Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes) in Canada at OCAD Canada

Program Overview for Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes) in Canada:

Go beyond the usual MBA and accelerate your career with a Master of Foresight and Strategic Innovation Design. This program will teach you to see the world from a human perspective and rethink what is possible.

This innovative course will provide you with design thinking skills to increase business success, have a positive impact on society, and manage organizational change. The emphasis is on teaching how to discover, construct and solve complex problems to create a sustainable future.

You will lead innovation with people from different backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, social scientists, artists, designers, and engineers. The plan prepares you to think, explore, challenge, and find meaning in order to rethink and guide current and future actions.

You will develop design thinking skills, including analysis, synthesis, and strategic and creative thinking. These skills are essential for professionals in the public and private sectors. This program will develop your expertise in foresight (for example, identifying future problems) and research methods. These skills will help you create innovative and future-oriented solutions in your final research project. This plan will enable you to: Explore and test innovative organizational, creative and production methods from a human perspective Develop strategies, innovations and anticipated solutions (strategic vision) and implementation plans for design, business or policy innovations or organizations Infrastructure changes Solve complex problems and find solutions that lead to a new sustainable future.

The eligibility for Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes) in Canada for both domestic and international student is:

Application for admission into the Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCAD U is a competitive process. Applicants must hold a BA, BFA, BDes, BComm, BEng, or comparable honors degree/certification with an average of 75 percent (B+) or better during the last two years of study, or must demonstrate exceptional experience/expertise as a practitioner in a relevant discipline.

All applicants must demonstrate creative and conceptual competence at a high level, as well as the clear potential to create a truly innovative, germane, and implementable project at the master’s level. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview. Other Admission Requirement:

• Statement of Intent: 1,000 to 1200 words that describe why you are interested in the program, and how it will help you achieve an envisioned outcome, a major purpose, or your professional and/or personal goals. Please tell us about significant personal or professional experiences which have shaped your vision or goals, how the program can support you in meeting those goals, and why you are a potential change-maker, and what you see as change. Please also provide a brief description of a topic area or challenge for which you might be interested in conducting research, including a rationale for its potential value. You may always change the research topic prior to embarking on the major research topic. A bibliography and relevant examples of work may be included.
• Samples of Work/Portfolio: The portfolio submission should consist of 5-10 samples of professional and/or student work (accomplished individually or in work contexts). This work must have been produced in the last five years. Choose samples that you believe are applicable to the SFI program. Applicants are encouraged to include the best examples of work that are typical of the variety of work they have done. Your portfolio should reflect the range of experience included on your CV. Visual work, analysis reports and proposal documents may be included. Applicants are expected to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of their disciplinary/professional work.
• CV: Applicants should include an updated copy of their curriculum vitae.
• Artist/Designer Statement: The portfolio must be accompanied by an artist/designer statement of no more than 250 words. The statement should speak to recent work and explain its relevance to the research proposal. It is suggested you discuss the discursive vectors of your practice, your existing expertise and how you would like to grow your practice during your graduate studies.
• Transcripts
• Program Specific Questions: Applicants will be asked to provide responses to a series of questions specific to the program.
• Three (3) reference letters.

These are the test eligibilities for the Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes) to qualify.

The international student tuition fees and costs for Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes) in Canada.

Key features of the Program:

A diverse student body that can keep in touch with outstanding teachers and industry experts. You will participate in a collaborative study environment in the core curriculum. You will work in an interdisciplinary team on many projects.

 An advisory committee of faculty and, in the case of real-world projects, public or private sector professionals will support and guide your major project, Guest lectures and critiques from professional strategists and foresight experts, Part-time and full-time program options accommodate your schedule.

Funding options for international students in Canada are limited. It is important that you have a solid financial plan in place before beginning your studies. In order to obtain a study permit, you will be required to prove to Canadian immigration officials that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself.