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The master’s thesis collaboration model Aalto Thesis calls for partners for autumn 2021. In the coordinated projects, a student team delivers a collective summary of a Master’s theses and presents the findings to the partner. Aalto Thesis projects have been running in Aalto University to bring together students from different fields to collaborate with work-life partners. Some of the previous project partners have been Valmet, the City of Espoo, and Valio.

‘The most valuable part of our project was getting useful insight and knowledge into our field and our agency. Aalto Thesis project was an easy collaboration for our research needs!’ says Specialist Joonas Aitonurmi from Data and Population Services Agency, an Aalto Thesis partner of 2020. ‘The knowledge is going to be used in planning process development,’ Aitonurmi continues.

Take a look at the Aalto Thesis introduction video!

Tackling complicated challenges through a variety of perspectives

In Aalto Thesis, the students gain valuable project experience, and the partners get to know soon-to-graduate future experts from different fields of Aalto. The projects are based on collaboration with a grant, and the students are not employed.

‘We want to offer our students and partners rewarding projects with ambitious challenges. Some of the previous projects were about population growth, plant-based products and sustainable living areas. The students truly want to make a real impact on their Master’s thesis, which is one of the reasons why the Aalto Thesis projects have been so popular,’ says Aalto Thesis Programme Manager Silva Saulio.

‘The students' academic work gave a fresh framework for collaborative planning. The recommendations for the city to continue the work were feasible and inspiring,’ tells Planning Manager Johanna Palomäki from the City of Espoo.

Autumn projects to be planned soon

Aalto Thesis projects kick-start three times throughout the academic year: in September, January, and April. ‘This way, we can offer both students and partners a flexible frame that fits students’ degrees,’ says Saulio.

The Aalto Thesis team takes care of the practical project preparations, including finding suitable students. ‘Now is a great time to start the project ideation process for the autumn! September’s projects are prepared during May and June,’ Saulio adds. The Aalto Thesis team coordinates the 6-month long projects and arranges the status meetings to make the multidisciplinary collaboration as easy as possible.

Would you like to begin a project?