Structure of the Minor
The 30 ECTS minor Frugal Innovation for Sustainable Global Development (FI4SGD) provides a multidisciplinary learning environment, bringing together students from Leiden University, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Block I
This Block consists of three thematic modules in which each participating university is responsible for one of the modules, and a Bootcamp which will prepare students for their Frugal Innovation in Practice field assignment.
1. Frugal Innovation for Development // Leiden: Dr. A.H.M. Leliveld (coordination), and invited guest lecturers including Dr. Saradindu Bhaduri, Dr. Elsie Onsongo
2. Frugal Innovation and Technology// Delft: Prof. dr. C.P. van Beers (coordination), Dr.ir. L. Lindeboom, Dr. ir. J.C. Diehl, and invited guest lecturers
3. Frugal Innovation and Entrepreneurship// Erasmus: Prof. dr. P. Knorringa (coordination), Dr. G. Gomes, Dr. G. Schouten, and invited guest lecturers
4. Bootcamp // Leiden/PLNT: Dr. S. Louwaars (coordination), B. Huerta (MSc), and appointed coaches
In terms of learning methods in Block I, readings, tutorials, guest lectures, laboratory work and excursions, combined with practical assignments will be supplemented with online-learning discussions.
Block II
In Block II the Frugal Innovation in Practice field assignment will take place with additional support from the PLNT team and appointed team coaches
1. Frugal Innovation in Practice (field assignment abroad) // Leiden-Delft-Erasmus: Dr. A.H.M. Leliveld (coordination), and academic and provider supervisors
2. Bootcamp // Leiden/PLNT: Dr. S. Louwaars (coordination), B. Huerta (MSc), appointed coaches, provider and academic supervisors
If travel is allowed by the universities students will go abroad in teams of three or four to selected countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America for about 12 weeks to work on frugal innovation projects. If Corona-related restrictions remain in place, the field assignments will be hosted in the Netherlands through providers delivering services abroad.
At publication of this e-prospectus 1 March 2021 the status is still that universities do not allow travel abroad for research, internships or field assignments. It is expected that this will change in the coming months as Covid-19 travel restrictions in the Netherlands and host countries are (further) lifted. Students enrolled for this minor will be kept updated by the minor coordination.
Upon return in January 2022 there will be a ‘come back week’ in which students present the results of their field assignment and reflect on-, and evaluate their experience in the field.
If you are interested in the field assignment projects from the previous year, read more in this e-zine that includes 10 student projects.
Target Group
Applications are open to all third year Bachelor's students from Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam, who are interested in this emerging field of study, regardless of study and disciplinary background. This minor is especially targeted to those who are up for a multidisciplinary challenge and see the mutual benefit of integrating social, entrepreneurial and technological knowledge and skills. It is required that applicants are eager to apply their academic knowledge in service of people, planet and prosperity, during a 12 week field assignment abroad.
Although not exclusive the minor is in particular attractive for students of anthropology, development sociology, area studies, international studies, economics, development studies, law, health, housing, water, business studies, industrial design, civil engineering, life science and technology, and technology and innovation (management) studies, and/or for students who want to link their study to or become engaged in tackling concrete societal challenges.
We are looking for a high diversity of interests and backgrounds, to ensure strong cross-disciplinary teams in the field.
This minor requires full-time study from September 2021 until the last week of January in 2022. Seriously take into account that it is not possible to combine participation in this minor with other studies or retake exams. The minor forms a continuous program with its own exam rhythm and subsequent field assignment, which you cannot break into.
The minor is a selection minor. A maximum of 40 students (ideally equally distributed among the three LDE universities) will be selected and you can enrol following the process described in the Registration tab, as soon as you have been informed of their selection.
Students must be aware that they have to follow and complete the full 30 ECTS when they register for this minor. Students from Erasmus University Rotterdam who can only accommodate a 15 ECTS minor but are interested to follow this minor are strongly advised to contact their studies coordinator to explore the possibilities to follow this 30 ECTS Minor. Our experience is that EUR students who did so could make arrangements to enrol and follow the whole minor, including the field assignment abroad.
