Project

National RDI Integration Development Programme for Master Degrees

Project sponsors

Focus area
Other area
Implementation time
1.4.2026 - 31.3.2028
Yksikkö
School of Professional Teacher Education
Financing program
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027
UN Sustainable development goals
Projektin kuvaus

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Strengthening the Link Between YAMK Education and Working Life Development

In the VaTKI project, the development focus is on the integration of research, development and innovation activities (RDI) with education. The aim is to ensure that Master's degree programmes at Universities of Applied Sciences (YAMK) respond more effectively to the real development needs of working life and support the renewal of workplaces.

The VaTKI project is a continuation of the National Development Project for Master's Degrees at Universities of Applied Sciences (VaKe). The VaKe project brought together all Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences into joint development work and created a strong foundation for the goal-oriented and coordinated development of YAMK education as part of lifelong learning.

Objectives

The objective of the project is to strengthen the role of Master's degrees at Universities of Applied Sciences (YAMK) in the development of working life by integrating research, development and innovation (RDI) activities more closely into education. The project develops teachers' pedagogical and methodological competences so that research-oriented, development-oriented and innovative learning becomes a natural and coherent part of YAMK programmes across all Universities of Applied Sciences.

The goal is to create a unified and practice-oriented approach to implementing RDI activities in education in a way that supports both students' learning and the genuine development needs of working life.

At the same time, the project strengthens the role of workplaces as environments for lifelong learning and development. Working life is seen as an active partner where learning, development and innovation take place in authentic contexts. The aim is to create conditions that enable YAMK students' studies, development assignments and master's theses to be more closely aligned with the strategic and operational goals of their workplaces.

Lines of Action

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The project is implemented through three complementary lines of action.

The first line of action focuses on developing research-based, development-oriented and innovative learning in YAMK education. The project builds a shared understanding of what RDI means in the YAMK context and how it is reflected in curricula, study modules and individual courses. As a result of this work, workplace-driven and student-centred RDI models are developed, along with concrete tools for teachers and degree programmes, as well as approaches that embed innovation-oriented development work into YAMK education.

The second line of action focuses on systematically developing workplaces into learning and development environments for YAMK programmes. The project identifies and shares well-functioning practices developed in different Universities of Applied Sciences, recognises the prerequisites for successful workplace-based learning, and develops new models in collaboration with working life. YAMK alumni play an important role as bridges between higher education institutions and workplaces, and their expertise is actively utilised in the development work.

The third line of action focuses on renewing research, development and innovation methods related to YAMK education and strengthening teachers' competences. RDI methodology studies are developed to better meet current and future working life development needs, with an emphasis on practice-oriented and applied research and development competence. This supports the role of Universities of Applied Sciences as working life–driven development actors within the dual higher education model.

Target Groups

The target groups of the project include YAMK teachers in all Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, as well as those responsible for developing and leading YAMK education. The target groups also include experts and management responsible for lifelong learning and actors responsible for the development of RDI activities at Universities of Applied Sciences.

The project is implemented as nationwide cooperation, and its results will be available for use across all Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.

What Does the Project Mean in Practice?

The project develops concrete operating models that ensure that:

  • development assignments carried out by YAMK students in their workplaces produce real benefits for their organisations
  • teachers' competences in RDI and development methodologies are strengthened
  • workplaces function in a systematic way as learning, development and innovation environments

In practice, this includes for example:

  • renewing YAMK courses so that they are built around authentic workplace development challenges
  • joint workshops where teachers, students, companies and alumni co-create new solutions
  • models that connect students' master's theses and other development work directly to organisational strategic objectives
  • mentoring and peer learning for teachers in applying RDI methods in teaching


Project results

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As a result of the project, nationally applicable operating models for the development of YAMK education will be created, along with a clearer and more impactful way to integrate working life, RDI activities and teaching. The project strengthens the role of YAMK programmes as part of the lifelong learning system and supports the ability of Universities of Applied Sciences to respond to the changing competence needs of working life.

The results of the project will be disseminated through seminars, workshops and mentoring activities in collaboration with Universities of Applied Sciences, company partners and YAMK alumni.

10.4.2025