INTRO:  
Step into the future with Innovation Management & Creative Leadership. In this minor, you’ll master the entire innovation process from start to finish by tackling real-world innovation challenges. You will develop essential skills that will serve you throughout your entire professional career: creative thinking, problem-solving, being a driving force behind innovation, and excelling as a team player with strong leadership qualities. 

The minor Innovation Management & Creative Leadership is... 

• A hands-on program 

• Mastering the art of innovation 

• Learning how to lead the process of developing creative solutions 

• Working from the get-go on real-world projects for leading national and international companies, for example Ikea, Rabobank or Nestlé 

• Being a part of shaping a sustainable future

 

The world is evolving at lightning speed. Competition is fierce, and product life cycles grow shorter by the day. To stay ahead, organizations are seeking tomorrow’s trailblazers—visionary professionals who combine creativity and innovation with the courage to forge new paths. 

When is this the minor program for you 

If you're looking for the sweet spot between economics and creativity, you've found it! In this minor, you’ll learn to think differently, and we’ll provide you with all the tools you need to put this mindset into practice and truly make a difference. 

If you’re eager to learn by doing, join the forward-thinking minor Innovation Management & Creative Leadership. You’ll work in project teams to tackle real challenges for leading companies. With this hands-on approach, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit you throughout your entire professional career. 

Read more about the minor in our magazine.

Master the art of innovation 

• Take charge of the creative journey to develop groundbreaking products, services, or concepts. 

• Transform ideas into action: prototype, test, refine, and build for real-world impact. 

• Drive entrepreneurial success while contributing to a more sustainable world. 

Program structure 

This minor is led by industry experts with years of experience in the business world. They have designed the program to ensure you can apply all the knowledge, tools, and methods directly in practice. Throughout the minor, you will engage in both individual and group assignments, navigating all stages of the innovation process—problem finding, ideation, concepting, and implementation. 

The minor is structured around two key areas: innovation management and creative leadership. These are closely intertwined to master the innovation process. Within these two areas, you will participate in a variety of courses: 

Innovation management       Creative leadership 

Trendwatching                          Creative thinking

Innovation research                  Brainstorming 

Innovation theories                   Concept testing

Business models                       Prototyping 

Change management                Facilitation 

Project management                Leadership 

Throughout the minor, you will work on two projects focused on real innovation challenges for actual clients. In teams of 4-6 international students, you will collaborate closely with both the client and lecturers to develop practical, impactful solutions. You’ll experience firsthand how to transform an idea into a fully developed concept and successfully launch it. This immersive and practical approach equips you with the skills to thrive in real-world innovation challenges. 

Learning outcome of the minor program  

After completing this minor, you can proudly call yourself a Business Innovator and have developed into a creative and innovative professional. As a Business Innovator, you understand how to manage the innovation cycle and can successfully apply research methods, creative techniques, and innovation tools. You possess the skills and knowledge to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team. You’ve learned to adopt an open attitude and have cultivated a creative mindset. 

There are no specific entry requirements. However, it’s important to consider: is the Innovation Management & Creative Leadership minor the right choice for me? 

• Are you curious and open to new ideas, people, technology and cultures?   

• Do you want to master the process of developing and implementing   
  new products, services, ideas or systems?  

• Are you eager to work on real-life challenges for actual clients in an interactive, creative, and hands-on environment? 

• Do you wish to explore and enhance your creative leadership skills to discover the ideal balance between creativity, practicality, and business value—what we call the "Innovation Sweet Spot"? 

Can you answer these questions with a wholehearted ‘yes’? Then this minor is made for you! 

Read 

Ten Types of Innovation – the discipline of building breakthroughs. Keeley, Larry ISBN 9781118504246 

Zig zag – the surprising path to greater creativity, Sawyer, Keith ISBN/EAN 9781118297704 

Assessment 

In addition to actively participating in workshops you will have an assessment midway through the minor by a panel of two teachers. At the end of the minor, during the final assessment, you will present and discuss your growth and development as a Business Innovator. Based on your activities throughout the course, the teaching staff will make a well-informed decision. If you demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes, you will be awarded 30 ECTS.

Important: 

Level 

Bachelor's level 

Start of programme 

End of August 

Credits 

30 ECTS 

Duration 

20 weeks, 1 semester / 30 ECTS credits  

Number of participants  

A minimum of 20 students   

Tuition fees 

• Exchange students 
  As an exchange student, you will continue to pay tuition fees to your home institution. This means you do not have to pay tuition fees to Avans. 

• Other students  
  If your university is not a partner of Avans University of Applied Sciences, you can join us as a full-fee paying student. For more details, please contact the Avans International Office on +31 88 - 525 80 01 or at internationaloffice@avans.nl. 

Location 

EKP, Parallelweg 23, Den Bosch (The Netherlands)

Contact

minoren.binno.denbosch@avans.nl