Interdisciplinary projects

Subject description

The course is co-taught by the Faculty of Computer and Information Science (50%) and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (50%) and the cooperation of other faculties – interdisciplinarity. Lecturers from Faculty of Electrical Engineering are Andrej Kos and Matevž Pogačnik.

Interdisciplinary Projects is the course where interdisciplinary students solve real industry and community challenges in teams under the mentorship consist of teachers and experts from various bacgrounds. The principle of solving complex problems is based on the three main concepts, problem analytics using Design Thinking principle, solution discovery using Lean Methodology and project team work using Agile Development techniques. Multidisciplinary teams of 3 to 5 students will meet with mentors weekly and should develop the Proof of Concept or even Minimum Viable Product in one semester. The course goal is that the students learn how to analyze the problem, understand the customer’s needs and find the best solution for the problem. The course ends with the public presentation of the results and launch of the project web.

Project topics can be submited by the companies, municipalities, public or private organisations, or research institutions. The topics can be also sumbited by the students themselfs.

Each topic has a mentor and assistants. These can come from any faculty of University of Ljubljana. Mentor is a person who helps and at the end of an assessment proposes the assessment of the work done. Final product as well as the work and the progress done during the process are assessed in addition to the project’s web site and the final public presentation of the project results.

Project work stages:

1. formation of student groups,

2. detailed comprehension of the project problem,

3. consultations with the supervisor from the company or institution and the faculty,

4. developmental and creative team work on solving the problem,

5. presentation of interim basic solutions to the faculty and the company or institution,

6. the actual realization of the solution to the problem (product prototype, Proof of Concept),

7. project web site,

8. final presentation of the project problem solution.

The rating is made up of the following parts:

implementation of the project (regular meetings with the mentor),
the complexity of the project,
project results,
presentation and
project web site.

The subject is taught in programs

Objectives and competences

The objective of the course is to train students to work creatively in multidisciplinary teams to solve complex project problems.

The competences students will gain are practical application of different already acquired specific professional competencies and their complementary application within group work with the use of the state of the art methodologies (Design Thinking, Lean Methodology, Agile Development).

Teaching and learning methods

Students get a basic knowledge of digitalization, projekct management, solution design, opportunities identification, intellectual property, teamwork, innovation and types of innovation, methodology for co-creation, design-thinking, presentation.

Expected study results

After successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

explain work dynamics in multidisciplinary teams and principles of project work,
use the acquired knowledge for solving the project problems effectively,
use the new methodologies for solving the project problems effectively and work in R&D teams,
use the acquired knowledge for communication within interdisciplinary team,
use the knowledge for solving the project problems within interdisciplinary team,
prepare public presentations of ideas and proposed solutions,
present the project results on the public web site,
evaluate the potential of an idea or a solution.

Basic sources and literature

1. K. Ulrich, S. Eppinger, Product Design and Development, McGraw-Hill, 2011

2. S. Berkun, Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management, O'Reilly Media, Revised edition, 2008

3. E. Ries, The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses, Viking, 2011

4. C. Heath, D. Heath, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, Random House, 2007

5. O. Klaff, Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal, McGraw-Hill, 2011

6. J. Liedtka, T. Ogilvie, The Designing for Growth: Field Book: A Step-by-step Project Guide , 2013