Admission requirements
Third year enrolled students from LU, TU Delft and EUR.
Ability to complete the full 30 ECTS minor.
Proficiency in English reading, speaking and writing.
Full-time commitment.
Be aware: this is a selection minor for which you can only apply between 1 and 15 April 2021! Click the tab ‘Registration’ for information on how to register if you have been selected.
Registration and contact
Application
This LDE minor is a selection minor. This means that you can only apply for this minor between 1 and 15 April 2021!
The maximum number of students that can enrol in this minor is 40. Besides the quality of application letters and CVs, we aim to select an equal number of participants from the three participating universities. If we receive a lower number of students from one of the universities, vacant places will be allocated to students from the other two universities (equally spread).
To apply you must be enrolled for a Bachelor’s programme at Leiden University, TU Delft or Erasmus University Rotterdam. Firstly you have to register your minor preference in uSis (for students from Leiden) or Osiris (for TUD and EUR students). Please note that the amount of selection minors you can register for differs between institutions. If you are seriously considering to partake in the FI4SGD LDE minor we strongly advise that you do not postpone registering your minor preference!
Thereafter you need to complete the online Minor FI4SGD Application Form 2021-2022 AND submit your CV separately to minorfrugalinnovation@asc.leidenuniv.nl before Monday 15 April 24.00 hrs.
Incomplete or applications submitted after 15 April will not be taken into consideration.
If you have any questions or difficulties with the link or the form please contact the minor coordination team:minorfrugalinnovation@asc.leidenuniv.nl
Contact
For general questions regarding the Minor Frugal Innovation for Sustainable Global Development please send your inquiries to Minor coordination: minorfrugalinnovation@asc.leidenuniv.nl , Attn. Dr. André Leliveld & Ms. Maaike Westra.
Registration process
If accepted for the FI4SGD LDE minor you will be notified at the latest by 26 April 2021. Thereafter, besides an active enrolment at your home university you also need to enrol as a guest-student at the other participating LDE universities.
If accepted for the FI4SGD LDE minor you will be notified at the latest by 26 April 2021. Thereafter, besides an active enrolment at your home university you also need to enrol as a guest-student at the other participating LDE universities.
Leiden University (LU) students must:
1. Enrol as a guest-student at TU Delft through Studielink. Select ‘Minor Technische Bestuurskunde’ (NL) or ‘Minor Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management’ (EN). After completing the enrolment form, you will receive an email with your TU Delft student number and your Net ID, which you will need to sign up for the minor.
2. You will receive an email from EUR requesting you to upload a passport photo, without which you cannot be enrolled as a guest student at EUR.
Delft University of Technology (TUD) students must:
1. Enrol as a guest student at Leiden University. You will receive an email from LU with a request to activate your UCLN account. With this account you will be able to access Brightspace Leiden that will function as the only electronic learning management system during the minor. After activation you will also receive an Umail address which will be the only email address used during the minor. As soon as this address is active you need to inform the Minor Coordinator: Madi Ditmars at minorfrugalinnovation@asc.leidenuniv.nl
2. You will receive an email from EUR requesting you to upload a passport photo, without which you cannot be enrolled as a guest student at EUR.
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) students must:
1. Enrol as a guest student at Leiden University. You will receive an email from LU with a request to activate your UCLN account. With this account you will be able to access Brightspace Leiden that will function as the only electronic learning management system during the minor. After activation you will also receive an Umail address which will be the only email address used during the minor. As soon as this address is active you need to inform the Minor Coordinator: Madi Ditmars at minorfrugalinnovation@asc.leidenuniv.nl
2. Enrol as a guest-student at TU Delft through Studielink. Select ‘Minor Technische Bestuurskunde’ (NL) or ‘Minor Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management’ (EN). After completing the enrolment form, you will receive an email with your TU Delft student number and your Net ID, which you will need to sign up for the minor.
