NEWS How can future education be designed with a stronger focus on students’ needs and learning pathways? A new article by Suzanne Brink (UPL), written together with Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson, Professor of Design at Luleå University of Technology (LTU), explores how methods from design thinking can be used in programme development. The study comprises five cases, two of which were conducted at Umeå University.
Porträtt: Suzanne Brink. Universitetslektor vid Universitetspedagogik och lärandestöd (UPL)
ImageHans KarlssonA new scholarly article by Suzanne Brink, Senior Lecturer and Academic Developer at UPL, highlights how design thinking methods can be used to develop more student-centred educational programmes. The work was carried out in collaboration with Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson, Professor of Design at Luleå University of Technology (LTU).
The study is based on five programme development cases within design and engineering education. Two of these were conducted at Umeå University, at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics (TFE) and the Umeå Institute of Design (UID).
The article examines how student personas and learner journey mapping can be used in programme design to make visible variations in students’ needs, motivations and learning pathways. The methods supported programme teams in identifying what works well in the education, where challenges may arise, and how learning environments can be developed to become more inclusive and pedagogically sustainable.
The article also shows how a design thinking inspired approach can strengthen work on curriculum innovation and provide clearer foundations for pedagogical decision-making in programme development.