Solve real challenges in the Stockholm area through Openlab's master's course
Hello Josefin Tissingh, communications officer at the KTH-based think tank Openlab, which runs the interdisciplinary master's course Innovations for the Emerging City. In the course, students and teachers from KTH, the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm University and Södertörn University, collaborate with clients from the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm to solve a variety of real societal challenges.
What types of societal challenges can the students expect to work with on the course?
"The students of the autumn semester are currently working on challenges that affect the health of the elderly, the mental well-being of young people, and patients' care experience. An example is the master's project Mobile Mobility Hub Network, which was developed with SL - Stockholm Public Transport - and Region Stockholm. The project, which focuses on creating sustainable transport solutions, has recently become a pilot project in Upplands Väsby municipality."
"Another master's project, Sparky, is a digital tool that contributes to patients' increased well-being. The project was developed in collaboration with Stockholm Obesity Center and Region Stockholm. The award winning innovation has recently received funding and is now working with Drivhuset to develop its clinical tests further."
What can the collaboration look like between students from different universities?
"The students, who come from many different educational backgrounds and countries, are divided into interdisciplinary teams to solve a challenge together. Through this process they primarily use the design thinking method, where great importance is placed on understanding their target group and creating a solution adapted to the end user's needs. The students often perform thorough studies and analyses by, for example, interviewing the user and observing the ’challenge environment’."
For which KTH students can the course be relevant?
"The course is suitable for students interested in developing new and practical solutions for complex societal problems in collaboration with one or more partners from the public sector. Students interested in various sustainability issues, such as sustainabile technology, sustainable urban planning, Agenda 2030, and more, often apply from KTH."
What can a student expect to gain from the course?
"How to apply the design thinking method as a tool to create innovative solutions to complex and real societal challenges. Experience in collaborating with an external public client that can lead to a step into the labour market. In addition, students develop skills to present an innovation or concept verbally, visually and in text, for example, through sketches, prototypes, pitches, presentations and reports."