EDUCATION
Aalto WiT LAB is also a network for courses focusing on resilient communities, humanitarian architecture, sustainable development and social entrepreneurship. Ongoing courses are listed here below, all of them are part of the Creative Sustainability Master’s Programme in Aalto. Links take to current course workspaces in MyCourses.
World in Transition (WiT) Minor
WiT Minor (20-25 credits) is an Aalto University-wide interdisciplinary elective ensemble focusing on global sustainability & humanitarian development, open for all Aalto master level students. It collects courses from Aalto Schools of ARTS, ENG and BIZ, dealing with the thematic area.
Bachelor’s degree is a mandatory prerequisite, since challenging fieldwork requires expertise in one’s own field.
The minor includes theoretical background studies in state of the world and development as well as interdisciplinary co-learning studio courses with field trips to partnering southern countries, preparing the students for real life challenges in vulnerable communities.
The minor uses Problem Based Learning (PBL) methodologies with links to industry and civil society.
WiT Minor is co-hosted by Aalto University’s Department of Architecture (ARTS) and Department of Built Environment (ENG).
For more information, visit:
https://into.aalto.fi/display/ensivuaineet2020/World+in+Transition+WiT
Interplay of Cultures Studio (Aalto ARTS)
The Interplay of Cultures course has run under different names since 1993. The course aims to teach students about the environmental, economic, cultural and social impacts of development, architecture and urban planning. Collaborating with universities, NGOs and municipal and national authorities helps students gain a broader understanding of the local context, but also aims at long-term capacity building in the host country.
Over the years, the field trips have taken Aalto students to Senegal, Benin, Cambodia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Philippines and Zanzibar.
In 2021, the course is studying the indigenous Sámi culture, in collaboration with the Siida museum in Inari, northern Finland.
Teachers: Architects Saija Hollmén, Maiju Suomi, Taru Niskanen
Sustainable Global Technologies (SGT) programme (Aalto ENG)
SGT runs a set of cross-disciplinary courses that look at the diverse connections between sustainability and technology in developing context. Student projects highlight environmental, social and cultural aspects of sustainable development.
- Lecture series: State of the World and Development
- Theory course: Sustainable Built Environment
- Studio course with real life projects: Sustainable Global Technologies (SGT) Studio
Read also SGT project blogs from spring 2016:
Project Blog Refugees in Europe Today LIFT
Teachers: Prof. Olli Varis, Matleena Muhonen and mentors