LUT Summer School

Overview

This course explores sustainable food manufacturing and food system transitions. Students will investigate how environmental, economic, and social factors interact with food processing and how actors across the value chain can contribute to a just transition. The course is important because future food professionals must understand systemic sustainability challenges and opportunities to drive meaningful change.

Year and period

Suitable for B.Sc. (advanced stage) and M.Sc. students from food science, engineering, environmental studies, business, and social sciences.

Prior courses in engineering and social sciences are beneficial.

Teachers will make student selections in unclear cases, prioritizing motivation, fit, and readiness for multidisciplinary teamwork. 

Teachers

• Jussi Nyrhinen, D.Sc. (Econ.) – University Lecturer, Social Sciences, LUT School of Engineering Sciences. Jussi lectures and researches in social sciences with emphasis on consumer behaviour, sustainability transitions, and value systems in consumption. His work often addresses how societal, ethical, and behavioural factors influence sustainable practices in food and consumption.
• Samuel Perez Vega, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Separation Science, LUT School of Engineering Sciences. He researches sustainable process systems, including food and bioprocessing, focusing on holistic evaluation (economic, environmental, social) and frameworks like the planetary boundaries. He also works with value‐added extraction and biorefinery concepts to transform raw or waste biomass into nutritious or industrially relevant products.
• Marjo Pöysä, Ph.D. – Post-doctoral Researcher, Separation Science, LUT School of Engineering Sciences. Marjo’s research focuses on food analysis, processing, safety, and quality, with many studies on plant-based raw materials, extraction technologies (e.g., ultrasound), and the effects of processing on chemical, sensory, and nutritional properties. 
   

Aims

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand sustainable food processing principles and challenges.
• Identify environmental, economic, and social drivers of food system transitions.
• Recognize the roles and capacities of different actors in the food system.
• Reflect on justice issues and ethical perspectives in the context of sustainability transitions.

Content

The course begins with 10–20 hours of online introduction and pre‑reading discussions. Activities include live sessions for orientation, Q&A forums, and asynchronous discussion boards to prepare students for the intensive in‑person week.

Mode of study

Evaluation

Assessment is Pass/Fail. 

Requirements include:

• Active participation in all teaching activities (lectures, workshops, group work).
• Completion of group presentation.
• Submission of an individual essay after the course.

Study material

• Pre-work: Independent reading of selected journal articles and book chapters provided in advance.
• In‑course material: Slides, cases, and additional literature distributed during lectures and group work.
• Post‑work: Individual essay drawing on readings and course themes.

Overview

In this interactive course, we will critically engage with the pressing questions about the future shape of our energy systems from a social perspective, examine the new challenges posed by the transition to renewable energy, consider why history matters when thinking about energy, and explore how you can contribute to more just energy systems as a citizen.

In role-playing exercises, participants will engage in real-world energy projects from Finland. Learners will assume roles such as policymakers, engineers, activists, corporate leaders, and community representatives. These role plays simulate multi-stakeholder negotiations and decision-making processes, encouraging empathy, strategic thinking, systems-level analysis, and problem-based learning.

The course combines lectures, peer discussions, individual work, role-playing, and group projects.
 

Study level

Bachelor's course

Teacher

PhD Alicja Dankowska, PhD Minna Havukainen, Prof. Eeva Lotta Apajalahti, PhD Ayesha Sadiqa, and guest lecturers

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand energy transition as a socio-technical process
• Be able to reflect on governance and geopolitics of energy
• Recognize the importance of citizenship and justice in shaping fair and inclusive energy transitions.
• Understand the societal challenges of energy projects
• Develop skills in negotiation, critical thinking, and stakeholder engagement

Evaluation

Passed / failed

Students will be evaluated based on group projects, individual reflection notes, active participation in role-plays, individual essays, and conducting peer assessment.

Study Material

Students need to come prepared for the in-class part of the course. The study materials will consist of selected book chapters, articles, and possibly also podcasts or videos. The list of materials is still to be updated.  

• "The Introduction to Sustainability Transitions Research" guidebook edited by Julius Wesche and Abe Hendriks, Cambridge University Press (selected chapters). Available online: https://sustainabilitytransitionsbook.com/book-outline/
• "Designing Renewable Energy Systems within Planetary Boundaries" textbook edited by Mika Järvinen and Hanna Paulomäki, Springer Nature (selected chapters). Available online: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-69856-9

Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites.

In addition to the Summer School courses, we offer massive open online courses (MOOCs). They are an excellent way to become familiar with expertise and research at LUT in the fields of sustainability and climate change. First, take a MOOC to learn more about LUT. Then, join our LUT Summer School and study on our multicultural Green Campus!

MOOCs are available for everyone interested in studies at LUT Summer School.

