Laurea's Key Partnership Model Evolves; Fueling Business Projects with the RUUTI Model

Laurea University of Applied Sciences’ key partnership program now includes nearly a hundred partner organizations. The main forms of collaboration are project assignments, student recruitment, events, and communication visibility. Annual satisfaction surveys from partners have yielded excellent results. This motivates us to strengthen proven practices and develop new solutions that better meet customer expectations and the evolving needs of working life.

One of our most significant strengths is student projects, which we’ve now elevated to a new level. Our well-established and respected project-based learning model has received a fresh boost with the new RUUTI model, which enables us to respond more flexibly to partner project requests. Whereas previously projects mainly began at the start of the academic year, the digital RUUTI learning environment now allows assignments to be carried out year-round.

Annukka Jussila, part of the RUUTI development team, piloted the model with the key partnership team in 2024. She emphasizes minimizing the time commitment required from commissioning organizations and ensuring projects can be implemented when they are most needed.

– During the pilot year, students worked on developing internal communication processes and a new business concept to reduce food waste. Among Laurea's key partners, for example, a project with Kespro is beginning on managing strategic and financial risks. In collaboration with the Recycling Centre, the focus will be on researching the socio-economic benefits of circular economy initiatives, Jussila explains.

Thanks to collaboration with working life, students gain practical experience and career opportunities, while companies and organizations benefit from fresh talent and new ideas for business development. The RUUTI project model also serves as a significant gateway to Europe for our key partners. At the beginning of 2025, Laurea joined the PIONEER alliance, a network of ten European higher education institutions. This alliance allows students and companies to engage in development work in authentic international contexts.

Ilkka Kurkela, Director of Key Partnerships at Laurea, is pleased with the program’s development and its wide-ranging benefits for both students and companies:

– We have a clear goal to become Finland’s leading work-life partner in higher education. The RUUTI model is a great spark that ignites new ideas and enables agile, impactful cooperation. We encourage companies to seize the opportunity and try the model in practice — it leads to real results that benefit partners, students, and society as a whole.

Benefits of Laurea’s Key Partnership Collaboration

• Student project implementation
• Communication collaboration and visibility across multiple channels
• Recruitment support – access to future talents
• Research and development support and co-operation opportunities
• Participation in Laurea’s diverse events, such as the Urafest recruitment fair

Join the Key Partnership Webinar

Welcome to learn more about RUUTI projects, key partnerships, and other collaboration opportunities at Laurea’s webinar: May 21, 2025; 8.30–9.00 AM.

More info and registration 

Take the opportunity and join us in building future expertise with Finland’s most attractive university of applied sciences!

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