Postgraduate taster lectures

AI can write with brilliance – but it can also confidently state things that simply aren’t true. This lecture explores why. We’ll look at how large language models generate text through probabilistic token prediction rather than retrieving stored facts, making hallucination an inherent feature rather than a
flaw.

We’ll also examine the key causes – from training data gaps to out-of-distribution queries and the model’s tendency to stay coherent even when uncertain.

Strategy isn’t static. While theory helps simplify complex markets, real businesses face shifting challenges and unpredictable environments. Join us to see how theory meets practice – and why flexible, evolving approaches are key to understanding strategy today.

• Why static theories fall short in practice
• How frameworks must adapt to changing market conditions
• The power of contingency thinking to reveal how organisations really strategise

The construction industry is responsible for 40% of global CO₂ emissions and over a third of energy use – making sustainability one of its most urgent challenges. With the green construction market projected to exceed $1.3 trillion by 2030, sustainable practices are transforming how we design, build, and manage projects.

This lecture explores how project management can embed sustainability into construction, from waste reduction and energy efficiency to innovative design and ancient building wisdom. You’ll gain insight into how sustainable construction delivers not just environmental benefits, but also economic efficiency and social well-being – equipping you with the knowledge to lead projects that shape a greener, more resilient future.

The global marketplace can feel like a whirlwind – but what really drives it? From the price of your morning coffee to the strategies of multinational giants, countless forces are at play.

Explore how everyday business decisions – from marketing strategies to supplier choices — ripple across borders and connect with big-picture forces such as economic trends, political shifts, and technological innovation. Discover the hidden links between local actions and global consequences.

How do technology leaders drive innovation at speed – without crossing ethical lines? In this taster lecture, we’ll explore how responsible AI practices are shaping the future of business and society.

You’ll dig into the core frameworks of fairness, transparency, accountability, and privacy, and see how these play out in real-world case studies, from tackling algorithmic bias in recruitment to managing sensitive health data.

“Storytelling is always a contemplation of the experience of time passing… a story depends on the built- in condition of impermanence.” — Joan Silber

How do writers bend, stretch, rewind, or even suspend time to shape unforgettable stories? In this interactive session, we’ll explore the ingenious ways fiction plays with time – from fractured timelines and flashbacks to parallel worlds and future visions.

You’ll discover how shifting “timescapes” transform stories and leave with fresh tools for your own writing.

Behind every AI system lies a sea of complex data – but how do we turn that into stories people can understand? In this taster session, you’ll discover how vast datasets can be transformed into clear, compelling narratives.

You’ll experiment with hands-on tools to build interactive visualisations, explore case studies where data storytelling unlocked new discoveries, and consider the ethical questions that arise when shaping AI insights for the public. See how data, design and storytelling collide – and how these skills can set you apart in postgraduate study and beyond.

Memoir and nature writing are two of the most widely published and resonant forms of creative nonfiction. In this workshop, we’ll explore how the boundaries between them blur – and how the natural world can become a powerful way to express human experiences that are otherwise hard to capture.

Through close reading of some of the finest practitioners of this hybrid form, plus lively discussion, practical writing exercises, and constructive feedback, you’ll uncover new ways to draw inspiration from both memory and landscape.

Projects are how we turn ideas into action – whether solving problems, innovating, or launching new services. Success depends on more than just good ideas: it requires critical thinking, feasibility assessment, resource planning, and a clear definition of what success looks like.

This lecture explores how project management provides a structured approach to problem-solving and decision-making. You’ll learn how to identify root causes, evaluate solutions, plan effectively, and align strategy with resources – essential skills for leading change in any organisation.

Business innovation is popularly associated with start-up companies and ventures, but established firms need to think about innovation too. How can they keep an eye out for potentially disruptive competitors while maintaining an existing successful business? In this short lecture we will look at ways in which established firms can pursue an ‘ambidextrous’ approach, pursuing a dual strategy to sustain and develop existing business while investing in innovation.

What exactly is artificial intelligence – and how should we think about it? In this taster lecture, Professor Brian Ball will explore the deep connections between philosophy and AI. He will define wh AI really is (and isn’t), trace its fascinating history and evolving ambitions, and share new research from the Computational Philosophy Lab on AI and information ethics.

This accessible introduction is perfect for anyone curious about how philosophical thinking can illuminate today’s most urgent technological questions.

Does a poem need to rhyme? And if it does, what kind of rhyme works best? As humans, we’re naturally drawn to pattern, which makes rhyme and repetition some of the most powerful tools in a poet’s toolkit.

In this interactive session, we’ll explore the many ways poets use repetition – from strict rhyme schemes to playful half-rhymes, alliteration, and fractured patterns that surprise the ear. You’ll see how such techniques can create mood, rhythm, and meaning, while experimenting with them in a supportive workshop environment.

From GitHub Copilot to ChatGPT plugins and autonomous trading systems, AI agents are already transforming how work gets done. In this session, we’ll explore the real impact of these tools: how companies are deploying them today, and what that means for the future of jobs – which roles are set to evolve, and which may disappear altogether.

We’ll also unpack the technical foundations that distinguish modern agents from traditional automation and consider the ethical challenges of human–AI collaboration. Join us to examine how this new wave of intelligent agents is reshaping industries and redefining the future of work.

Project management mirrors entrepreneurship in almost every way – vision, resource coordination, adaptability, and stakeholder leadership – minus the personal financial risk. This lecture explores how those skills not only prepare you for entrepreneurship but also open doors to intrapreneurship: driving innovation, product launches, and transformation initiatives inside established organisations.

Discover how project management builds the competencies that boost employability, fuel leadership, and provide a launchpad for both organisational impact and future ventures of your own.

How should we think about ethics in an age transformed by AI? Since the 1950s, philosophers have often divided ethics into two strands: first-order theories about how we should act, and second-order (“metaethical”) reflection on those theories. But does this mid-20th-century framework still work for today’s challenges?

In this session, we’ll question that traditional schema and explore a richer alternative. Drawing on Iris Murdoch and other influential thinkers, we’ll consider how imagination can reshape ethical thought – and how philosophy must evolve to meet the demands of our technological age.

You’ll also get an inside look at postgraduate study at Northeastern University London, including an overview of the MA Philosophy and AI programme and a live Q&A with our expert panel.

Should corporations be seen as moral agents, capable of responsibility and blame? Do their duties extend beyond shareholders to employees, customers, communities — even future generations?

This session asks tough questions: Where do we draw the moral limits of markets?
Are there things money should never buy? Can businesses operate responsibly in a competitive economy?

Through real-world case studies, we’ll explore how moral and political philosophy can shine a light on the ethical challenges of modern business. You’ll see how the course blends philosophy with practice to prepare future leaders for ethically informed decision-making.