The Syntegrative Project module is an industry-driven experience designed to immerse students in the entrepreneurial and innovation process. It challenges students to address real-world problems through a year-long collaboration with industry partners, providing a hands-on opportunity to develop a business solution, product, or service. The module builds entrepreneurial competencies by integrating innovation theory, project management, and sustainable development principles (aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Module Aims 1. Industry Engagement: To create a dynamic learning environment where students work with industry partners to address real-world challenges. 2. Entrepreneurial Competencies: To equip students with the skills and knowledge to navigate the entrepreneurial process—from opportunity recognition and ideation to prototyping and scaling. 3. Innovation Integration: To encourage students to leverage innovative tools and methods, such as design thinking and lean startup, in the development of entrepreneurial solutions. 4. Sustainability Focus: To foster an understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship, ensuring projects consider economic, social, and environmental impacts. 5. Project Management Skills: To develop students' project management skills, including resource allocation, time management, and stakeholder communication.
A Analyze industry challenges and opportunities, developing entrepreneurial mindsets to identify potential entrepreneurial solutions that address real-world problems. B Design a comprehensive project plan that integrates key entrepreneurial processes, including ideation, prototyping, and testing, to address the identified industry problems. C Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or prototype, incorporating iterative feedback from industry partners, peers, and faculty to enhance its viability and relevance. D Evaluate the sustainability impact of the proposed solution, aligning the project outcomes with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrating awareness of social, environmental, and economic considerations. E Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating leadership, conflict resolution, and communication skills to achieve project milestones. F Reflect critically on individual performance throughout the project, identifying areas for personal and professional growth, and formulating strategies for future entrepreneurial challenges.
The Syntegrative Project module is grounded in Project-Based Learning (PBL), providing students with a structured framework to solve real-world problems in collaboration with industry partners. This approach fosters deeper learning through practical application, critical thinking, and industry-driven feedback, ensuring that students develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in entrepreneurial environments. Students will work in groups throughout the year to develop an entrepreneurial project that addresses a challenge posed by industry partners. The PBL approach emphasizes: • Problem Identification and Scoping: Early-stage workshops will guide students through industry problem identification, using research and brainstorming techniques to scope their projects and align them with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). • Iterative Development: The project will follow an iterative process where students continuously prototype, test, and refine their solutions based on feedback from industry partners and faculty. Students will apply lean startup and design thinking methodologies to ensure the project evolves through active learning cycles. • Milestone-Based Project Management: Teams will manage their projects through defined milestones (ideation, prototyping, and testing), regularly presenting updates to their peers, mentors, and industry partners. This enables ongoing feedback and reflection. Industry engagement is central to the Syntegrative Project, as students will collaborate with professionals to tackle real-world problems. Engagement will include: • Industry-Partnered Workshops: Experts from industry will lead guest workshops on sector-specific challenges, innovation trends, and entrepreneurial strategies. These sessions will help students ground their project ideas in practical realities. • Mentorship Program: Each project team will be paired with an industry mentor who will offer strategic guidance throughout the project’s lifecycle. Mentors will provide feedback at critical stages, ensuring the projects are aligned with market and industry needs. • Live Industry Project: Industry partners will present live industry project that mirror the challenges faced by students. This will allow them to see how companies are applying entrepreneurial thinking to solve contemporary issues. Students will work in multidisciplinary teams to simulate a startup environment, fostering the collaborative and leadership skills necessary for entrepreneurial success. Group work is supported by: • Facilitated Group Meetings: Regular supervised group sessions will be led by faculty to guide teams through project challenges, address team dynamics, and ensure progress toward key milestones. • Peer Feedback and Critique: Teams will present their work-in-progress to peers in structured feedback sessions, promoting collaborative learning and cross-pollination of ideas. Students will develop critical reflection skills by giving and receiving peer feedback. • Group Contract: At the beginning of the module, each team will create a group contract outlining roles, responsibilities, and timelines, ensuring accountability and shared ownership of the project. Self-directed learning is integral to PBL. Students will be expected to independently research, test, and develop their project solutions, supported by the following: • Prototyping and Testing: Teams will be given time to develop MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) or prototypes, applying independent research, testing assumptions, and refining their ideas based on user feedback. • Resource-Based Learning: Students will have access to a range of resources, including case studies, journal articles, industry reports, and digital tools, via the Learning Mall (LMO) platform to support their projects. • Reflective Practice: Throughout the module, students will maintain a reflective journal documenting key insights, challenges, and personal learning from their project experiences. This will inform their final reflective report.