Theme(s): Cooperation with third parties in the accreditation of learning demonstrated in some other manner.
Background
Lahti Venture Program (LVP) has been developed based on a need to attract future experts to the region and to bring together students with an entrepreneurial orientation. In addition, there has been local concern over the fact that only few growth companies that meet the criteria of a start-up emerge in the region. Objective of the LVP is to bring together student teams interested in entrepreneurship and the companies in the region. This way, the student teams have a unique opportunity to come up with potential business ideas that stem from the challenges of the local companies.
Implementation method
LVP is a competitive programme aimed at bringing together multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary student teams to solve the challenges presented to them by companies in the Päijät-Häme region. Each team solves one challenge, and the jury chooses the best and most feasible solution.
LVP is implemented in cooperation between LUT University, LAB University of Applied Sciences, the University of Helsinki and Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd. The programme is coordinated by Lahti University Campus. The programme is open for students from LUT University, Lahti University of Applied Sciences (LAB) and the University of Helsinki. The development company LADEC is responsible for finding the companies and challenges. Representatives of universities and universities of applied sciences are often involved in the formulation of the challenge.
The programme consists of five contact days, a company visit and independent group work. The contact days include lectures on topics that are suitable for the teaching content of each educational institution, such as ideation and how to set up a start-up. Each group has a mentor, whose task is to support the team if necessary and to help them solve the challenge. So far, the mentors have been teachers of the participating universities or universities of applied sciences or business mentors, who are long-term business professionals.
Process of accrediting learning demonstrated in some other manner
Each participating university and university of applied sciences has its own mechanism for the accreditation of competence demonstrated in some other manner, and this has been one of the prerequisites for the success of the LVP. For example, at LUT University, the accreditation of competences is done through the Business Idea Development course (6 ECTS cr). At first, the student enrols on the course, and thereafter on the LVP programme.
In order to gain credit at a university of applied sciences, the student has to complete the programme in an approved manner, which consists of attendance in the contact days and other activities, and the presentation of the solution to the challenge. Students completing the venture programme at a university have to also produce a report, in which they analyse their solution to the challenge in an appropriate theoretical framework.
Assessment of performance
At LUT University, the course grade consists of the completion of the programme (50%) and the final report written by the student (50%). Grade 0–5. The final report is assessed in relation to the same criteria as the course assignments. Where applicable, same criteria are used for the completion of the programme as in the mandatory sections of the course.
