovation Manager, Environmental Officer. 

ACCREDIBLE

UCD Innovation Academy is delighted to partner with Accredible in the provision of digital credentials across all of our programmes. We believe lifelong learning should be encouraged and celebrated, and digital credentials will allow you to share your accomplishments on LinkedIn and other online platforms to promote among your network. 

Students who successfully complete and pass this programme will receive a digital certificate of completion. The certificate is issued online once the UCD Exam Board sits and approves your grade. UCD Exam Board sits three times a year (Autumn, Spring, Summer trimester) and approval times vary depending on the Exam Board calendar. The certificate of completion is separate to the official parchment, which arrives in hard copy at a later date.

Graduates of the programme will have: 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND LEARNING AGILITY

• An in-depth understanding of the Design Thinking process, the ability to apply it appropriately across a wide range of contexts and sectors and the aptitude to continuously adapt and develop their approach and to learn in a collegial, professional manner. 

PROFESSIONAL ADAPTABILITY

• Well-developed intellectual curiosity, analytical and interpersonal skills to lead multi disciplinary approaches for the successful development of creative and innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges across a broad range of sectors and disciplines. 

GLOBALLY ENGAGED

• An ethical perspective to leading change – sensitive to the beliefs and values of others, able to contextualise and communicate with diverse groups in a way that engages and influences behaviour. 
• An awareness of their own role and responsibilities as an active global citizen especially in the context of sustainability 
• An inclusive values-based approach to their life and work, appreciating the importance and benefits of diversity and equity.