Social Innov. for Global Dev

1.5 Credits · Level: Graduate

The only constant in life is change. While every field and discipline requires an open and adaptive mindset and approach to respond to change, the challenges development practitioners face are interconnected and complex. Responding to these challenges requires innovative strategies, products, designs, and solutions that are sustainable and scalable. As the gateway course to the social innovation and global development (SIGD) certificate, this course explores the history, drivers, trends, and pathways to innovation; the processes and methodologies that drive innovation; and the conditions, challenges, and opportunities associated with scaling innovation. Through this course, students will:  Define social innovation and review the historical drivers and evolution of innovation in development practice:  Identify the pathways through which social innovation can take place (i.e., within government, the for-profit sector, the non-profit sector, and the spaces in between such as social enterprises);  Discover how to choose the right innovation method for the development challenge that needs solving;  Review innovative design approaches, including innovation mapping, systems innovation, human-centered design, design sprints, lean startup, and open innovation;  Put into practice an innovation design methodology during a mini-design practicum;  Explore the role of evidence, data, and insights confirming innovation fit and utility;  Understand pathways to scaling innovation (i.e., via organic growth, multi-stakeholder partnerships, government, licensing, open-source/licensing, and acquisition); and  Explore the policy, financial, and implementation challenges and barriers that can prevent sustainable innovation growth.