Preparing digital natives for the world of work

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Part of Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT University) in Finland, LUT Business School aims to drive sustainable growth and create value in the digital economy. While most businesses are navigating digital transformation today, the societal impact of that transformation is not always fully explored in business education. “Digital transformation impacts all organisations and the connections between them,” says Johanna Orjatsalo, academic director of the bachelor’s programme in digital business at LUT Business School. “We all operate in this digital context as employees, customers and students, who are in turn creating expectations from these businesses. We want to ensure there is mutual benefit and sustainable growth by using technology responsibly.” 

Most students today tend to be digital natives. The digital business programme at LUT Business School focuses on helping them use technology to identify new business opportunities, Orjatsalo says. At the same time, they must acknowledge the consequences of rapid digital evolution and the impact digital tools can have on society. Technical acumen and data literacy are important but must be combined with a human understanding that will help graduates’ future businesses create sustainable growth. 

At LUT Business School, teaching and research roles are combined, which enables faculty members to bring their research findings into classrooms. “We are always revisiting our content. We also collaborate with companies so we can bring this learning into an empirical context,” says Orjatsalo. “This is an opportunity for students to reflect on what they learn and how it translates into practice in the workplace.” 

The business school keeps up with emerging trends and future technologies to ensure graduates are work-ready. “Digital evolution is fast and we want to stay ahead of it,” Orjatsalo says. “Acumen and understanding of how to evaluate technology and its impact are more important than a technology-specific skill.” Ultimately, businesses build value that is defined for and by people, so students need to hone their skills in interpersonal communication and behaviour, she explains. LUT Business School embeds critical soft skills into business programmes by collaborating with its industry partners. Along with a holistic understanding of the latest digital tools in key industries, this offers students a rounded education that enhances their employability and career potential.

The employment rate of LUT University graduates one year after graduation was 97 per cent, according to a 2023 sustainability report published by the university. When discussing different digital technologies, educators at the school focus on not just how they are currently used but also how they might evolve in the future. To ensure that teaching is of the highest quality, the emphasis remains on continuous development and supporting students through change. There’s also a recognition that traditional change management approaches may no longer work in such a fast-changing business world, says Orjatsalo. “Not only do we talk about riding the change and enabling innovation, but we also think about how to deal with different viewpoints and how students can be constructive in a way that helps people collaborate.” 

Find out more about LUT Business School.