Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to describe the experiences and best practices of students and lecturers by multi-professional collaboration in the project work of Bachelor Degree Programmes in Nursing and Social Services. The studies in the project are based on Learning by Developing (LbD) model as a part of students’ competence development.

Laurea University of Applied Sciences operates in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Laurea has created Learning by Developing (LbD) model - an innovative operating model based on key components of authenticity, partnership, experiential learning, creativity and research. Students’ learning is connected to authentic development projects that are rooted in the world of work. Learning by Developing model creates network between education, working life and regional development.

In the autumn of 2013, 21 students of Bachelor Degree Programmes in Nursing and Social Services took part in project called Smart Hospital Living Lab as a part of their studies. The aim of the project work was to develop wellbeing by promoting care environment. In addition to gain the study units the aim was to strengthen the students’ multiprofessional skills and work habits.

The evaluation material was collected after the study units. Integration of the project work as a part of study units requires good cooperation and planning. According to students feedback, multi-professional collaboration was useful and gave for the students more knowledge and experience of working life.

The paper will discuss the students’ experiences concerned multiprofessional project work and the lecturers’ best practices when combining working life projects into study units. The results of this study will help lecturers to design multiprofessional collaboration between different degree programmes.

Keywords:

Project work, learning experiences, Learning by Developing (LbD) model, multiprofessional collaboration.