Course: Joensuu Summer School on Optics 2025: Innovation Skills in Photonics
Dates: 18.8.-22.8.2025
Place: UEF, Joensuu campus, Metria
Credits: 2 ECTS
Teacher(s): Jyrki Saarinen, visitor lecturers.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes in this summer school are to equip students with the skills and mindset needed to drive innovation in the field of photonics. Participants will get insights on trends in photonics, get familiarized with principles like design thinking and problem-solving, and develop techniques for generating and refining ideas. They will enhance collaboration skills and tackle real-world challenges provided by industry partners. A special focus is placed on understanding the importance of multidisciplinarity, as students are encouraged to draw on their prior knowledge of photonics and explore how its expertise drives innovation across diverse fields.
Content
The summer school includes lectures on innovation tools and techniques, such as design thinking and creative problem solving. Industry partners will share real-world insights and offer talks, motivating students with practical examples from the field. Additionally, students will work in smaller teams on real-world challenges strengthening their collaboration skills.
Modes of study
The modes of study include lectures (15 h), as well as practical team work (9 h) where students apply their learnings in challenges provided by industry partners. At the end of summer school, there will be a final test (1 h).
Teaching methods
Lectures (15 h), team work and presentations (9 h).
Learning material
Materials provided by the lecturers.
Further information and registration
Registration is done through UEF Summer School webpage, click the button below. This particular summer school is organized at Joensuu campus.
Qualifications
This summer school is suitable for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students.
Evaluation scale
Scale 0-5
Person in charge
Jyrki Saarinen
Programme
Also available as a pdf (click link).
Monday (Introduction)
9:15-11:00 – Opening Session & Introduction to Summer School
- Overview of the program and objectives
- Introduction to innovation in photonics
11:00-12:00 – Industry Talk: Real-World Insights from Industry Partner A
- Getting to know the company A
- Insights about the role of innovation in the company’s operations
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:15-14:00 – Industry Talk: Real-World Insights from Industry Partner B
- Getting to know the company B
- Insights about the role of innovation in the company’s operations
14:15-15:00 – Practical Team Work Session
- Presentation of the Industry challenges
- Workshop for team formation, task alignment and skill optimization
Tuesday (Problem Definition)
9:15-11:00 – Lecture: Problem Brainstorming and Problem Validation
- Learning to identify the right problems
- Understanding the importance of validating problems before investing resources
11:00-12:00 – Practical Team Work Session
- Problem brainstorming and problem validation
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:15-14:00 – Lecture: Problem Definition
- The importance of clearly defining problems in the innovation process
- Overview of the problem definition process
14:15-15:00 – Practical Team Work Session
- Problem definition
Wednesday (Creativity)
9:15-11:00 – Lecture: Inspiring Innovation in Other Fields Using Photonics Knowledge and Practical Team Work Session
- Developing the ability to apply photonics knowledge to inspire innovation in non-photonics fields
- Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Thinking
11:00-12:00 – Lecture: Generating Concepts using Morphological Tables
- Introduction to morphological analysis
- Leveraging AI in concepts development
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:15-15:00 – Practical Team Work Session
- Morphological analysis
- Generating concepts
- Starting to prepare the presentations
Thursday (Concept Selection)
9:15-11:00 – Lecture: Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
- Definition and importance
- Stages of TRLs
11:00-12:00 – Lecture: Concept selection
- Evaluating and comparing concepts
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:15-14:00 – Practical Team Work Session
- Selecting the concepts and preparing the presentations
14:15-15:00 Final test
Friday (Presentations)
9:15-12:00 – Team Presentations and Feedback
- Each team presents their ideas on the industry tasks, followed by feedback from industry partners, supervisors and peers.
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:15-14:00 – Team Presentations and Feedback continues
14:15-15:00 – Closing Session
- Reflections on the week, feedback collection, and certificate distribution.