SUSTIS Sustainable development project (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

The course includes project work and the application of the concept of sustainable development to the operations of the target organization.

Each project group has its own project, which the group members independently advance throughout the course. The course emphasizes goal-oriented work, communication skills, and effective teamwork. Project work is based on the group's plan and its practical implementation. During the project, students will have the opportunity to develop their presentation skills and meeting practices. The project is concluded in a structured manner, reflecting on the success of the project in terms of the results produced and the student’s learning.

Scheduling:

The hours marked in the course schedule are on Wednesday mornings from 8 am to 12 pm. THIS IMPLEMENTATION IS THE MORNING IMPLEMENTATION, the afternoon implementation number is 3002.

Attendance is mandatory. Teams will arrange other meetings according to their own schedule. The course begins in week 41 with a separate online orientation. The actual team meetings are held in weeks 43-49 (7 sessions).

Preliminary Schedule:

Week/Date

41 Orientation (Zoom)
42 A week without classes
43 Team organization and orientation to the topic. Meeting with the client and assignment.
44 Work. Project plan submission to the client.
45 Work, feedback on project plan from client.
46 Work
47 Work
48 Work
49 Presentation of results to client. Final summary (Lessons learned)

Objective

The student is able to

• analyze the practices of the target organization from the perspective of sustainability and responsibility, taking into account the different dimensions of sustainable development,
• reasonably evaluate the practices prevailing in the target organization in instructing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on sustainability and responsibility,
• propose improvements to the practices of the organization under review that promote sustainability and responsibility.
• work in a multidisciplinary project.
• communicate with different stakeholders and create the necessary networks in working life.
• act actively and responsibly as a learner, both independently and as part of a project team.

Content

- applying the principles of sustainable development in a project
- working in a multidisciplinary project
- interaction and communication skills in project work
- different phases of the project, evaluation and feedback

Materials

Basics of Sustainable Development (1-3 ECTS credits)
Students will acquire additional project-related materials independently.

Teaching methods

Learning methods vary by group, but project-based learning is a common element for all.

The course includes mandatory in-person sessions, as the work is based on interaction in a multidisciplinary workplace project. Remote work does not meet these objectives. Additionally, students will work at other times according to the needs of the project. These meetings may also be held remotely.

Each group creates its own Teams group, which serves as the project workspace and where deliverables are submitted. The project manager creates the Teams group with the assistance of the group supervisor. ItsLearning functions as the material repository.

Exam schedules

There is no exam.

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

Learning is based on a work-life-oriented project-based approach, where the student takes an active responsibility for their own learning. In this course, the student must play an active role and independently take responsibility for both their own learning and the implementation of the project. The course is based on teamwork, where the role of the instructors is to support and guide the work, but not to participate directly in the project. Each group has its own responsible teacher. The responsible teacher is assisted by a group supervisor (a third-year student).

Project assignments are related to sustainable development. The groups will conduct a Sustainable and Responsible Working Life (Kestävä ja vastuullinen työelämä) case study of their own target organization.

Completion alternatives

If a student believes they have equivalent prior knowledge, he/she should apply for recognition of prior learning. Instructions can be found in Messi.

Student workload

Each project team works on its own project and produces related deliverables.

The course includes 81 hours of student work, approximately 28 hours of scheduled contact hours, and around 53 hours of independent and group work outside of the scheduled sessions.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment is ongoing. The teacher evaluates the student's summary of the learning journal. Assessment is influenced by self-assessment, peer evaluation, as well as feedback from the group supervisor and the client. The responsible teacher is in charge of the course evaluation. Successful completion of the course requires active participation in the project work.

The course is assessed in terms of project skills, teamwork abilities, problem-solving skills, and the ability to apply the principles of sustainable development in the project. The Sustainable and Responsible Working Life (Kestävä ja vastuullinen työelämä) section is assessed on a pass/fail scale.

