Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- present justified suggestions for development in relation to working life
- conceptualize phenomena related to working life based on research results
- use appropriate research and development methods in order to produce new knowledge
- act in development projects cooperatively and in a responsible manner with working life and other partners
- evaluate personal activities and solutions critically
- understand concepts in an extensive scale and present topics logically with justification

Teaching methods

The first steps in thesis preparation are the selection and analysis of the topic. Read more about the process in student intranet. The thesis preparation includes acting as an opponent to another student’s thesis, presenting one’s own work, evaluation discussion and completing the maturity test.

This is an intensive implementation, where parts of the thesis process are carried out in class at the Leppävaara campus as a Design Sprint project.

"The maturity test, which is part of the thesis, is taken by the student in Finnish or Swedish, in accordance with the Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences. Students who have received their formal education outside of Finland or in a language other than Finnish or Swedish take the maturity test in the language of the degree programme they are completing." (Laurea degree regulations 2024.)

Location and time

Please refer to the Timetable Engine at https://lukkarit.laurea.fi/ for the schedule information. Laurea reserves the right to modify the timetable.

Learning materials and recommended literature

A thesis template is available on the student intranet.

The Tournitin program is used to detect plagiarism (unauthorised quoting of other authors’ text). The Tournitin user instructions for students and the guidelines for handling plagiarism cases at Laurea are available on the student intranet.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

When applying for accreditation of prior learning, you should contact the Head of Student Affairs or the thesis coordinator.

If you are not able to attend the events that require the attendance of the implementation, you can do the thesis with the implementation A9286- 3041 Bachelor´s Thesis.

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

The thesis is expected to demonstrate a clear connection to workplace development. For example, the goal may be to develop a service, action models or a new work culture. The thesis may be part of the research and development activities of the University of Applied Sciences.

This implementation develops a development item proposed by the client as a design sprint project.

Important dates

The kick off of the Design Sprint thesis will be held as a Teams meeting on 8.1.2025
The actual intensive week is week 5, i.e. 27.-31.1.2025
Attendance at these events is a prerequisite for participation in the implementation.

Forms of internationality

The course is bilingual (Finnish & English).

Students workload

One credit equals approximately 26.7 hours of work performed by the student.

With this implementation, there are around 60 hours of guided time and place-based activities.
Time must be set aside for independent work after the intensive week.

Content and scheduling

The thesis allows you to deepen your expertise according to your own interests.

Further information for students

The study unit corresponds to the requirements of Bachelor's level education.


The quality of the study unit implementation has been assessed and the self-evaluation report is available in Canvas.

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

The thesis evaluation guidelines are provided on the student intranet (Studies > Thesis and graduation). The evaluation criteria are included in Laurea’s thesis guidelines.

All staff and students of Laurea are expected to adhere to good scientific practices, which includes appropriate referencing. Familiarise yourself with the practices and, if needed, ask for more information. All theses are checked using the Tournitin plagiarism detection system.

Evaluation criteria, fail (0)

Requirements of grade 1 are not met.

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Workplace development

Collaboration:
There has been some collaboration with the workplace during the thesisproject.
Development:
The thesis project aims to develop an area designated by the workplace or one that has been recognised together with the student.

Innovativeness and creativity
Novelty: The thesis project demonstrates little effort to produce new information and expertise.

Research-oriented approach and implementation

Guidance: The student has made minimal use of guidance.
Process: The thesis project has partly proceeded in a logical manner.
Reporting: An effort has been made to write the report in a coherent manner.
Theoretical framework: The theoretical framework utilises some literature that is applicable to the subject.
Use of methods: The methods used in the thesis project have been described.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

The different stages of the thesis project have been carried out in collaboration with the workplace.
Development:
The thesis project has succeeded in developing an area designated by the workplace or one that has been recognised together with the student.
Workplace assessment of usefulness:
The workplace has determined that the process and its results are useful.

Innovativeness and creativity
Novelty: During the thesis project an effort has been made to produce new information and expertise that the workplace did not expect.

Research-oriented approach and implementation

Guidance: The student has taken the initiative to seek and utilise guidance during the thesis project.
Process: The thesis project has mostly proceeded in logical manner.
Reporting: The report is clear.
Theoretical framework: The report demonstrates knowledge of the essential literature on the subject.This has been utilised to justify the outcomes of the project.
Use of methods: The methods used in the thesis project were applied appropriately to the subject.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Workplace development

Collaboration
The different stages of the thesis project have been carried out in close collaboration with the workplace.Changes and problems were discussed with the thesis supervisor and the workplace representatives.
Development
The thesis project has succeeded in significantly developing an area designated by the workplace or one that has bee nrecognised together with the student.
Workplace assessment of usefulness:
The workplace has determined that the process and its results arev very useful.

Innovativeness and creativity
Novelty: During the thesis project new information and expertise,have been produced which the workplace did not expect. The results can be utilised beyond the context of the thesisproject.

Research-oriented approach and implementation

Guidance: The student has taken the initiative to seek guidance during the thesis project in a goal-oriented manner.The student has demonstrated the ability to act independently.
Process: The thesis project has proceeded in a logical manner.
Reporting: There port is well-structured and convincing.
Theoretical framework: The report demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the essential literature applicable to the subject of the thesis.This has been utilised extensively to justify the outcomes of the project.
Use of methods: The methodological choices have been justified extensively and applied extremely well.

Further information

Thesis is graded by using the assessment criteria described in the thesis guidelines.