SO WHAT MAKES THE TECH FUTURES’ MASTER’S STAND OUT FROM OTHER POST- GRADUATE DEGREES?

You can’t foster innovation by doing things the same old way, so our Master’s really breaks the mould. We take a very experiential approach. For example, you don’t learn about design thinking or agile methodologies as concepts, you learn about them by using them. That applied, practical quality is also clear in the way our Master’s is assessed. There are no obvious papers or courses, no thesis or exam. Instead you develop a project – it could be a new business or a new way of doing something in an existing business or a corporation – and that is what is assessed. Projects have a life beyond the Master’s programme – it’s a launch pad. It’s not like you finish and then have to think “Right, what now?”

Another difference is the high level of industry involvement. At Tech Futures Lab, you’ll get three or four external speakers a week during the first few months. These are innovators and entrepreneurs from leading-edge organisations who are willing to be really open about their experience and generous with their expertise. They’re also supportive of our candidates beyond the programme. Doing our Master’s builds an incredible professional network.

It is also very collaborative. You’re not isolated, working away with occasional help from a supervisor. Our candidates develop their projects with each other’s input, which brings the strength of diversity into play. We keep our cohorts small - never more than 30 - to foster this interaction.