Why ITP is the best choice for your summer

Quick recap of ITP

Information Technology Program (ITP) is an annual Aalto University summer minor program of 24 ECTS. It combines business, design, and technology and hosts students from various fields and countries, making it both international and multidisciplinary. At the core of the three-month program are business projects done in collaboration with real companies.

There are 3 specialization tracks with their respective coordinators: Information and Service Business (ISB), Digital and Intelligent Ecosystems (DIE) and Strategy and Experience Design (SED).

ITP coordinators support you during the summer

This is what coordinators do:

• Find interesting project partners and challenges for the students to tackle
• Form balanced and versatile project teams based on the interests and skills of the students
• Support and help the project teams during the summer
• Provide feedback and grade the business projects
• Organize fun activities to help you get to know your fellow students!

Their reasons for attending ITP

ITP coordinators are always alumni of the program, and they definitely recommend applying based on our their experiences. But why did they originally apply to ITP?

So now that you are familiar with them and what they do, they will answer some burning questions about the program.

'Why should I choose ITP instead of working in the summer?'

ITP is a laid-back mixture of studying and hands-on business projects. It gives you personal learning experiences, social life, and project experience comparable to a summer job, while still being applicable for student allowance.

On top of that, ITP offers you:

• Networks. Through ITP you can build valuable company and alumni networks.
• Career opportunities. The topics covered and the skills learned provide you with a new job opportunities.
• Smart study planning. When you complete your minor in the summer, you can graduate faster or free up time for a part-time job during the academic year.
• Alternatives for exchange. In case your planned exchange got cancelled, ITP is a perfect alternative to get the needed minor done in a similarly multi-cultural environment.

'OK, sounds useful, but can it actually be fun?'

Definitely! Studying in the summer may sound dull, but ITP is far from that.

A regular ITP day looks like this:

1. Lecture in the morning – And it is on-campus!
2. Lunch break outside in the sun with your fellow students
3. Project work in the afternoon with your team

As a team, you can very freely decide to work however you want to – for example, work longer on some days and then other days take the afternoon off to enjoy the summer.

'Do I need to be a tech guru to attend?'

Nope. Some students come from a more technical background, but there are no prerequisites of IT skills. Diverse representation of skills and interests brings valuable versatility which comes in handy in the project work. Also, even students with existing tech skills will learn new, interesting perspectives to IT.

Excited already!?

We recommend ITP for anyone interested in having a productive summer, developing their skills and deepening their knowledge related to business, technology or design. Challenge-based learning and the intense, hands-on business project differentiate ITP from typical university studies.

Don’t hesitate – apply now. Prepare yourself for the digital future.

Coordinators look forward to receiving your application and meeting you in June. In case you have any questions or concerns related to anything at all, feel free to contact the 2024 ITP coordinators at any time.