MTU Students come together to create and Innovate in Lahti, Finland
A group of MTU students returned from Lahti, Finland this week after taking part in an innovative programme aimed at encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship among students from a range of disciplines.
Entitled ‘European Creative Futures’, now in its 13th year, this Erasmus Intensive Programme was hosted by LAB University of Applied Sciences, Lahti, Finland to bring together students from European countries with the aim of promoting business acumen and entrepreneurial know how among students intending to pursue careers in the creative industries.
This week long programme of intensive study and practical learning allowed 40 students to share experiences, points of view and learn together about entrepreneurship.
The fourteen MTU students came from a wide range of programmes of study including Public Relations, Fine Art, Multimedia, Music, Journalism, Business Information Systems and Business. They were joined by 26 students from similar backgrounds from Finland, Norway and the Netherlands for the programme.
>From the outset, the students worked in small multi-disciplinary groups generating business ideas and carried out market research to identify target markets and pitched their ideas to industry mentors. Students learned by doing through a series of interactive lectures, group discussions and workshops.
Some of the business ideas established in the limited time frame included:
- E-Ware – an energy saving product that provides awareness and the opportunity for users to analyse what individual product usage cost is in their homes
- Foobia – a table-top game where players match obscure phobias with professions in order to create a series of unfortunate (but hilarious) combinations
- Noozle – an educational tool that promotes digital literacy amongst young students through gamified tasks that identify fake news, disinformation and the implicit biases held by all of us
- Planeat – a wayfinding mobile app used to help you navigate a grocery store in the most time efficient and hassle free-way
- Wardrobe-It – a mobile app which will consist of two main features, a wardrobe organiser and an online platform to buy and sell pre-loved and vintage clothing
- Rest with Ease – a website to relieve the pressure and stress on grieving family members arranging funerals as well as helping to reduce funeral costs
Ensuring it wasn’t all work, the Finnish hosts organised a full schedule of social and cultural activities for the students which included a “Trip to a Local Brewery ‘, ‘Gala – Dinner’ and a trip to go ‘Ice -Swimming’ an experience enjoyed by all.
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