Co-development and co-learning in the Arctic 

Resurssiviisas taitoverkko (New forms of heritage wisdom) project aims to strengthen Arctic business and entrepreneurship through cooperation with educational institutions, using traditional business-oriented skills to develop new technologies and innovations. The Sámi Education Institute and the Industrial Design Department of the University of Lapland work closely with entrepreneurs, focusing in particular on the development of winter fishing and mobile technology. The project creates a resource-wise skills network to support business growth and development in changing business environments by leveraging the core competences of educational institutions.

The project combines traditional skills and modern design in an Arctic environment, generating new innovations through practical experimentation. Prototypes and technologies are tested in a real environment, ensuring the future survival and development of traditional livelihoods. The project creates a strong network to support collaboration between educational institutions and businesses, while providing valuable learning opportunities.

During a field trip in spring 2024, students of industrial design from the University of Lapland and experts from the Sámi Education Institute tested the prototypes they had developed to support winter net fishing in the wilderness of Lake Pöyrisjärvi. This experience combined traditional knowledge and modern design, offering new perspectives on the development of traditional livelihoods.

The collaboration strengthens the relationship between the University of Lapland and the Sámi Education Institute and brings together traditional industries and design. The knowledge and skills shared in the project can generate new innovations and provide valuable learning opportunities in Arctic design contexts.

Finnish student’s experiences on the blog: 

The reports describe a joint expedition to the wilderness of Lake Pöyrisjärvi in the spring of 2024 by industrial design students from the University of Lapland and experts from the Sámi Education Institute (SOGSAKK).During the expedition, the students tested prototypes they had developed to support winter net fishing and learned the power of cooperation in challenging Arctic conditions. This experience combined traditional knowledge and modern design, and left a lasting impression on the participants’ minds, while providing new perspectives on the conservation and development of traditional livelihoods.

Links below to Finnish blog texts: 1, 2, 3

On kalareissuja ja on elämää muuttavia kalareissuja, osa 1/3 (lapinyliopisto.blogspot.com)

Uittolautta vieköön, osa 2/3 (lapinyliopisto.blogspot.com)

Erämaan taikaa, osa 3/3 (lapinyliopisto.blogspot.com)