The University of Leeds Innovation in Practice team brings together academic and industry expertise from diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds to create transformative learning experiences. Through experiential, team-based learning, the team enables students to tackle real-world innovation challenges while developing the confidence, capabilities and professional skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
The core team comprises Tony Morgan (Associate Professor in Innovation Management Practice), Dr Lena Jaspersen (Lecturer in Innovation and Qualitative Research Methods), Dr Sanaz Sigaroudi (Director of Assessment and Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation), John Palfreyman (Associate Professor in Digital Strategy), Dr Deirdre Coveney (Lecturer) and Ian Smith (Founder of innovation and technology consultancy Craftscale and longstanding industry partner).
Since 2017, Innovation in Practice has grown from a single interdisciplinary undergraduate module engaging 60 students and five industry partners into a connected portfolio of undergraduate, MSc and MBA provision engaging more than 400 students annually, supported by over 30 external innovation challenge partners and industry experts.
Across the portfolio, students work in diverse teams on live innovation projects co-created with organisations from the private, public and third sectors. Through design thinking, innovation methods, industry engagement and structured reflection, students develop capabilities in creativity, collaboration, communication, commercial awareness, resilience and managing change.
The team is recognised for its collaborative approach to teaching, which combines team-teaching, reflective practice and long-term partnerships with academic colleagues and industry. The team’s distinctive Learning in Tandem framework captures how educators and students learn together through relationships, reflection and resilience, creating a shared learning journey that supports both personal and professional development while fostering inclusive, high-impact learning environments.
The team’s impact extends well beyond its own teaching. Across the University of Leeds, they have influenced practice in experiential learning, inclusive group work, design thinking and reflective learning through sharing practice directly with colleagues, staff development, communities of practice, pedagogic research and curriculum innovation. Nationally and internationally, the team has shared its work through publications, collaborations, conference presentations and the textbook Design Thinking for Student Projects, enabling other educators to adopt and adapt collaborative approaches to learning.
Advance HE recognises there are different views and approaches to teaching and learning, as such we encourage sharing of practice, without advocating or prescribing specific approaches. NTF and CATE awards recognise teaching excellence in a particular context. The profiles featured are self-submitted by award winners.
