Projects

Empathy Business 

Digitalisation unearths endless opportunities and tackles various business challenges. For example, remote collaboration, such as online meetings and co-working platforms, allows businesses to reduce traditional collaboration costs and develop novel ideas without geographical limitations. It is indisputable that we are benefited from digital and online platforms. However, there are increasing concerns about digital inequality for small businesses and humanity costs. Therefore, at this specific moment, it is significant to address how these emerging digital concepts can serve our society and businesses right.

The Empathy Business project is a design research project that focuses on identifying opportunities and challenges that lie around utilising empathy and creative prototyping with customers and with a focus on creating excellent service journeys. This project focuses on research on business needs, particularly for creative industries, and the impact of digitalisation on business models and ways of the service design workflow.

Researchers would identify empathetic ways to prototype services by utilising digital platforms (e.g., Miro) and physical environment (e.g., SINCO lab). The Empathy Business outcomes would propose several Proof of Concepts (PoC) which facilitate the empathetic service prototyping process for small and medium enterprises in the creative industry.

Duration 1.2.2023-31.12.2024

Partners:
1. University of Lapland, Finland
2. Content Union
3. Zone ii Oy
4. Zone2 picture Oy

More information on Empathy business:
University Researcher Kiwoong Nam (project manager) - ki.nam(at)ulapland.fi
Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

 

This project has received funding from the Business Finland under grant agreement No 7425/31/2022

AMASS: Acting on Margins. Arts as a Social Sculpture 

The central problem AMASS addresses is that the arts has not been harnessed to address societal challenges through comparative and European-wide Research Innovation Action (RIA), analysis, synthesis and policy development. This untapped potential of the arts undermines joint action between different artistic genres and geographic locations, and thus the advancement of the EU as a stronger global actor, the fostering of fundamental rights based on mutual trust and democratic change within the EU. The overall objective of the project is to address this European-wide lack of synthesis of the potential of the arts that can lead to generating alternative or unconventional solutions to societal challenges and policy development. The aims thus will be to discover and analyse the underpinning structures that influence the functioning of arts in societal challenges (specifically SC6) through arts-based RIA.

The challenges addressed by AMASS are geopolitically oriented: the future of work in creative, cultural and other sectors; radical ideologies and extremism; societal polarisation and stratification; lack of civil society participation; populism; migration. Thus, this project will identify, explore, collate, evaluate and analyse existing and new innovative productions, experiments and case studies from the perspective and the physical positioning of the European countries “on the margins”. AMASS, which is located in Europe’s culturally often underserved Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern regions, will set up 35 experiments in these peripheries to investigate the educational effects of the STEAM model in integrating the arts with science through participatory and multidisciplinary approaches. This will be accomplished through technologically enabled visual expression and problem-based learning that will offer solutions to the geopolitical challenges, and policy recommendations and development that will foster inclusive, innovative and reflective societies.

Duration 1.2.2020-31.1.2023

Partners:
1. University of Lapland, Finland
2. Associação de Professores de Expressão e Comunicação Visual (APECV),
   Portugal
3. Charles University, Czech Republic
4. University of Malta, Malta
5. University of Borås, Sweden
6. Budapest Cornivus University, Hungary
7. PACO Design Collaborative (PACO), Italy
8. University of Leeds, UK

More information on AMASS:
University Researcher Melanie Sarantou (project manager) - melanie.sarantou(at)ulapland.fi
Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Project´s website

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870621

SmartCulTour: Smart Cultural Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development of European Regions

SmartCulTour aims to support regional development in European regions, with special attention to rural peripheries and the urban fringe, through sustainable cultural tourism. The project redefines cultural tourism through a contemporary lens and provides a comprehensive measurement framework for supply, demand and impacts. In order to support knowledge-led destination management, a decision-support system (DSS) will be developed for wide-scale monitoring purposes across European regions. The DSS will synthesize both traditional and non-traditional data sources, the latter particularly related to big data analytics, thereby assisting smart regional development. Besides a contribution to conceptual development and cultural tourism measurement, the main objective of SmartCulTour relates to the facilitation of community-led rural development through field experimentation in 6 living labs. Prior to these living labs, a comprehensive desk research will identify significant sustainable cultural tourism policies, their impacts and critical success factors. These best cases will inspire a series of possible local interventions. Within the living labs, novel creative approaches to stakeholder engagement are tested, notably arts-based methods, serious games, and service design which will help to provide local context and support. A toolkit will be designed to help destinations implement local actions towards sustainable cultural tourism development. SmartCulTour will therefore contribute to theory development, empirical validation of best practices within a living labs setting, and procedural development, particularly by providing European regions with a set of strategies to optimally engage with stakeholders and co-create sustainable cultural tourism experiences.

