Aims and Fit of Module

This module is designed to equip XEC students with fundamental industry skills by carrying out Syntegrative Projects from collaborations with industry partners spanning the entire academic year. Syntegrative Projects combine learning and teaching activities with practical work and hands-on learning, fostering multidisciplinary teamwork, design thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, and a deep understanding of industry dynamics to develop creative AI-centric solutions for real industrial problems. 

This module is managed by the Innovation Factory (IF), which will coordinate teaching and assessment, as well as deployment of labs and equipment resources, with academic staff from across XJTLU Entrepreneur College (XEC), Academic Literacies Centre (ALC) and industry mentors.

This module emphasises developing English communication skills through written and oral presentations, enabling students to convey their ideas and designs. As part of these learning and teaching activities, XEC students will be introduced to the IF platform and learn how to work on projects within the framework of IF in collaboration with industrial partners. This approach will enable students to develop their core professional knowledge and skills acquired in LIF001 Research-led & Project-based Learning as well as Year 1 English for Academic Purposes modules, in an industrial setting by applying multidisciplinary knowledge and skills through engagement and completing a group project of real-world industrial significance.

Students will develop professional and industrial skills, including research methodology, communications, leadership, project management, language skills, and lateral thinking, to become professionals who can navigate uncertainty while leveraging cutting-edge technology in an AI-driven world.

Learning outcomes

A	Define a real-world global, engineering, scientific, financial or industrial problem, and produce a plan to address the problem.
B	Develop and provide a solution to the problem identified.
C	Employ professional and industrial skills, such as leadership, teamwork, time management, and delegation, for workplace success in an industrial/commercial landscape. 
D	Produce design concepts and project plans through written and oral tasks, demonstrating proficiency in academic and professional English communication skills.

Method of teaching and learning

This module will adopt  Project-based Learning and Teaching to integrate learning and teaching activities with real-world projects which will contribute to students’ studies and professional development. This module emphasises student learning through practice and projects facilitated by ALC staff, school/hub academics, and industrial mentors. Students will select a real-world oriented and/or industry-related project that accords with their own interests and ambitions, and work in groups to realise the project.  Students can identify particular areas of learning needs or interests according to the available projects. They will conduct independent research to gather information and resources which support the effective definition of their chosen problem or project area.

This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, group discussions, seminars, and case studies, with hands-on practical exercises. Lectures and group discussions are conducted using the Project-Based Learning paradigm focusing on student-centred learning, where students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address open-ended problems that lack a straightforward solution. 

Progress towards the learning outcomes will be facilitated and monitored, where students are guided to address the given problem through tasks progressively. Independent learning will form an important aspect of the educational activities in this module.