World in Transition WiT

Basic information of the minor

Code: ARTS3096

Extent: 15-25 ECTS 

Language: English 

Teachers in charge: Olli Varis (ENG), Saija Hollmén (ARTS)

Administrative contact:  Study Coordinator Sanna Tekonen 

Target group:  Master level students 

Application procedure: Open for all master’s students at Aalto University.

Quotas and restrictions: Lecture courses are open for all. Included studio courses have maximum quotas and therefore additional selection criteria, identified in their respective course descriptions. The used criteria varies from course to course. The course descriptions indicate to whom and how the applications will be submitted. In some courses, degree students may be prioritized according to course description.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree.

Content and structure of the minor 

The focus of WiT Minor is in long-term sustainable global development issues, such as UN’s SDGs, good governance, human rights, social sustainability, climate change and innovations. It explores the dilemma of development from different perspectives. It deals with cross-cultural communication, participatory practices and community engagement in vulnerable settings, and promotes culturally sensitive professional practices in architecture, design, engineering and business.

WiT Minor exploits Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodologies with links to industry, civil society and academia. The WiT Minor emphasizes interdisciplinarity and mutual and reciprocal peer learning. 

Learning outcomes 

After completing WiT Minor, student will have holistic understanding of the global development related issues, regardless of their own disciplinary background. They are prepared for advanced studies in the thematic area and for further work life opportunities on the field.

Transferable skills – such as teamwork, critical thinking, judgement and decision making, communication project design, research methods, adaptability – are core learning objectives, preparing the students’ expertise and knowledge to move from situated (context related) to transferable, scalable and applicable in complex professional situations.

 In addition to disciplinary and context related learning outcomes, the minor aims at providing the students with an understanding in the diverse linkages and relations from technology, innovations, design and entrepreneurship to socio-culturally, economically and environmentally sustainable development. The Minor educates professionals capable of strategic spatial problem solving, planning design-led solutions for longer-term recovery, adapting to cultural variations, and coordinating and managing projects in vulnerable communities, using participatory planning methods.

Structure of the minor

WiT Minor consists of prerequisite courses on global development issues, followed by studio courses (see selection criteria) including a field trip, provided by Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture and School of Engineering.

The core courses are Interplay of Cultures (IoC) Studio and Sustainable Global Technologies (SGT) Studio, with a selection of theme related electives. In previous years, the field trips have taken Aalto students to countries such as Senegal, Benin, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Lebanon, Greece, Nepal, Cambodia, Taiwan, Philippines and Mexico.  The field trip costs are (usually) on the students’ responsibility.

The minor also offers courses that do not require attending a field trip. Students are also free to compose the minor from additional and optional courses only.

^*Selection criteria applies. Students from the responsible / organizing master program have priority.