Very interesting business projects carried out in the ITP minor programme

18.08.2016

Summer of 2016: 72 students, 17 business projects and 21 years of multidisciplinarity.

Multidisciplinary ITP student team in ITP Impact event organised as part of the Aalto Festival. Master's student in marketing Serina Semi (on the left) studies in the School of Business, Riikka Iivanainen studies in the School of Arts and Design, Antonia Havaste in the Turku School of Economics and Saaramaria Somppi in the International Design Business Management (IDBM) Program.

For a period of three months, the Information Technology Program (ITP) offered intensive teaching about digitalisation again this summer. The 72 students who participated in the programme were able to complete a minor subject module of 24 credits. The students carried out a broad business project as a part of the programme. The students found that the project was a form of studying rewarding in multiple ways, as it offers both work experience as well as an opportunity to perceive the processes in an organisation.

'More than 200 enterprise projects have already been completed in the summer programme established in 1995. Many companies have been interested in participating in our programme in consecutive years. The students' creative thinking, combined with guidance from the best experts in the industry produces new solutions and concepts', says ITP Program Manager Laura Sivula.

S-Bank is one of the involved business partners and also participated in the programme last year.  The student team's task was to establish how S-Bank could better meet the needs of its young customers.

'S-Bank has the advantage of being able to become integrated with people's everyday lives, for example shop visits', reflects Lauri Lukka, a member of the team.

'Banks are not frozen in time, after all. There are constant digitalisation efforts', continues Van Dang, another member of the team.

'We at S-bank got new, fresh perspectives and important information about the needs and wishes of the younger customer segment', explains Director, Digital Development and Channels Juha Raumolin of S-Bank.

Students have always come first in ITP

Particular attention has been paid to the quality of teaching and teaching methods, as the aim is to provide an encouraging learning environment and a holistic learning experience. The students and teaching staff in the international minor subject programme represent many nationalities. The number of women and men has been approximately equal in recent years.

'These days, all information is just a few clicks away. There is thus a need for a coaching-like approach in teaching. Lecturers and project coordinators challenge thinking and take it to the next level. The programme has three sub-programmes, Strategy & Experience Design, Information & Service Business and Digital & Interactive Entertainment, for which students apply. Our programme team will then make decisions on student admissions for each sub-programme and divide the students into project teams', Laura Sivula explains.

 

Further information:
ITP Program Manager Laura Sivula
School of Business
Department of Information and Service Economy
laura.sivula@aalto.fi
+358 50 312 0934
itp.aalto.fi

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