South African MBA students inspired by service design in Finland

Laurea’s education export with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) began with the Service Design Intensive Week programme.

News14.11.2018

Laurea’s education export with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), South Africa, began with the Service Design Intensive Week programme. The 18 students who took part in the programme are completing an MBA degree at TUT, and the Service Design Intensive Week was part of their studies. The group of students was accompanied by Professor and Acting Director Ms. Vinessa Naidoo and Mr. Emmanuel Edoun, who represented the staff of TUT Business School.

The group members work in public administration and are completing their MBA studies at the same time. Laurea hosted various professionals, including members from university administration and academic programme leaders, principals of primary schools and directors from the health sector.

Over the course of the week, the enthusiasm of our educators thoroughly inspired the visiting students, who then devised assignments, projects and ideas for developing their own work and organisations based on service design methods.

During the intensive week spent in Finland, our visitors were impressed by Finnish nature, safety and comprehensive services. The programme also included a visit to the Iso Omena shopping centre in Espoo and its Service Centre, which is a brilliant example of customer-driven service development and focus on the customer experience. Laurea’s research and development activities and its promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship also drew a great deal of attention from the participants.