Duration 1.1.2020-30.6.2023

Partners:
1. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
2. Stichting Breda University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
3. University of Lapland (Lapin yliopisto), Finland
4. University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, Hungary
5. Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Italy
6. Modul University Vienna, Switzerland
7. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, France
8. Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza / International Centre for
   Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, Spain
9. Toerisme Vlaanderen, Belgium
10. Quantitas Srl, Italy

More information on SmartCulTour:
Postdoctoral researcher Mira Alhonsuo (Living Lab manager) - mira.alhonsuo(at)ulapland.fi

Coordinator Ella Björn (coordinator) – ella.bjorn(at)ulapland.fi

Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Project´s website

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870708

PAMA: Service Design Master’s Degree Programme

The Service Design Master’s Degree Programme project is implemented by the University of Lapland and it lasts for three years. It expands beyond county borders and it is also actualised by Kajaani University of Applied Sciences. It implements two years’ Master’s programmes in Service Design for 40 students in Rovaniemi and Kajaani. The Master’s programme comprises 120 ECTS and it is developed with active monitoring and evaluation.

The aim of the Programme is to employ and re-educate the employees suffering from structural change in Northern Finland. The Programme contains design studies, methodological studies on project planning and applied research, and project studies in the companies. The project is implemented in close cooperation with local companies. It utilises cooperative, working life driven and blended learning processes in close cooperation with Northern industrial and tourism operators.

Duration 1.9.2019-30.7.2022

Partners
1. University of Lapland
2. Kajaani University of Applied Sciences

More information on PAMA:
Project manager Maija Rautiainen - maija.rautiainen(at)ulapland.fi
Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Project's website

SEEYouth: Social Innovation through Participatory Art and Design with Youth at the Margins: Solutions for Engaging and Empowering Youth with Trans-Atlantic Mirroring

SEEYouth research project is focusing on developing new ways to prevent youth marginalization, improving youth employment and opportunities for the youth through design and Art Based Research (ABR). Multi-disciplinary project utilizes social sciences and arts in the development of Trans-Atlantic Mirroring (T-AM) method. This enables to create holistic and analytical view on complex societal challenges through design and art-based methods.

SEEYouth project is funded by the Finnish Academy, UK Research and Innovation, Fonds de recherche du Québec—Société et culture (FRQSC) and FundaçãodeAmparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) in Brazil. It collaborates with regional and local organizations directly involved with the youth at the margins, such as on the streets in Brazil and with refugee or asylum seeker background in Finland. The collaborative partners in Finland are the Educational department of Kemi City and SOS Children’s Village, Espoo. 

Duration 1.1.2020 - 31.12.2021

Partners:
1. University of Lapland, Finland
2. University of São Paulo, Brazil
3. University of Montreal, Canada
4. University of Leeds, UK
5. UNESP, Bauru, Brazil

More information on SEEYouth:
Post-doctoral researcher Enni Mikkonen (project manager) - enni.mikkonen(at)ulapland.fi
Professor Satu Miettinen (lead PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Project´s website

SEEYouth 2021 conference; Mirroring communities through Art and Design

More information about T-AP funding and research

Value and contribution of the Service Design Prototyping to strengthen the industry. From the Finnish experience to the Chilean context

Sinco's service prototyping is a valuable way to experiment in an environment that allows for the exploration of new service improvement options. This research project seeks to identify the characteristics of Sinco that can be transferable to Chilean culture. Through the research, it is intended to deepen the Sinco methodology and the service design practice in Chile to specify the opportunity to insert this methodology with the relevant variations to the Chilean context.

This project is funded by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage of Chile through the National Fund for Cultural Development and the Arts (Fondart) in the line of Design, modality Research - 2019 call.

Duration December 2019 – April 2021

Partners:
1. University of Lapland
2. Universidad del Desarrollo (Chile)
3. Museo Regional de Magallanes (Chile) [Regional Museum of Magallanes]
4. Finnish Embassy in Chile

More information about the project:
Researcher Mariluz Soto (project manager) - msoto(at)ulapland.fi

PARTY: Participatory Development with The Youth, PARTY

PARTY is an international and inter-sectoral project coordinated by the University of Lapland. Project focuses on developmental cooperation through research and innovation staff exchanges and sharing of knowledge between researchers, the target group, local actors in Southern Africa and international aid organisations.

Within the scope of inclusive societies, the PARTY-project focuses on unemployment among the youth. Unemployment and marginalization is a global challenge that is increasing e.g. in Europe and in Africa. PARTY aims to endorse human development and assist in reducing youth unemployment by increasing the involvement and inclusion of young people in service development in South Africa and Namibia by using participatory and explorative service design tools.

