Students are seeking solutions for sustainable waste management in Kenya and Zambia in collaboration with Steam’n Heat
Students from Finland, Kenya and Zambia have come together to seek business solutions for sustainable waste management. Students will investigate the current state of waste management in one of the two countries and possible profitable solutions for recycling materials and producing pure energy from waste. The client company is Steam’n Heat Ltd, a company specialised in environmentally friendly energy solutions.
“Industrial collaboration provides an excellent opportunity for networking. Students and staff also receive valuable information on the changing business environment”, says Ms. Satu Kivimäki, coordinator of the Sustainable Bioeconomy module at Häme University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
Six multinational student teams will start working on the case, three of which in Kenya and three in Zambia. As part of the project, the students will post update on their progress on Facebook and Twitter, and write a blog post on the project website.
Learning through real-life business cases is new for many students used to learning through mass lectures and books. In a practical project, students need to take responsibility for their own learning, receiving support from teachers and the client company. This often increases motivation and contributes to gaining long-term competence. In addition to substance matters, students also develop their critical thinking, innovativeness and teamworking skills.“Willingness to understand each other’s cultures is critical for successful teamwork”, Project Coordinator Dr. Eija Laitinen notes.
The assignments were presented in a hybrid event at Hämeenlinna University Centre in late August. The event was participated by over 20 students on-spot and 60 through online streaming.