Innovation (5 ECTS)

Location and time

Duration 1.6.-31.7.2026.

Materials

See course website for more details about materials.

Employer connections

This course does not include work placements.

Exam schedules

It is possible to attempt exams three times during their validity period. Three attempts correspond to one actual attempt and two retakes, meaning retake opportunities are included in the course. There is no need to inform the guiding lecturer separately about the utilization of retake opportunities.

Completion alternatives

There are no alternative delivery methods for this course.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment comprises two written exercises and an exam.Your final grade will be the average of your results for each of these assessments.You will also complete an Innovation Search task and participate in group discussions, but these do not count towards your final grade.

Student workload

This course represents about 130 hours' coursework.

Content scheduling

See course website for more details.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Satisfactory (1) The student displays a poor understanding of futures and foresight concepts. The student struggles to apply futures thinking within their professional field; the student may fail to produce solutions or may fail to demonstrate innovativeness in the solutions they propose. The student's understanding of the innovation process is limited and their ability to foster creativity at the individual or team level or in a work environment is lacking. There are significant issues in fulfilling assessment requirements. Satisfactory (2) The student displays an incomplete understanding of futures and foresight concepts. The student is able to apply futures thinking to some degree to their professional field, but demonstrates little or no creativity in developing solutions and solutions may lack innovativeness. The student has a basic understanding of the innovation process and shows some ability to foster creativity at the individual or team level or in a work environment. There are clear issues in fulfilling assessment requirements.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Good (3) The student demonstrates a reasonably good understanding of futures and foresight concepts. The student is relatively skilled at applying futures thinking to their own professional field and can supply creative, if not innovative, solutions to professional challenges. The student has a fairly good understanding of the innovation process and has the basic skills to foster creativity at the individual and team level and in a work environment. The student fulfils assessment requirements with some errors or omissions. Good (4) The student demonstrates a good understanding of futures and foresight concepts. The student can apply futures thinking to their own field and produce creative and innovative solutions to professional challenges. The student demonstrates a good understanding of the innovation process and is well-equipped to foster creativity at the individual and team level and in a work environment. The student meets all assessment requirements.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5) The student displays an excellent command of futures and foresight concepts. The student is skilled at applying futures thinking to their own professional field and produces genuinely creative and innovative solutions to professional challenges. The student has an in-depth understanding of the innovation process and an excellent capacity to foster creativity at the individual and team level and in a work environment. The student fully meets all assessment requirements.

Teaching methods

There are no webinars in this course.

Further information

All students whose curriculum includes this course are eligible to enroll, regardless of whether their cohort is specifically listed with a code for this course. Teacher: Minna Hautio In this course, you will learn what it means to forecast the future and how to do it. We will also explore what innovation - and innovating - means in practice, and how to foster innovation in your professional life. You will gain the basic knowledge and skills you need to navigate the innovation process. You will also learn the basics of futures studies and foresight. Come and explore what innovation means for you, develop your own ability to innovate and gain important professional skills. No specific entry requirements.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Execution methods

The assignments for the online implementation (pictorial and written assignments and two exams) are divided into small units, the return dates of which are spread over the entire length of the course. The online implementation includes five webinars. The assignments for the online implementation and the independent implementation are very similar. The difference is that the assignments for the online implementation are scheduled differently as there is only one deadline for the independent implementation at the end of the course. In the independent implementation, the exams are replaced by an essay. Completing the course through an internship or accreditation must be agreed upon in advance. More detailed instructions on this can be found on the course's Hoodle page.

Accomplishment methods

The course can be completed in several different ways: by participating in the basic online implementation or alternatively in the independent implementation, as an internship for a Humak project, or through accreditation of work experience. RPL is also an option if the conditions are met. For OUAS students, only basic online implementation and independent implementation are possible.