Innovation

Overview

Overview

This course aims to develop the next generation of innovators. It integrates our 'GRIT' concepts: global, responsible, innovative, technology – skills that the World Economic Forum has identified as non‑negotiable for the 21st century.

During your studies you'll learn how to innovate ethically, engage globally, and use technology decisively to deliver solutions with positive social and industry impacts.

You’ll study our business core and gain a strong foundation in business. You'll then build on this with our suite of innovation fundamentals units. In your second and third years, you will apply your business knowledge, creative-thinking skills and innovation strategies to a specific business major of your choice, or pursue a multidisciplinary skillset by studying two specialisations from areas such as business, arts, design, science and Indigenous studies.

Throughout the course, you’ll have opportunities to build your expertise through four transformative experiences. These immersive, real-world experiences will challenge you to solve local, regional and global problems using your innovation skill sets.

You'll also have the opportunity to join the Curtin Ignition and Curtin Accelerate entrepreneurship programs, and access executive education masterclasses to help you set up your own enterprise.

This course supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and advocates for the stewardship of First Nations Peoples. You’ll enhance your understanding of diverse cultural perspectives and effective communication across local, regional and global contexts.

What you'll study

Business core

With these business core units you'll gain a solid foundation in business theory and practice:

• Communication Culture and Indigenous Perspectives in Business
• Strategic Career Design
• Markets and Legal Frameworks
• Financial Decision Making
• Analytics for Decision Making.

Innovation fundamentals

These units are our suite of innovation fundamentals:

Introduction to Innovation Principles: You will learn about innovation principles, types, contexts and approaches, and about the development of innovation and technological capabilities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. You’ll also use your innovation skillsets to solve a real-world problem faced by a local organisation.

Design Principles and Processes: This unit focuses on design principles and process and how to research, ideate and develop a design to a professional standard.

Design Computing OR Introduction to Business Programming

• Design Computing: You’ll learn about industry-standard design technologies and software and complete practical design exercises and projects and exercises.
• Introduction to Business Programming: This unit focuses on contemporary programming language, computing environments and system software that will enable you to solve business problems.

Responsible Innovation and Leadership: In this unit you’ll explore the benefits of a global, responsible, innovative and technology (GRIT) mindset. You’ll also develop a responsible leader’s approach to innovative solutions that consider the needs of all stakeholders while aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Project Management: You’ll learn about the management of information and tasks that ensure successful project delivery, including project scope and the management of time, cost, quality, risk, human resources, communication and procurement.

Entrepreneurship OR International Management

• Entrepreneurship: This unit focuses on research, theory and practice of entrepreneurship so that you gain an understanding of the characteristics and challenges of entrepreneurship and growing a new business.
• International Management: You’ll learn about international management theory and practice, and study the challenges and adaptation required in cross-cultural or cross-national managerial interfaces.

Management of Innovation: This unit explores how innovation drives the creation of competitive advantage, and how a firm’s innovation strategy emerges from its competencies and capabilities.

Transformative experiences

Throughout the course you'll complete four transformative experience units.²

1. Sustainable Business Innovation Project: You’ll work on an industry-connected business innovation project related to sustainable development and social impact. Working collaboratively with a team, you’ll seek solutions that benefit the environment, society and the economy.

2. Business Innovation Lab: You will use your initiative, creativity and adaptability as you work on an applied business project within a start-up environment. As part of an interdisciplinary team, you’ll solve a problem or advance an innovation while demonstrating your managerial judgement, professional communications and commitment to responsible business practice.

3. Business and Law International Experience (optional): ORBusiness Clinic OR Business Internship OR Business Study Tour/International Business Project

• Business and Law International Experience: We’re a global university with campuses and connections around the world – why not make the most of it! Through this capstone experience, you can progress your studies while travelling by studying a short course with one of our global exchange partners. You’ll immerse yourself in a different culture, expand your knowledge, make lifelong memories and build your global perspective.
• Business Clinic: This is your chance to become a real-world business consultant, working directly with individuals, small organisations and startups to solve challenges and optimise for opportunities. Through hands-on experience in the clinic, you will develop your understanding of key business concepts, problem-solving techniques and ethical decision-making. You’ll gain valuable insights into the modern business world and the confidence to navigate its complexities once you graduate.
• Business Internship: You’ve understood the theory, read the academic papers and pored through the textbooks – now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned to real business situations through a professional internship. Guided by an academic advisor and an industry professional, you’ll be immersed in the day-to-day operations of your host organisation. This capstone experience is a chance to develop your business skills, enhance your career readiness, build your professional network and nurture your personal and professional growth.
• Business Study Tour or International Business Project: Ready for an adventure? Through this capstone experience, you’ll apply what you’ve learnt in real-world settings around the globe. Through site visits, guest lectures and team projects, you'll connect with industry leaders, gain fresh perspectives and tackle real business challenges – all with the guidance of our academic staff. Local or international, every tour blends cultural activities with practical learning – developing your leadership, problem-solving and global industry knowledge.

4. Regional Study Tour: Visit regions, countries and organisations in Australia or overseas to apply your innovation skill-sets to solve a regional problem and experience diverse ways of doing business.²

² Opportunities may vary depending on academic performance and international travel restrictions.

Customise your course

You can customise your degree through two options:

Option 1: Complete a Business major

Select one of the following Business majors that match your career aspirations:

• Business Information Systems
• Business Law¹
• Economics
• Finance¹
• Human Resource Management
• International Business
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Management¹
• Marketing¹
• Property Investment and Development
• Tourism and Hospitality

¹ Available to study online.

Option 2: Complete two specialisations

You can select two Business specialistions (four units each), as well as relevant specialisations from discipline areas in humanities, science and the Centre for Aboriginal Studies.

The Business specialisations available are:

• Accounting for Business Decisions
• Advertising Management
• Business Law and Policy
• Business Project Management
• Corporate Governance
• Event Management
• Fashion Marketing
• Information Systems in Business
• International Management
• Marketing Foundations
• Property Investment
• Public Relations
• Small Business Start-up
• Social Leadership and Ethics
• Social Media and Digital Marketing
• Supply Chain and Marketing Distribution
• Taxation Law
• Tourism and Hospitality Essentials
• User Experience for Business Optimisation

Being able to choose from more than 60 specialisations available gives you the flexibility to create a combination that suits your interests and your career aspirations. For example, you could match:

• Small Business Start up with Marketing for a career in marketing consultancy
• Graphic Design with Digital Experience Communication for a career in UX design
• International Business with Fine Art for a career as an art curator
• Business Information Systems with Mining for a career as a resource sector systems analyst
• Urban Design and Planning with Climate Change Science for a career in sustainable urban design.

See the full list of specialisations.

Double degrees

Combine your Bachelor of Innovation with a degree in another field and increase your career options. You can study the following double degrees:

• Innovation and Arts
• Innovation and Engineering
• Innovation and Health Sciences
• Innovation and Law
• Innovation and Nutrition
• Innovation and Science.

What you'll learn

• apply multidisciplinary knowledge to solve complex local, regional and global business and societal challenges using creative and innovative thinking
• use information and technology decisively to critically analyse business and societal challenges and arrive at innovative yet responsible and impactful decisions
• communicate professionally in ways that are appropriate for local, regional and global contexts
• influence inclusively by appreciating the importance of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and advocate for indigenous and first nations‐based stewardship
• demonstrate industry readiness by developing future-focussed capabilities including a global, responsible, innovative and technology (GRIT) mindset