BMGT 331
Innovation for Societal Issues
Course overview
You'll foster the creative and critical thinking to develop innovative responses to complex societal issues.
The main aims of this course are:
- To understand the fundamental concepts, perspectives and processes of innovation in contemporary society.
- To evaluate and reflect on different pathways to innovative change.
- To apply creative and critical thinking to develop innovative responses to complex societal issues (e.g. socio-economic and environmental).
Innovation for Societal Issues was an awesome course. It’s one that really made you think about real world problems and how creative solutions can make a difference. The documentary making assignments were lots of fun, they allowed me to explore meaningful stories and present them visually, rather than through a traditional essay.
Oscar Wells-Swann
Course information
| Prerequisites and Restrictions | You must satisfy the following requirement(s):
|
|---|---|
| Available semesters | Semester 1 2026 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Domestic fees | $891.00 |
What you will learn
After successfully completing this course, you’ll be able to:
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Use an immersive process to analyse social issues.
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Critique existing solutions to social issues and propose innovative alternatives.
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Analyse various social perspectives.
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Use reflective practice to identify how social immersion impacts your mindset.
Video documentary assessment
A four-part video documentary assessment invites students to step out of the classroom and into real-world social contexts. Each episode captures their immersive journey as they spend a “day in the life” of individuals or communities affected by a social issue they have chosen to explore. Through observation, empathy, and reflection, students document how social problems are experienced and perceived on the ground. The goal is not to plan an innovation from the start, but to discover insights, challenge assumptions, and let understanding emerge organically through lived experience. Over the four episodes, students reveal how their perspectives evolve and how meaningful social innovation begins with human connection and curiosity.
Example of a video documentary from a previous student
Course examiners
Dr Faith Jeremiah
Programme Director and Lecturer
Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce
faith.jeremiah@lincoln.ac.nz