The Unsolicited Advice minor consists of four main components:

1. Introduction/startup (weeks 1-3)
   During the Unsolicited Advice minor, strong emphasis is placed on both your personal and professional development. In the first phase, you explore what drives you and what ambitions you have. This forms the basis for further collaboration in an interdisciplinary group. Then you dive into the world of SDGs, groups are formed, together you determine an impactful topic, and you take the first steps in research. This phase concludes with a focused action plan.
    
2. Research (weeks 4-14)
   The research phase consists of the following components:
   1. Research initiation
      Goals: problem definition, target group analysis, stakeholders, etc.
      Product: Action Plan and presenting it.
   2. Interdisciplinary research
      Goals: Collection of primary and secondary data, conclusions and concept advice. Product: Research report, midterm pitch.
   3. Concept product or advice
      Goals: development of a prototype
      Product: requirements specification, prototype/advice.
   4. The product/advice/exposure phase
      Goal: Delivery of product/advice, presenting, showcasing and sharing it.
      Product: Final research report, final requirements specification, working prototype, professional advice.
       
3. Presentation of your product/advice (weeks 15-19)
   In this phase you work on the presentation of your advice/product
    
4. Personal development/societal relevance (Weeks 1-19)
   A significant part of the minor is devoted to your personal development and social awareness. From beginning to end, you work on your personal development.
   Goal: Personal discovery, personal development, learning, sharing, growing, showing (what is my impact?
   Product: Development portfolio part 2, Professional portfolio.

The program starts with three dynamic kick-off weeks where we organize inspiring workshops at various locations inside and outside Saxion. During this intensive period, you form close-knit teams, delve into the SDGs, develop a relevant theme, present it to a Dragons' Den and create a focused project plan.

Weekly Learning Community meetings form the heart of the program. Here you share knowledge with experts during workshops and work on your project goals. You also get access to advanced facilities, such as the innovative labs of the Academy of Creative Technology.

Additionally, you have individual and group meetings with your tutor. During these meetings, you discuss the project progress, your personal development and the group process.

Both individually and as a team, you take the lead in your own learning process. You determine your own work rhythm and locations. And take initiative in organizing activities, conducting interviews and establishing contacts with potential stakeholders.

At the end of the minor, you organize as a team an impactful final presentation at a self-chosen location that fits your project.

The Minor Unsolicited Advice is a Dual Language minor. The minor is open for international and Dutch students. When international students participate, the Learning Community activities will take place in English. Your preferred language will be considered when forming the groups. Group documents are written in the language of the group. The language of the group is also spoken during the group sessions. You can write your portfolios in English and the individual meetings are in English too.

The minor is accessible to all HBO full-time students from Saxion, from the Netherlands and from international partners. You are independent, proactive and willing to step outside your comfort zone. During the minor, you learn to feel comfortable without having a clear assignment upfront. You are able to formulate your own professional and personal learning objectives. We challenge you to think creatively and to venture off the beaten path. You actively participate in and contribute to an inspiring learning environment to develop new innovative ideas. 

Activities
The world's challenges seem to be growing ever larger. Sometimes it seems impossible to contribute to solutions for issues like climate change, poverty, inequality, polarization, etc. However, this is not the case. Your social engagement is essential. You can indeed make a difference.

In the 'Unsolicited Advice' minor, students strengthen each other by sharing diverse perspectives and expertise, leading to breakthrough solutions that would not be possible individually. Technology has an increasingly significant impact on our society. We enable students to understand the impact of technology and purposefully apply it to create innovative solutions.

Our learning community, supported by dedicated teachers and tutors, provides the ideal environment to develop yourself, experiment and discover that you matter. In summary: "By connecting interdisciplinary learning with Living Technology, we equip students to effectively tackle tomorrow's challenges"

Some examples of previous projects:

• Addressing sexual harassment during the asylum procedure for refugees. Presented together with a theater group of and by refugees (winner of Smart Solutions Award). Smart Solutions Award uitgereikt tijdens de Final Stretch | Hogeschool Saxion
• Main cause of plastic soup is 'Ghost Gear' (abandoned fishing nets) Presented with AI-generated video. https://www.saxion.nl/nieuws/2024/april/hoe-redden-we-de-oceaan-studenten-smart-solutions-semester-gaven-ongevraagd-advies
• Security for criminal defense lawyers. Presented at the Dutch Bar Association, The Hague
• Addressing online gambling addiction. Presented in Parliament to SGP and SP parties in The Hague.
• Harassment of women in public spaces: Podcast: 'psssst Girl' (winner of Smart Solutions Award). https://www.saxnow.nl/nieuws/2024/juni/studenten-maken-podcast-over-straatintimidatie-hij-trok-een-mes-ik-ben-nog-nooit-zo-bang-geweest

You work with an interdisciplinary group on a professional research report, including a well-thought-out Requirements Specification and a convincing prototype or advice.

During the minor, you have worked on personal learning objectives based on the core competencies:

• Your ability to think creatively and innovatively,
• Your investigative attitude,
• Your interdisciplinary collaboration,
• Your communication skills,
• Your entrepreneurial mindset,
• Your personal development
• Your reflective capacity.

Throughout the semester, you build two portfolios in which you document your personal growth (development portfolio) and your project results (professional portfolio). The assessment concludes with an individual assessment interview.