Every semester, the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking at UCT, also called the d-school, runs its flagship Foundation Programme in Design Thinking.
Our 12-week programme is tailored for under-graduate or post-graduate students registered at institutions of higher learning in South Africa. The only limitation is that applicants must be aged 19 to 35.
Successful applicants are usually from a range of fields and form diverse teams to solve real world challenges. Together, they come up with proposals to challenges that d-school project partners are facing. This has previously included coming up with innovative ways to save water; get men and boys involved in countering gender-based violence; and creating meaningful interactions that encourage transformation in the workplace.
This 12-week programme is an exciting and even life-changing adventure!
Participants meet twice a week at the d-school’s creative studio at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business at the V&A Waterfront. Participants are expected to attend every session as the vigorous journey through Design Thinking tools and principles is not only demanding but also deeply rewarding.
Team members learn so much from each other. They spend time doing interviews with people who could benefit from the solution they are working on. And they meet project partners who introduce them to more than just an academic exercise.
You see, the d-school’s Foundation Programme in Design Thinking is very practical in its approach. It enhances participant’s skills such as building empathy, creative confidence and team-work.
Participants will be exposed to the following skills:
• Critical thinking and human-centered innovation
• Abductive reasoning for creative problem-solving skills
• Collaboration in diverse and multidisciplinary teams
• Empathetic approach to problem solving
• Build creative confidence
• Social and cross-cultural skills
BENEFITS TO THE PARTICIPANT
Intellectual Capital:
Peer-to-Peer Learning
Action-based Learning: learn by doing
Social Capital:
Build new networks
Benefit from diverse and multidisciplinary teams
Certificate:
Program certificate of completion from UCT HPI d-school
UCT Plus credits added to the UCT transcript (for UCT students only)