World’s first Masters in Disability, Design and Innovation to shape industry’s future designers & innovations
With the world of disability and mobility gaining more attention in wider society and with an increasingly ageing global population, the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) has launched a ground-breaking Masters course aiming to accelerate disability innovation.
Starting in September 2019 and awarded by UCL, a top 10 world university, the new MSc in Disability, Design and Innovation will cover topics including Accessibility & Assistive Technology, Research Methods and Making Skills, Marketing and Business, Future Global Technologies for Disability and Development, Design Thinking, Inclusive Design and Environments, as well as Applied Business and Marketing Strategy for Disability Developments.
Dr Catherine Holloway, Academic Director of the GDI Hub, commented: “The global potential for disability innovation is huge. New technologies provide opportunities for scalability and access, but to accelerate this movement we need a new generation of pioneers.
“The Disability, Design and Innovation Masters is the world’s first course in this rapidly growing area of expertise. Students will be taught in a uniquely multidisciplinary environment, learning from global experts, live research projects and high-profile global collaborations.”
Delivered across three renowned institutions – UCL, Loughborough University London and the London College of Fashion – the multidisciplinary course will be taught by renowned experts in disability, design and technology, and will harness academic excellence, innovative practice and co-creation to tackle global challenges from a new perspective.
“We’re looking for exceptional students with the drive and determination to push the boundaries of this new area of study,” added Dr Holloway.
Open to students that have a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons) in Engineering, Social Sciences or a related subject or five years’ experience working in international development, design or assistive technology, graduating students will leave with the skills to be the next generation of disability innovators notes the GDI Hub.
Students joining the MSc programme will study within a live delivery environment, alongside flagship disability innovation projects including AT2030, a £10million global programme led by the GDI Hub to reach over three million people globally with new assistive technology products and solutions.
In addition, three Snowdon Trust scholarships are available for UK-based disabled students; one scholarship will fund tuition and a bursary, two will fund tuition only.
A further scholarship is available to US-based students via The UCL Friends & Alumni Association, a non-profit organisation connecting talented American students with the opportunities offered at UCL.
Both the GDI Hub and Snowdon Trust are also strongly encouraging high achieving disabled students to apply.
According to the GDI Hub, career options for students graduating from the MSc include inclusive design and innovation, global policy and research, disability rights, international development, accessibility and assistive technologies, start-up and entrepreneurship.