Frugal Innovation for Sustainable Global Development (LDE)

Minor code: WM-Mi-191

This minor provides for a multidisciplinary learning environment, bringing together students from Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam. In the minor you will critically explore how and under which conditions frugal innovation can contribute to sustainable global transformation processes that serve both people and planet. We provide a unique opportunity to combine theory, practice and societal engagement during challenge-based field assignment abroad or in the Netherlands.

For whom?

Applications are open to final year Bachelor's students from Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam, who are interested in this emerging field of study, regardless of study and disciplinary background. This minor especially targets students who want to link their study with tackling concrete societal challenges. 

In general, students who are up for a multidisciplinary challenge and see the mutual benefit of integrating social, entrepreneurial and technological knowledge and skills are encouraged to apply. We are looking for a diversity of interests and backgrounds, to ensure active cross-disciplinary interaction.

What will you learn?

In this minor you will critically explore and investigate frugal innovation discourses and its ascribed potentials. You will not only discover the various narratives on frugal innovation, you will also apply your knowledge in practice through a field assignment during which you will work with a multidisciplinary team on a real life frugal innovation challenge. This assignment allows you to combine (part of) your own study background with the knowledge and skills you acquired during the first part of the minor. Underpinning both the theoretical and practical parts of the minor is a Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) lens. This involves an exploration into the intersectionality between academia, practice, and the various contexts involved. Similarly, the minor will equip you with further skills for the world after university in terms of navigating uncertainty, the art of asking and questioning, negotiating, building trust, and interviewing. It will also help nurture team working capacities, for transformative change is the sum of the efforts of individuals working and leveraging within collectives. 

Course overview

In the minor you will critically explore the widely acclaimed potential of frugal innovation to contribute to processes of local and global sustainable transformation that could benefit people and planet. You will study frugal innovation through various lenses, such as development, technology and entrepreneurship, which will familiarise you with the current academic and policy debates on frugal innovation.

Register for this minor

The minor has a layered admission procedure. A maximum of 40 students (equally distributed among the three LDE universities) will be admitted, and to allow for disciplinary diversity an equal distribution among disciplines will be aimed for.

Further information regarding the structure and application process for this minor can be found in Leiden e-prospectus and the Leiden Minor site.

Don’t forget to Complete the Background and Commitment Form and submit your CV to minorfrugalinnovation@asc.leidenuniv.nl.

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