Duration 1.2.2015 - 31.1.2019

Partners:
1. University of Lapland, Finland
2. University of Leeds, UK
3. Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
4. Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibia
5. South African San Institute SASI, South Africa
6. PACO Design Collaborative, Italy

More information on PARTY:
Project manager Maija Rautiainen - maija.rautiainen(at)ulapland.fi
Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Project's website

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 645743

Arctic Smart Future Technologies (ASFT)

Topic: The goal of the project is to intensity cross-sectional co-operation between vocational schools and universities so that they can better support the competitiveness of companies in Lapland. The aim is also to raise awareness of existing technologies and the cutting-edge expertise of educational institutions. Companies and educational institutions are taking over technologies through joint agile experiments, or pilots. In this way, new skills based on Industry 4.0 thinking can be identified, new technologies and related application possibilities can be found. The project identifies the leading competencies of educational institutions in the field of new technologies. As a result of the project, an operating model will be developed that considers the different starting levels and needs of micro and small enterprises in the Lapland region in connection with Industry 4.0. At its best, operations will improve the province's traction and grip by providing more clearly the know-how and resources related to new technologies to support business growth. ASFT is part of the Interreg Europe project RegionArts' measures aimed at bringing a new perspective to Lapland's Smart Specialization Strategy (S3).

Duration: 1.8.2021-31.5.2023
Partners:

1. Lapland University of Applied Sciences (coordinator)
2. University of Lapland
3. Vocational College Lappia
4. Lapland Education Centre REDU

More information on ASFT:

Project Manager/-coordinator Katri Konttinen – katri.konttinen(at)ulapland.fi

Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Project´s Website

Arcta Fast

Topic: The main goal of the project is to promote event-based skills and enable possibilities for learning them for actors and students of creative industries. During the project new educational model will be developed and piloted together by the three partners: University of Lapland (art and design, tourism), Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Frostbit Software Engineering Laboratory, game industry, tourism, business administration) and Vocational College Lappia (music industry, event production). Pilots will happen in collaboration with local events in Lapland during years 2021 and 2022. The project is needed as in event environments, agile and situational skills in art, design and engineering are required now and in future from all experts in the creative fields.

Duration: 1.8.2020-30.4.2023
Partners:
1. University of Lapland
2. Lapland University of Applied Sciences
3. Vocational College Lappia

RegionArts

Topic: Enhancing SME growth by the integration of Artist in ICT projects. The objective is to improve the implementation of Structural Funds/other funds in partner regions, through adapting or designing 1 support scheme in each region for the promotion of collaborations between artist/designers and ICT companies. This will be done by mapping and analysing existing policy instruments, ecosystems, user needs, funding programmes and good practices in each partner region and exchanging knowledge. Consequently, through the improved support scheme, the aim is to promote around 140 new collaborations in total (around 20 per region), 20% of the beneficiary SMEs introducing an innovation by 2022.

Duration: 1.6.2018–31.5.2023

Partners:
1. Porto Polytechnic Institute (Portugal, Coordinating partner)
2. ASTER Stock Joint Consortium (Italy); Baltan Laboratories (Netherlands)
3. KEPA Business and Cultural Development Centre (Greece)
4. SERN StartUp Europe Regions Network (Belgium)
5. University of Lapland, Faculty of Art and Design / Arctic Design Cluster (Finland)
6. Koprivnicki Business Support Institution (Croatia); Molise Region (Italy)

Project´s website

Developing office work: productivity and attractiveness for municipal work

Topic: The aim of the project is to promote well-being and productivity in work places of small municipalities in Lapland. The project focuses on office work which is identified as essential part of municipal work and which is part of all internal and external operations of municipality. In the project office work is considered as a service and consequently then it will be developed by using service design mindset, process and methods as well as the tools of lean service creation. As an outcome the project will produce a common vision and framework for future office work in municipalities. This model, which will be built together by the partners, enables the offices to work more closely together as well as good management of office work in general and takes into account the specific characteristics of each northern municipality. The project is implemented by University of Lapland in collaboration with municipalities of Posio, Salla, Ylitornio and Pello.

Duration: 1.8.2020-31.12.2022

LEADBEHA: LEADership as a trigger for BEHAvioural change when creating AI cultures in companies and organisations

Topic: Finland believes and invests in education. However, digitalization challenges both traditional education in universities and regeneration of knowledge and skills in companies and other organizations. Leadership as a trigger for behavioural change when creating AI-cultures in companies and organizations -project (LEADBEHA) takes this challenge by surveying the needs of companies and other organizations for new higher education study units. These units are part of Master degree programs in the six universities in Finland. In addition, LEADBEHA develops these study units based on results of the survey from companies and other organizations point of views. In this way LEADBEHA develops new innovative, agile and practically useful higher educational offering.

