Experts from across education and business will examine how Universities can help produce graduates ready to employ cutting-edge design thinking at a special online event.

Lancaster University’s Dr Radka Newton will lead the EEUK Enterprise Exchange Design and Enterprise: The marriage made in…event, addressing a key issue for both businesses and business schools in an increasingly uncertain world.

The workshop is open to students, academic & professional services staff, and organisers hope a diverse audience will provide comprehensive insights in creating potential solutions.

“Design means finding creative ways to solve wicked problems, and that is what we are looking to do here as well,” said Dr Newton, Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy. “It’s about adopting a more creative and open approach to complex challenges, drawing on values of different disciplines and cultures.”

The interactive online workshop, co-hosted by Lancaster University Management School and Service Design in Education Network on Tuesday, February 23, involves representatives from Innovate UK and the UK Design Council. Both have placed importance on the connections between design and enterprise for business, and the event will examine how the education sector can contribute in producing future employees equipped with essential design skills.

“We need to look at what we are teaching and how we include design in our education system from a young age, so that we are not forever trying to fill the gaps in business, but rather we have a talent pipeline,” added Dr Newton.

“We will be thinking about what this means for us in education, and how we can start creating that pipeline so design and enterprise become important life skills from the very beginning.”

Among those who will make presentations are Sarah Mann, Head of Programmes for the Design Council; Ben Griffin, Innovation Lead, Design, for Innovate UK; Lisa Wardlow, from Young Enterprise Scotland – on the power of teaching enterprise skills from primary school; Dr Newton, along with LUMS student Tobi Ogunpehin, on the challenges of introducing design into education in business schools; and Brian McNicoll, from the University of Dundee, on connections between design and enterprise. Katie Murrie, from Service Design Academy, will act as facilitator.

Dr Newton added: “This is something that affects us all in business education – students, academics, careers advisors, professional services, our business partners – it is something we all need to open our eyes to, and the more perspectives we have, the better.

“We’re hoping this event will help us to come up with some new, creative ideas of how this can be incorporated into education. That will lead to a follow-up even where we can convert the ideas into tangible prototypes that can be applied practically.”

The event, starting at 10am on Tuesday, February 23, is free for EEUK members and associates, including all Lancaster University students and staff. For more information, or to reserve a place, visit: https://www.enterprise.ac.uk/events/design-and-enterprise-the-marriage-made-in/