Assessment of the Sustainable and Responsible Working Life section:

An approved case study assignment requires that the output (poster) returned by the group meets the following criteria:

- Is based on diverse and critical information gathering, utilizing different types of information sources.
- Demonstrates the ability to examine working life practices analytically and critically from a sustainability and responsibility perspective, taking into account the different dimensions of sustainable development.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the specific characteristics of the activities of one's own field and the selected target organization, and of the sustainability and responsibility issues that are central to one's own field/target organization.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the practical challenges related to sustainability and responsibility in working life, as well as the ability to brainstorm new or improved solutions.

Evaluation of the project work::

The student…

Acquires essential project-related information and utilizes or shares it within the project.
Completes tasks/assignments on time.
Actively contributes to the group’s work.
Considers others’ opinions during discussions.
Requests, accepts, and provides feedback and comments.
Seeks and generates alternative solutions to problems.
Develops, tests, and applies sustainable development principles in the project.
The group achieves the project’s goals.

The student maintains a weekly learning journal in Teams. At the end of the course, the student prepares a summary of the weekly learning journal and submits it in Teams. The teacher evaluates the summary based on the course assessment criteria. The summary should include the student's own evaluation of their development in the listed assessment areas.

At the end of the course, a 360-degree evaluation is conducted. The evaluation results are considered in the final grade. The student's self-assessment is compared with the group's assessment, and the group supervisor evaluates performance. These verbal assessments are taken into account in the teacher’s final evaluation.

The client will also be asked to evaluate the group’s performance based on the following categories (the group supervisor or teacher will request the evaluation, which is sent to the teacher). This can also affect the students’ grades either positively or negatively:

- The client has not received the deliverables as outlined in the assignment.
- The client evaluates the group’s deliverables as meeting the assignment but finds them to be modest in content and narrow in scope.
- The client evaluates the group’s deliverables as meeting the assignment, with good content and scope.
- The client evaluates the group’s deliverables as meeting the assignment, with excellent content and scope.

Failed (0)

The student has not participated in project or team work.
The student has more than two absences from the scheduled contact sessions.
The perspective of sustainable development is missing.

The Sustainable and responsible working life (Kestävä ja vastuullinen työelämä) case study has not been completed or does not meet the criteria (see Evaluation targets, timing and methods).

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student demonstrates basic skills in project and teamwork, with some deficiencies.
- Acquires information and uses it in the project.
- Completes tasks/assignments, but they are incomplete or late.
- Participates in group work and discussions during contact sessions and Teams.

The student/group has not applied new solutions and perspectives in the project.

The student/group has included sustainable development principles in the project, but only to a limited extent.

The group has successfully completed the Sustainable and Responsible Working Life case study.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student demonstrates good skills in project and teamwork.
- Actively acquires information and uses and shares it in the project.
- Completes tasks/assignments mostly on time and well.
- Actively participates in group work and discussions during contact sessions and Teams.

The student/group has actively searched for information, new solutions, and perspectives.

The student/group has understood the core content of sustainable development principles and has applied them well in the project.

The group has successfully completed the Sustainable and Responsible Working Life case study.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student demonstrates excellent skills in project and teamwork.
- Actively acquires essential project-related information and uses and applies it in the project.
- Plans and completes tasks/assignments on time and with high quality.
- Actively contributes to the group’s work and discussions, furthering the project during contact sessions and Teams.
- Requests, accepts, and provides feedback and comments.

The student/group has actively and innovatively sought information, new solutions, and perspectives.

The student/group has thoroughly understood and skillfully applied sustainable development principles in the project.

The group has successfully completed the Sustainable and Responsible Working Life case study.

Qualifications

Students are expected to have basic knowledge of sustainable development and project work.

Further information

The communication platforms for the course are ItsLearning and Teams. External communication channels are agreed upon with the client (e.g., email). For justified reasons, the group may use other communication channels, provided all group members have access and the management of the channel is under the responsibility of Turku University of Applied Sciences.