Winter school 2026: Strong success in its first implementation

The Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Technology at LAB University of Applied Sciences organized a blended intensive program (BIP) titled Winter School: Commercialization in the Context of the Circular Economy in February 2026 in Lahti. A total of fifty-one students and nine teachers from ten different universities took part in the program.

Innovative learning approach rooted in real-world problem solving

The course’s pedagogical approach was based on problem-solving in a blended learning environment. The course consisted of two online sessions followed by a week-long physical component. The theme focused on the commercial possibilities of circular‑economy business cases. The learning approach emphasized giving teams responsibility and freedom to choose, discover, and create new solutions or develop existing ones in real-life cases from local companies.

In the first online session, the students were divided into ten multinational, multidisciplinary teams combining engineering and business students from ten universities, with a general overview of the cases. Student teams were composed to maximize intercultural, interdisciplinary, and intercollegiate collaboration. Students were asked to take a team role test to get the teams as balanced as possible. In the second online session, the company representatives presented their cases.

The teams were offered three different case options. Up to four student teams could work on the same company case, allowing them to choose the most interesting case freely. Two of the assignments — NP Housukauppa and Rakennusbetoni- ja Elementti Oy — were provided directly by companies seeking fresh approaches to business development and new product ideas. The third assignment was introduced by a LAB lecturer in wood technology and focused on the utilization of side streams from the local company Koskisen Oy.

During the physical phase, students attended parallel theory-based lectures focused on business and engineering to deepen their understanding of the topic. Teachers provided on-demand guidance for case studies, allowing students to choose whether they wanted assistance.

During the intensive week, all three companies were visited to gain deeper insight into the cases. The program also included a wide range of social activities, allowing participants to team up and explore Finnish culture, including sauna traditions and local food.

The student teams presented their final case outcomes during a gallery walk on the closing day of the program, with all teams showcasing their results simultaneously.

Results and professional feedback

The students performed well on the company cases. Both company representatives and teachers followed the presentations closely and provided constructive feedback. The company partners expressed genuine interest in the outcomes and were pleasantly surprised by the students’ fresh perspectives. Overall, the students reported positive experiences and felt that their work was truly valued.

Five of the six visiting teachers from partner institutions took an active role throughout the physical week. Their feedback was also positive and encouraging.

Key takeaways for next year

The early scheduling of the online sessions may have contributed to some absences. Additionally, some students experienced difficulties logging into the online learning platform. These issues were mainly related to the ICT authenticity program, which can be avoided next year.

The Winter School was considered highly successful overall, particularly given that it was the first implementation of the new concept. While there is always room for further development, no major changes are anticipated for Winter School 2027.

A significant contributor to the event’s success was the active involvement of the Tourism and Hospitality students, who organized additional activities and fostered a positive, engaging atmosphere throughout the week.