# EU4Dual Winter School 2026 at Savonia University of Applied Sciences: An international learning environment at the intersection of service development and regional innovation

> EU4Dual Winter School connected students and companies through real challenges, practical learning, and teamwork.

## The EU4Dual Approach
European higher education is increasingly seeking more impactful ways to integrate learning, working life, and regional development. This challenge is at the core of dual learning, which combines academic learning with authentic workplace-based development tasks. The EU4Dual – The European Dual Studies University network responds to this need by developing shared pedagogical models that embed learning directly into real organisational and societal contexts.

The EU4Dual Winter School represents one concrete implementation of this dual learning approach. It brings students, companies, and regional development organisations together around real-world challenges in authentic environments, where learning outcomes and development impact are pursued simultaneously.

## Winter School 2026 Overview
In January 2026, Savonia University of Applied Sciences hosted the EU4Dual Winter School, welcoming more than 50 international students from France, Spain, and Finland to the North Savo region. Participants represented Mondragon Unibertsitatea, ESTIA Institute of Technology, and Savonia University of Applied Sciences.

The shared objective was the development of experiential and activity-based services from an international customer perspective, embedded within the regional innovation ecosystem.

## Industry Partners and Challenges
At the core of the Winter School were development challenges presented by three North Savo–based experiential service companies:
*   **Tiimihenki** (Jukka-Tapio Keränen)
*   **Metsäkkö** (Piia Ratava)
*   **Neljän Tuulen Tytär** (Johanna Koponen)

These companies operate in nature-based, wellbeing-oriented, and experiential business contexts. Their involvement was linked to the regional EOP project (Elämys- ja ohjelmapalveluiden kehittäminen Pohjois-Savossa), which aims to strengthen the competitiveness and international readiness of experience-based services in the region.

## Pedagogical Structure
The pedagogical structure was grounded in design thinking, with an emphasis on application. Learning progressed from problem definition to ideation, concept development, prototyping, and pitching.

Key principles included:
*   Strong practical orientation
*   Teamwork in international and multidisciplinary groups
*   A coaching-based teaching approach
*   Student self-direction and responsibility
*   Principles of open innovation

## Regional Innovation and Collaboration
Testing of service prototypes took place in the Savilahti campus and innovation area, as well as at Luoto. The test day was organised in cooperation with Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Savo Vocational College (Sakky), highlighting the value of cross-educational cooperation. Participants also explored the regional startup ecosystem at Hub Panostamo.

## Participant Feedback
A feedback survey conducted with 49 students (92% response rate) showed that 90% of respondents rated their experience as “excellent” or “very good.” Students highlighted the value of multicultural teamwork, entrepreneurship, and working on real-world company cases.

## Organizers and Further Information
**Course Lead:**
*   Matti Laitinen, RDI-expert, Savonia University of Applied Sciences (matti.laitinen@savonia.fi, [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattislaitinen/))

**Coaches and Lecturers:**
*   Veli-Matti Tolppi, Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
*   Miia Kaartinen, EU4Dual Lead, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
*   Jérémie Faham, Lecturer, ESTIA Institute of Technology
*   Ane Eizmendi Garin, Lecturer, Mondragon Unibertsitatea
*   Jonathan Fontán Álvarez, Lecturer, Mondragon Unibertsitatea

**Resources:**
*   [EOP Project](https://bcpohjois-savo.fi/elamys-ja-ohjelmapalveluiden-kehittaminen-pohjois-savossa/)
*   [Neljän Tuulen Tytär](https://www.neljantuulentytar.fi/)
*   [Tiimihenki](https://tiimihenki.fi/)
*   [Piia Ratava](https://piiaratava.wordpress.com/)
*   [Savotta Student Union](https://www.opiskelijakuntasavotta.fi/en/home/)
*   [EU4Dual](https://eu4dual.education/)
*   [EU4Dual Savonia](https://eu4dual.savonia.fi/)
*   [Sakky](https://sakky.fi/en/sakky)
*   [Hub Panostamo](https://www.hubpanostamo.fi/)