Flinders University’s high-ranking New Venture Institute is ready to upskill a new cohort of innovation-minded change-makers through its Professional Certificate in Innovation for Transformation, following a successful inaugural course earlier in 2018.
Innovation for Transformation was designed to fast-track personal change by embedding innovation tools, techniques and take-home learning into existing challenges faced by participants.
This real-world approach saw huge changes for the first intake of participants, both personally and professionally, through the creation of programs and products that brought substantial efficiencies and improved their relationships with clients and end-users.
A team from the City of Marion participated in the first course, which commenced in April this year. As they progressed through the certificate, their vision for ‘Park 4 Purpose’ emerged – a paid parking solution for Tonsley which redistributes revenue raised into organisations of the payee’s choosing. The value of this unique solution was projected to be around $3.6 million each year.
Course participant, Cassandra Gannon, City of Marion Performance and Innovation Leader, said “We know we need to implement paid parking at Tonsley, so why not implement it so we can give our patrons transparency about where the profits go?
“Imagine if every council in South Australia did one thing that made a difference like this in their community.”
She believes the approach to innovation learnt over the six-week course is transferable to all community organisations.
“My key change is that now I’m thinking about human-centred design,” Ms Gannon said.
All of the NVI’s postgraduate and professional courses are designed to fast-track personal change – whether targeted at Flinders students, staff or the broader community.
Through a series of full-day intensives including interactive workshops, in-class activities and real-world challenges, this newest certificate immerses its participants in:
- creative thinking and problem solving
- contemporary innovation principles and processes
- dynamics of disruptive markets
- value proposition development
- business model innovation
- characteristics of disruptive and creative organisational cultures and ecosystems
The second intake will commence on Friday 14 September 2018, with several places remaining. Cost for members of the public, including Flinders staff, is $8,995 with scholarships of $2,000 available.
Find out more on the Flinders’ New Venture Institute website.