Corporate Innovation & Intrapreneurship

The programme is addressed to graduates of Higher Education Institutions (Universities/Technological Educational Institutes) in Greece or abroad, as well as to secondary education graduates with relevant professional experience.

More specifically, the programme is intended for business executives (middle and senior management), professionals involved in corporate innovation and intrapreneurship initiatives, managers in areas such as strategy, R&D, HR, and digital transformation, as well as business consultants and public sector professionals engaged in innovation and organizational change initiatives.

Τhe purpose of the programme is to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills regarding the fundamental principles, strategies, and practices of corporate innovation and intrapreneurship, with the aim of enhancing their ability to design, implement, and support innovation initiatives within organizations and businesses.

More specifically, participants will become familiar with contemporary theoretical frameworks and innovation methodologies, such as the startup mindset in the corporate environment, Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile management models. At the same time, they will develop an understanding of how organizational structures, processes, leadership, and culture influence an organization’s capacity to innovate, learn, and adapt under conditions of uncertainty.

The programme seeks to foster a critical approach to the challenges of corporate innovation, including resistance to change, risk management, the failure of experimental initiatives, and the need to align innovation with the organization’s overall strategy. Participants will acquire practical skills in designing and managing intrapreneurship mechanisms, measuring and evaluating innovation through appropriate performance indicators, and scaling successful innovation initiatives.

The ultimate goal of the programme is the effective application of corporate innovation knowledge and tools in real business and organizational environments, contributing to the development of organizations that are more agile, resilient, and future-oriented.

The programme is delivered through asynchronous distance learning and is structured into two (2) instructional units. Full academic support is provided for each unit throughout the duration of the programme by a designated instructor. The total study workload corresponds to forty (40) hours.

More specifically:

In the unit “Innovation and Business Development Strategies”, innovation is examined as a strategic necessity for organizations. The unit presents the startup mindset, corporate innovation models, and intrapreneurship, along with contemporary methodologies such as Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile approaches for the development and management of innovation initiatives. The total study workload for this unit corresponds to thirty (30) hours.

The unit “Leadership in Change and Building an Innovation Culture” focuses on managing organizational change and the role of leadership in shaping a culture of innovation. It addresses issues such as resistance to change, internal communication, and psychological safety, with the aim of enabling the sustainable integration and scaling of innovation. The total study workload for this unit corresponds to ten (10) hours.

Assessment is conducted through the educational platform using both closed-ended and open-ended questions

Online and distance training learning at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers a new way of combining innovative learning and training techniques with asychronous interaction with your tutor and fellow trainees from around the world.

The e-learning course is self-paced and is implemented via a user-friendly educational platform adjusted to the Distance Learning Principles. Courses are structured as weekly online meetings; interaction with the course tutor and other trainees takes place through an online forum. The courses are designed to fit around your schedule; you access the course whenever it is convenient for you, however within the given deadlines.

The whole world becomes your classroom, as e-learning material can be accessed on a laptop, tablet or smart phone. Learning can be done on the train, on a plane or even during your trip to Greece!

The educational platform is a portal that offers access to electronic educational material based on modern distance learning technologies. The computer based nature of training means new technology is being introduced to help trainees engage and learn in a tailored way that will meet their needs. E-learners have access to the educational platform with their personal access codes in order to browse all relevant training material and interact with their instructors.

Moreover, an online communication system through own personal e-mail account is available in order to make the process easier and more interactive. Trainees can contact their tutors directly through the educational platform.

Every week e-learners are provided with the scheduled material, delivered either in the form of video-lectures, text notes and relevant presentations or as a combination of them. The educational material of the course is uploaded gradually, per educational unit. During the course, important info for the smooth conduct of the educational process, such as timetables for the submission of the exercises are announced on the Announcement section of the platform.

For successful completion of the course participants should fulfill their academic obligations, meaning that they should have submitted all corresponding assessment exercises and have achieved at least an average of 50% grade in the corresponding tests for each module. The score scale ranges from 0 to 100%.

During the course trainees will be attending a training experience designed by academics and lecturers from the National University of Athens as well as from other Universities, Research Institutes and Cultural organizations around Greece.