21E12002Creative Sustainability CAPSTONE, 6ects
SYLLABUS
Version (27th August 2015)
Instructor’s contact information
Course information
Name: Armi Temmes
E-mail: [email protected]
Office
Office Hours
Intructor’s Webpage
Status of the course: The course can be included as
a capstone course to the following master’s
programmes: Creative Sustainability, Management
and International Business. Other students need to
check with their own study programmes whether they
can include the course in their degrees.
Academic Year 2015-2016, Period I-II
Location:
Language of Instruction: English
Course Website: MyCourses
Teaching Assistants
1. OVERVIEW
During the course, students will work in teams towards finding creative solutions to real-life social and
environmental challenges brought by partner organisations, which can be e.g. companies or NGO’s. The
team members are expected to work intensively together during the course and they will be regularly
meeting the representatives of the client organizations. There will also be tutorial sessions to guide the
groups during the projects. The class will come together for presenting the project plans and project
outcomes.
2. PREREQUISITES
One of the elective courses of Creative Sustainability program or similar proof of knowledge on sustainability.
3. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Capstone course summarizes the skills-related learning outcomes of the whole Creative Sustainability
program, including outcomes in the area of business knowledge, problem solving, scientific thinking,
combining ethics, sustainability and international context to business knowledge, as well as communications
and team working skills.
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The tasks include analysing, creating solutions for a real-world business challenge related to
sustainability issues and reporting the work both orally and in written form.
During the work different views of stakeholders on the challenge are collected and critically analyzed
based on the learning during the Master’s program.
The team work and individual learning are analyzed by the students during the work.
4. ASSESSMENT AND GRADING
Project work, including learning diary and team work analysis 100%.
The final reporting of the work to be graded includes (The weights of these parts in the evaluation are shown
as percentages in each part).
1. Classroom final presentation with approximately the following content (15 %)
a. Background research
i. Setting the scene, science/technology background, market research, attitude survey
etc.
b. Description of the solution
i. Idea, model, project plan, visualizations of the ideas etc.
c. Next steps
i. Who should act, partners needed, other resources needed etc.
2. Written report of the project to the client and to the instructor. The form of the final reporting is not
defined by the school but is very much up to the clients. It can be e.g. a written report, power point
presentation, poster, prototype with explanations etc. The basic contents are expected to be
approximately the same as for the classroom presentation. The length of the report is free, but it
should include all the necessary details for understanding the process and the justification of the
proposals made. The capstone students are expected to offer the client expertise in sustainability
issues. Therefore please make sure that your sustainability argumentation is solid and based on the
theories and frames that you have learned during your studies. As one of the purposes of the reports
is to create action in the client organization or their stakeholders, clarity, visual appeal and
persuasiveness of the report is valued. (60 %)
3. Concise learning diary by each student (approximately 2-4 pages) (15 %)
a. Describe shortly your learnings at least in the areas of sustainability work, bringing the
learnings of your Master’s program into practice, solving problems, working with clients,
working in teams.
b. Describe shortly your learning in project work: e.g. defining the focus of the project,
searching information, planning the schedule, coming up with solutions and proposals,
finalizing the work.
4. Short analysis of the team work by the group (approximately 1-2 pages) (10 %)
a. How did the group function in general?
b. Was the division of work even? Discuss the reasons and outcomes of that.
c. What were the roles of individual members in the group and how did it show?
d. What do you remember as best practices that you want to repeat next time?
e. What would you do differently next time?
5. ASSIGNMENTS
Students need to send a motivation letter of 1-2 pages describing their motivation to apply (both to the
course in general and to the wished projects), expectations from the course, and their relevant study and
work background. The purpose of the motivation letters is to ensure the course will have participants with a
variety of backgrounds that are highly committed to working on the projects and learning from them.
Motivation letters will be screened and students will be informed of their acceptance.
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During the course, students will work in teams towards finding creative solutions to real-life social and
environmental challenges brought by partner organisations, which can be e.g. companies or NGO’s. The
team members are expected to work intensively together during the course and they will be regularly
meeting the representatives of the client organizations. The groups report of their progress in the mid-term
of the project and of the results in the end of the project. The groups are also encouraged to report to the
client organization.
The general roles of the project groups and the client are the following:
• Project group
– Organizing the work
– Planning and keeping up with the schedule
– Preparation of meetings with the client and with the supervisor
• Evaluation of business case
• Evaluation against relevant sustainability aspects
– Preparation of the mid-term reporting/ presentation
– Preparation of the final report and presentation
• At the school
• For the client’s representatives
• Client
– Definition of objectives and deliverables of the work
– Knowledge of the context
– Organizing access to necessary other contacts
– Approval of the focus of the work and the schedule
– Selection of favoured proposals
– Organizing reporting to relevant representatives of the client organization/ stakeholders
6. READINGS
Specific readings relevant for respective projects will be defined for each group.
7. PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Session
Date
Topic
Readings
Kick-off meeting
Late
September
30st
September
7th
October
to be
agreed
5th
November,
2014
21st
October
2nd
December
Presentation of
projects
Project work in
general
Project management
(visitor Riku Oksman)
-
Lecture: getting
started
Lecture: project
work
Tutoring
Mid-term
reporting 1
Mid-term
reporting 2
Final reporting
Final report
Presentation by
groups
Presentation by
groups
Presentation by
groups
Written report to
instructor and client
Assignment Due Date
-
defined for each
group
defined for each
group
defined for each
group
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10th December, 2014
Mid-term reporting through a class-room presentation is required by each group. The presence of all group
members in the mid-term reporting sessions is necessary. Its objective is to check the progress of the
project and enable efficient supervision. Mid-term reporting is not part of the grade, but failing to report
leads to failing the course.
The presentation of each group should take max. 15 minutes, which allows for approximately 10 minutes
for discussion.
Recommendations for the content of the mid-term reports
1. How did you focus and refine your task (and why). Tell about the choices made of products/ data/
markets/ target groups etc. depending on your subject.
2. Give a summary of the background information collected so far. The information may include the
context of the project, the present situation (where are we now), main sources of information
(types of literature, people met and interviewed etc.).
3. Preliminary ideas for proposals, like sources of inspiration for solutions, types of actions
recommended, level of detail planned in your work etc.
4. Results. Please describe the results you will produce, e.g. ideas, solution descriptions, prototypes
etc.
5. Form of final reporting. Please state what kind of reporting are you going to produce (written,
presentations etc.)
8. COURSE WORKLOAD
Classroom hours
10h
Class preparation
Assignments
150h
…
Total
160h (6 op)
9. ETHICAL RULES
Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Thereof>
https://into.aalto.fi/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=3772443
10. OTHER ISSUES
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Registration to course: WebOodi registration, also a motivation letter is required (please see the
assignment description).
Course Policies
Retrieving Course Materials
References
Rubrics
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