Guidance on the project course

In the later stages of many programs, students are offered so-called project courses. What they look like, the conditions and what they can include varies greatly depending on the type of education they are part of. What they all have in common is that students want to get their teeth into real challenges from real companies and organizations. This strengthens motivation and builds relationships with the client.

What is a project course?

A project course, or project work within a course, is a practical element where students test their knowledge by working on a real problem or challenge. Project work can vary in length from 10 to 20 weeks of full-time study. Assigning students to a project course gives your organisation the opportunity to find a solution to a challenge or to investigate an issue. The outcome of a project course is not as in-depth as a degree project, but you will be able to gain many more perspectives on your challenge.

What is required of me as a client of a project course?

Either you have a ready-made challenge that you can discuss with the collaboration coordinator to see if it can be matched to a current project course. Or you may find an advertisement from a teacher Opens in new window. asking for cases for an upcoming project course.

The conditions may vary from one project course to another, but a common requirement is that the organization must provide a contact person to maintain the dialogue with the students.

How does the cooperation with the university supervisor take place?

Sometimes the supervisor of the course chooses a company or organization, sometimes the students can choose. In some project courses the work takes place in several companies and organizations and sometimes only in one. This means that we can never promise that your particular company/organization can be offered participation in the project course that interests you.

Presentation of the project work

Upon completion of the assignment, the students present their work at a final seminar at the university. The company/organization is welcome to be represented. If the company wishes to have its own presentation of the work, the students often agree to this. Just remember to book the presentation well in advance.

Confidentiality and agreements

We recommend that costs should be clarified in agreements with the students; material collection, analysis and travel. Agreements can also be written about the responsibilities of each person.

Students should not enter into agreements regarding confidentiality because the university is an authority and is subject to the principle of public access to information. This means that the result of the project course is a public document and therefore cannot be kept confidential. Confidential information and documentation should therefore not be included in the assignment carried out by the students.