LEADBEHA produces new knowledge about the companies and other organizations needs for these flexible master degree study units. In addition, the project collects experiences and knowledge about national level collaboration between universities when they produce educational package for companies and organizations. In this way LEADBEHA creates new scientific knowledge and practical skills for the organizations of modern society.

Duration: 01.08.2019 - 31.07.2022

Partners:
1. Laurea University of Applied Sciences (coordinator)
2. Lahti University of Applied Sciences
3. University of Turku (Department of Future Technologies)
4. Tampere University
5. University of Vaasa
6. University of Lapland (Faculty of Art and Design)

More information on LEADBEHA:
Researcher Krista Korpikoski (project manager) – krista.korpikoski(at)ulapland.fi
Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi

Dialogues and Encounters in the Arctic

Topic: Dialogues and Encounters in the Arctic (DEA) is an Interreg Nord funded project led by the Sámi Education Institute (FIN) and involving partners from the Umeå University (SE) and the University of Lapland (FIN). The purpose of this project is to initiate dialogue between the Arctic Indigenous peoples and researchers on challenges affecting the Arctic, the traditional economies, culture, societies, and ecosystems. The project aims to strengthen the ability of Indigenous peoples to influence issues regarding their own culture. It shares and documents knowledge and information on Arctic Indigenous livelihoods, languages and culture, and subjects affecting them. These topics will be explored through a series of workshops which will take place in both visual and physical spaces, and in different educational environments with the Sámi community. The outcomes of the DEA project aim to create a new pilot (network-based) model to support collaborations between Indigenous communities and researchers in the Arctic region. The project also aims to increasing knowledge and expertise sharing among partners by transferring methods, models, ideas and visions. The project develops the competence, skills and expertise of the Arctic Indigenous world. The purpose is not to build a new physical center, but to create a pilot model based on the outcomes from the workshops in different educational environments and institutes, under different themes, processing the dynamics of the players involved in the process and factors affecting the indigenous communities in the Arctic.

Duration: 01.01.2020 - 31.12.2021

Partners:
1. Sámi Education Institute Finland (Leading partner)
2. University of Lapland Finland
3. Umeå University, Várdduo Sweden

For more Information on DEA:

Project coordinator Caoimhe Isha Beaulé - cbeaule(at)ulapland.fi

Professor Satu Miettinen (PI) - satu.miettinen(at)ulapland.fi 

Project´s Website

  

Remotely more: Work in social and health care is changing

Topic: Distant management, participation and peer support in social and health care.

 

Duration: 1.1.2019-31.12.2021

 

Partners:
1. Tampere University of Applied Sciences (coordinating partner)
2. University of Eastern Finland, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
3. University of Lapland/Faculty of Art and Design

 

Project´s website

Dwell: Smart Living

Topic: Smart student housing and communality in living. The study and development are done in three cases: 1. Use of smart services in buildings (technology), 2. Promoting new communality in living (design) and 3. Benefits of smart systems in buildings and opportunities for maintenance (business).

Duration: 1.1.2019-31.8.2021

 

Partners:

1. Lapland University of Applied Sciences (coordinating partner)
2. University of Lapland/Faculty of Art and Design

VOITTO: Resources, capacities and participation in Lapland

Topic: Increasement of engagement and improvement of services for the citizens living in the most challenging employment situation. The main objectives of the project are: 1) to prevent the marginalization of those most in need of employment in Lapland and to promote opportunities towards employment; 2) improve engagement of the target group in services; 3) develop and model inclusive guidance and counseling services with the target group / clients; and 4) develop and design participatory tools for guidance and counseling with municipalities (Ranua, Ylitornio and Inari).

Duration: 1.8.2017-31.12.2020

 

The project is coordinated by Education and Development Services of University of Lapland.

SINCO: Service Innovation Corner

SINCO is a service design laboratory at the Faculty of Art and Design in University of Lapland, Finland. SINCO represents a holistic hands-on approach to service design, co-creation and user-experience-driven innovation activities. SINCO enables the development of existing and whole new services as well as business models especially with customer point of view in mind.

With SINCO we offer a possibility to improve not only the quality of services but also knowledge of the providers in close collaboration with local, national and international business and public sector. SINCO is a strong part of service design research and development activity via practical use cases offering data for research that may be analysed, published and implemented back into practice as revised knowledge.

Study more about SINCO environment and methodology from the Laboratory's website.