06260290 - iaelyon Global Talks (Séminaire international)

Course Objective:
Enable students to collaboratively design and pitch an inclusive service or product addressing challenges related to disability and social inclusion, inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The aim of this course is to:

1. Promote international and cross-cultural learning:
   The event is designed to immerse students and executive participants in a global environment, fostering an international and cross-cultural approach to management education. This is achieved through seminar a led by international or international-minded local and visiting professors and experts from different backgrounds, as well as interactive learning in small classes and a group project.
    
2. Encouraging Intercultural Exchange:
   Global Talks brings together students and faculty from diverse backgrounds to share ideas, experiences, and best practices, enriching the academic and professional community.
    
3. Providing Specialized and Capstone Management Education:
   Global Talks focus on in-depth and capstone subjects (here inclusion) putting into practice elements of the Design Thinking approach.

The goal is that participants get a hands-on-approach on what international exposure and intercultural learning and working together for an ethical project and aim could / should look like. 

This course will help students to train their analytical skills and strategic skills and competencies, practice intercultural group work and leadership and gain to some degree insights into Sustainable development goals and Design thinking.


CSR DIMENSION 
Inclusion is a central principal underpinning the SDGs, with goals 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 16 being most explicitly linked to inclusion. The overarching aim is to “leave on one behind”, ensuring that all people, regardless of background or circumstances, are included in development progress. 

The participants are encouraged to act and consult in accordance with the ethical standards and norms defined by the iaelyon (Charte de Responsabilité Sociétale et des engagements des membres de la communauté de l'iaelyon)
 

Targeted Knowledge

• Understanding Design Thinking: Students learn the core principles and stages of design thinking—empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test—and how these apply to real-world problems.
• SDG and Inclusion Awareness: Participants gain awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to inclusion, disability, and social equity.
• Contextual Problem Analysis: Students explore the challenges faced by potentially excluded groups, using empathy and observation to deeply understand user needs.
• Innovation and Creativity: The module fosters creative thinking and the ability to generate novel solutions to complex social issues.
   

Targeted Skills

• Empathy and User-Centered Design: Students practice empathy by engaging with personas or real users, and learn to focus solutions on human needs.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Working in small, diverse groups, students develop communication, leadership, and cooperative skills essential for multidisciplinary teamwork
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: The process encourages analytical thinking, problem definition, and iterative solution development
• Prototyping and Testing: Students gain hands-on experience in creating and refining prototypes, as well as gathering and incorporating feedback
• Presentation and Pitching: Participants learn how to effectively communicate their ideas, present solutions, and respond to feedback during pitches
• Reflection and Self-Evaluation: The module includes structured reflection on the learning process, helping students assess their growth and the impact of their solutions.

This module equips students with both the mindset and practical skills needed for inclusive innovation and collaborative problem-solving.
 

Design thinking tool box

United Nations: The 17 SDGs

In class examination

• In group
• Length: presentation / pitch + preparation of the presentation 
• Nature of student work: Presentation of the product or service invented and designed by the different groups

TARGET GROUP

3rd-year bachelor students (approx. 500 participants, Beginning and wrap-up as a whole group, 12H working in subgroups)

 

TEACHING METHODS

Keynote speaker, introduction to design thinking principles, introduction to SDGs, group work and final pitch

TEACHING MATERIAL: 
PPT, videos, individual reflection, group discussions, team presentation,…

 

PRE-REQUISITE

• Good analytical thinking skills
• Interest in solving complex and sustainable real-life and business problems
• Open mindedness and curiosity
• Self-awareness and self-organization – Open to feedback
• Ability to work in international / intercultural teams

RESOURCES AVAILABLE: 
Numerous books, articles, ressources are available in the library of the University and on the digital library. 
Databases like eg. Factiva and Xerfi (eg. Market studies) could / should be used activily by the students