SMILLA: SMall-scale live cases to Integrate Life-long Learning and Access to work-life examples

Important results from the project

The project has developed a model for small-scale live cases to integrate workplace connections into fulltime education and lifelong learning. The goals have been achieved: 11 student employments, 60 small-scale live cases, and several theses have been completed in the healthcare sector. Collaboration between participants from academia and the public sector has deepened, and engineering students have gained a deeper understanding of how their skills can contribute to improvements in healthcare.

Expected long term effects

The project enhances access to education for professionals and strengthens the connection between students and the workplace, with a focus on quality and sustainability. By developing competencies in quality improvements in healthcare, it can contribute to addressing challenges such as an aging population and demands for resource efficiency. Evaluations show increased interest among engineering students in careers within the public sector, potentially supportive of its future competence supply.

Approach and implementation

The project began with concept development based on focus groups, literature, and a reference group. This was followed by pilot studies, model development, and dissemination through conferences, articles, and networks. A total of 60 small-scale live cases were conducted, and the model will continue to be used beyond the project. The project and its collaborations have adhered to the plan, but an extension was made to allow a third pilot round to test adjustments in time allocated to the cases.