Minna Havukainen is a doctoral researcher in LUT University. She graduated in 2022 defending her dissertation about climate strategies in Least developed countries. She is part of a group conducting research on societal impacts of renewable energy production especially in vulnerable communities and energy transition with respect of planetary boundaries.

Alicja Dańkowska is a postdoctoral researcher in the Energy and Society research group at Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT, School of Energy Systems. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Ethnology from the University of Wrocław, Poland, a Master's degree in Systemic Management from Kozminski University, Poland, and a PhD in Social Sciences from Kozminski University. 

She has experience in academic teaching focused on sustainability and the social dimensions of low-carbon energy transitions. Her research interests lie at the intersection of urgency and equity in sustainability transitions. She explores themes such as the social challenges of renewable energy development, energy security and resilience, energy communities, just energy transitions, and participatory decarbonization processes.

Prof. Perez Vega holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Mexico (1997-2002) and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom (2004-2010). He worked as a process engineer at Lexmark International company (2008-2010), Mexico, where he was responsible for coatings formulation, electrostatic spray coating, cleanroom operations, drying operations, and volatile organic contaminants control and abatement.

He was also appointed as a visiting professor for two years at the University of McGill, Montreal (2019-2020). His research areas include the design, implementation, and holistic evaluation of sustainable process systems (food, bioprocessing, and pharmaceutical), considering critical aspects such as the sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

Registration for LUT Summer School 2025 is open until June 9, 2026.

• The courses are intended for students pursuing Bachelor's or Master's degrees in the fields of technology and business. Kindly review the course descriptions to confirm that you meet the necessary course prerequisites.
• All courses are taught in English. Therefore, sufficient English language skills are needed to follow lectures, engage in discussions, and participate effectively in group work.

The price of the LUT Summer School course for students from non-partner universities is:

Early Bird tuition fee discount before 12 April 2026
Tuition fee: 3 ECTS EUR 800

Fee from 12 April to 31 May 2026
Tuition fee: 3 ECTS EUR 900

LUT Summer School does not offer scholarships for attending the courses.

LUT Summer School students have access to the LUT Academic Library, which is located in the university's main building. The library has a wide collection of printed and electronic publications and journals.

Library tours during orientation introduce students to the library's layout and services, such as guidance in information retrieval.

Because of the intensive nature of the programme, LUT Summer School has strict attendance policies.

First day of classes

Students are expected to be present on the first day of classes. Absence is excused only in cases of illness or emergency.

Obligatory attendance

LUT Summer School takes place during two intensive weeks. Lectures are based on the active participation of the students, and therefore, daily attendance is required in all courses.

Attendance sheets

Attendance is registered in class daily: all students present sign their names on an attendance sheet.

Unforeseen absence

The student must inform the LUT Summer School staff and the teacher of unforeseen absences (e.g., illness) as soon as possible.

Consequences of absences

Admission to the final exam in all courses requires a minimum attendance of 80 percent (more than 20 percent absence is not allowed, regardless of the reason).

Students who have been absent for more than 20 percent of the lectures in a course will not receive a certificate of participation for having attended the course.

Add/drop policies

To add a course, switch courses, or withdraw from a course, students must inform the LUT Summer School staff and the lecturer.

How to get to Lappeenranta

Lappeenranta is located in South-east Finland, approximately 230 km from Helsinki. From Helsinki Airport, the easiest way to get to Lappeenranta is by bus or train.

The railway station closest to Helsinki Airport is the Tikkurila station (approx. 20 minutes from the airport). Take commuter train P from the airport to Tikkurila and then board a train to Lappeenranta. You can buy a ticket for the commuter train at the same time by selecting Helsinki Airport as your departure station.

Train timetables and tickets from Helsinki airport to Lappeenranta.

There are also different bus connections from Helsinki to Lappeenranta provided by Matkahuolto and Onnibus.

Visa requirements

Students requiring a visa should apply for a tourist visa by contacting their nearest Finnish embassy or consulate. For the visa application, the student has to provide a formal Certificate of Admission. As the Certificate of Admission is only issued on receipt of full payment, we recommend that you apply early and pay in full as soon as possible, as the visa application process may take a few weeks.

Make sure that you have travel insurance before you come to Finland.

Getting around in Lappeenranta

The distance from the LUT campus (Address: Yliopistonkatu 34, Lappeenranta) to city center is approximately 7 kilometers. You can view bus routes here: https://lappeenranta.digitransit.fi/?locale=en

• Buses 1 and 5 run between the train station, city center, and university.
• The taxi number for the Lappeenranta area is +358 200 60 400.

Useful links

• Visit Lappeenranta
• City of Lappeenranta
• Visit Finland