INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION CAMP FOR NURSING AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS AT WNUAS

Abstract

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences(WNUAS)in cooperation with Junior Achievement Sogn og Fjordane, organizes interdisciplinary innovation camps for nursing and engineering students. The student assignments are given by local businesses and organizations. This study’s objective is to evaluate and develop new programs for innovation camps, as well as to share ideas with educators working with this type of learning activity. A qualitative method was used, and a focus group interview was conducted involving nursing and engineering students (n=8). The students were satisfied with innovation camp as a method for learning, and the learning outcome was good. They regard innovation camp as a diverging learning method. The students are lacking a common understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship before participating at the event, the assignments were too limited, and they were not challenging enough for creative thinking. This study leads to several conclusions to improve upcoming innovation camps at WNUAS. The improvements can be separated into two categories: 1. The students need to be better prepared for the event. 2. The assignments need to be more open.