On January 27-31, 2020, within the framework of the Creative Spark Higher Education Enterprise Programme funded by British Council, Dr. Jeyhun Mammadov, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, Ms. Khatira Huseynaliyeva, Coordinator of the Design Department, Mr. Abdulla Isayev, instructor of Entrepreneurship at Khazar University, Mr. Telman Asgarov, student of the School of Economics and Management, and Ms. Aydan Jamalzade, student of the Design Department paid a visit to Middlesex University in England. During the visit, the staff representatives of Khazar University engaged in fruitful discussions and carried out exchange of ideas on curriculum development in the field of Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the students had intensive training on entrepreneurship delivered by professors of Middlesex University.

The first day of the visit was dedicated to trainings on entrepreneurial mindset, the psychology of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. Meanwhile, representatives of Khazar University were introduced to the information lab of the Data School and placements model of InfoLab at Middlesex University. Furthermore, the students participated in activities and events, organized by the Student Engagement team of the University, covering a range of subjects such as sustainability, wellbeing, research, diversity, and inclusion.

The second day of the visit was dedicated to designing creative art programs, and discussing aspects of program validation, credit transfer, and grade conversion, and discussing the relationship between research (analysis) and design and creativity (synthesis) using examples from interaction design. Moreover, the students participated in a business planning lecture, got acquainted with the business ideas of students of Middlesex University and were involved in group discussions.

During the following days, the syllabus of a new course on “Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship” to be taught within the project in Spring semester 2020 was developed and a strategy for the development of curriculum change in the area of design and arts was outlined. This course will enable students from Design and Arts to develop their entrepreneurial skills, come up with original ideas and produce compelling projects/business plans that can be entered into global Big Idea Challenge video pitch competition, which is a key part of the Creative Spark Higher Education Enterprise Programme of the British Council. Selection and evaluation of potential business plans for the Big Idea Challenge will be conducted in April and May 2020 and the call will be open for students and alumni from different majors.

On the last day of the visit programme, Khazar University representatives also visited the Department of Research, Enterprise and Innovation of London South Bank University and met with its leadership. Broad information was presented on the activities of the Department and its Business Solutions Centre. The representatives of Khazar University and London South Bank University expressed their interest in starting successful cooperation.