When “Dean Dan” suggested that former deputy minister and dean of the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems Moura Quayle introduce design thinking into Sauder’s business curriculum, her mind started racing. What would be the best way?
To find the answer, three minds were better than one. Denise Withers and Vivian Forssman from Learning and Technology Services were the first recruits to the idea and proved to be the women for the job.
Sharing an interest in curriculum transformation, the trio combined their expertise to strategize an appropriate evolution of Sauder’s curriculum.
Instead of importing solely the concept of design thinking, they decided to import the entire pedagogy. This meant shaking up the traditional lecture hall model and creating a space where innovation would thrive.
But spearheading the change wasn’t easy; it was decided that there were three ideas that could be piloted: a virtual community of practice for design and business, an undergraduate d.studio and an approach to embedding design thinking into the MBA integrated core.
The galvanizing piece of the puzzle came when the team received the TLEF grant in March. This meant Ron Kellett, professor from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) at UBC, could join the team and work with the students alongside Quayle. Merging their skill sets bolstered and energized the course.
The class, well into its second month, has already shown signs of success. One student told Quayle stories of using the design-thinking business canvas twice in other classes.
“It’s one thing to be excited about the studio itself, but the fact that they’re actually gaining skills and attitudes that they can apply to other activities is fabulous,” Quayle said.