EDUCATION

Co-design Better Urban Living and Well-being Summer School

Do you want to learn more about innovative solutions for environmental challenges? Are you interested in how to combine urban living with nature and well-being? Do you want to know more about planetary health?

Welcome to our summer school Co-design Better Urban Living and Well-being – Planetary Health, which is aimed for students interested in environmental issues with either technical, business, design, social, communications or healthcare background. Multidisciplinary and international summer school focuses on themes related to planetary health. During the summer school, you will learn how human health and the health of the planet are closely connected and what can be done to protect and enhance both.

This summer school is arranged in collaboration between all academic bodies operating in Lahti, including LAB University of Applied Sciences, LUT University, University of Helsinki, and Lahti University Campus. City of Lahti. In addition, Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing are also strongly involved.

Summer School is coordinated by LAB University of Applied Science and Lahti University Campus.

When?

Summer school will be organized on May 26 – June 6, 2025 on site in Lahti City..

Compulsory online session
12th of May 10 am to 12 am: Info about practicalities and lecture” Planetary health” , doctoral researcher, specialist Marju Prass (University of Helsinki)
19th of May from 10 am to 12 am: getting to know the case, co students and mentors

Summer school starts 26th of May at 10, Niemenkatu 73, Lahti, Aalto auditorium

Enrollment period 1st of Feb to 15th of April. All students will get more information and a pre-assignment after 15th of April.

Please notice that the final approvment to the summer school is made after pre-assignment. We take a maximum of 80 students to the summer school. We may not be able to accept all applicants.

ENROLL here

https://www.service4mobility.com/europe/BewerbungServlet?identifier=LAB&kz_bew_pers=S&kz_bew_art=IN&aust_prog=SUMMER&sprache=en

ERASMUS+ BIP The course will be arranged as an Erasmus+ BIP.
Please check with your home university’s International office if you are eligible and how to apply the grant.

Topics of the summer school

Some examples of the topics:

Our impact on the environment
The impact of environmental changes on our health
Achieving sustainable lifestyles
Delivering successful consultancy presentation
Service design

This international summer school is aimed for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students with either technical, business, design, social, communications or healthcare background. All students are welcome! Please notice that we are taking max 80 students to course.

Preliminary course description

Cases of summer school

CASE 1
Client Lahti Visit
Planetary health and responsible tourism in Lahti – Green tourist day in Lahti

The team plans a day-long tourist route to the Lahti region.
Instructions for planning

– Include a nature experience.
– Choose a local food experience (plant-based and locally produced foods).
– Consider how the traveler’s choices (transportation, dining, shopping) can contribute to planetary health.
– Add a cultural or community experience.

Objective of the task:
– Understand the principles of planetary health (such as the connection between sustainable development, a healthy ecosystem and human health).
– Learn about the possibilities of responsible tourism and local culture in the Lahti region.
– To plan and experience a responsible tourism experience that combines nature, local food culture and community spirit.

CASE 2
Client project “Local nature as business booster”
Designing a nature-based product or service for Lahti region

Design a nature-based product or service for a given environment in the city of Lahti.

First, you will have to map customer needs (e.g., via a gallup, interviews, or questionnaires). For a background, learn what are the “Everyone’s Rights in Finland (Everyman’s Right – Nationalparks.fi), and find out the nature-based services already available in the area. Try to create a service that complements what is already available. Define the target group and consider the demand for your service; you can also plan marketing. Take into account the values of nature and sustainability.

The case is given by the EU funded project “Local nature as business booster”. The project aims to develop companies’ nature-based business by identifying innovative solutions based on scientific evidence. The project supports and innovates new services and products together with companies.

The project is conducted by the LAB University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the University of Helsinki.

CASE 3

Client HELLE project
HELLE – adapting to extreme weather events in Päijät-Häme

Greening and shading pilots. How can the city of Lahti protect itself from the heat waves?

Lahti’s climate work has focused on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Adaptation to climate change, which is inevitable, has recently gained increasing attention. One of the aims of the Helle project is to generate new research data and practices on greening and shading pilots. Usually shading solutions have multiple functions and the weather resistance must be taking account in Finland, especially the snow load.

The challenge seeks innovative solutions to protect from heat in case area.

The Helle project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and it is implemented by the City of Lahti and the LAB University of Applied Sciences.

CASE 4
Client: sUser project – Introducing user-driven design and agile development skills in the case of sustainable service housing for elderly

The construction sector is a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions, necessitating urgent action to develop sustainable building solutions. Concurrently, Europe’s aging population demands housing that is adaptable and is developed with user-driven design. The sUser project addresses both challenges by fostering innovative housing solutions that integrate user-driven design, sustainability, system thinking, and agile development practices. The primary objectives include designing carbon-neutral housing, enhancing accessibility, and equipping students with essential green sector skills. Key considerations encompass sustainability, economic viability, and educational impact, ensuring that future professionals can make informed design choices. This initiative advances knowledge in sustainable architecture and supports the transition toward environmentally responsible and socially inclusive living environments.

Credits

The 2-week intensive study program consists of online pre-days, and two weeks course on campus. Study methods are teamwork, lectures, excursions, presentations and workshops. Grade is pass or failed.

After registration, a mandatory pre-assignment will be sent to all registrants.
Before the physical course, there is a mandatory online session (the date will be announced later).
The physical part of the summer school starts on May 26 at 10 (Finnish time).

International Experience, Finnish Summer

We will have staff and students coming from 10 – 20 different countries. The social programme offers the opportunity to experience Finnish summer and culture with activities, such as sauna bathing and swimming in the lake. The midnight sun guarantees 24 hours of daylight!