Karelia University of Applied Sciences awarded the best theses of year 2019

Karelia University of Applied Sciences awarded the best theses of year 2019

 

Karelia University of Applied Sciences has awarded the best theses conducted in 2019. This year, the impact of the thesis was empha­sised in the award criteria.

The best Bachelor’s thesis was conducted by Bachelor of Engineering (Energy and Environ­mental Engineering), Ms Mira Mathwes (formerly Karvinen). The title of the thesis is Inten­sified Role of R&D in Trans­ferring Finnish Bioenergy Knowledge and Technology to Canada: Case Sioux Lookout.

Mira Mathews conducted her thesis in a project for bioenergy knowledge and technology transfer by Karelia University of Applied Sciences and its cooper­ation partners. The Sioux Lookout in Canada was one of the target areas in the project and while conducting the thesis, Mira Mathews worked as an intern at the Canadian Embassy and partic­i­pated in local networking events and inter­viewed stake­holders. Mathews’ thesis promoted the opera­tions of Finnish export companies in Canada by signif­i­cantly increasing the under­standing of the local opera­tional environment. The analysis of the thesis and the results on the dynamics of the transfer process, success factors and the role of RDI activ­ities are valuable for Karelia University of Applied Sciences, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Business Finland, and business partners.

The best Master’s thesis was conducted by Master of Engineering, Mr Pekka Hartikainen, from the Degree Programme in Technology Compe­tence Management. The title of the thesis is Utilizing Robotic Process Automation in Customer Support Processes of Valtori. The thesis was commis­sioned by Government ICT Centre Valtori.

In his work, Pekka Hartikainen studied the oppor­tu­nities of robotic process automation (RPA) and the planning of the deployment of RPA in the state admin­is­tration. The topic is partic­u­larly current and it is also important from techno­logical point of view. The aim of Hartikainen’s study was to identify manual work that could be automated by RPA and to create a roadmap for the deployment of RPA. In addition, Hartikainen gathered an excellent compi­lation of different types of automation solutions. The results of the thesis can be utilised not only by Valtori but other state admin­is­tration organ­i­sa­tions as well. Pekka Hartikainen did not end his robotics studies after the compi­lation of the thesis, but he continues his studies in the field of RPA in a new higher education diploma education.

The aim of the annual thesis compe­tition is to present innov­ative theses that benefit their own field of profession both now and in the near future. The awarded theses were selected by a jury including Principal Lecturer Ari Talkkari, Lecturer Atte Korte and Infor­mation Specialist Kaisa Varis. The jury was chaired by Principal Lecturer Tarja Kupiainen.

Theses conducted at Karelia UAS are available on theseus.fi.

Further infor­mation: Principal Lecturer Tarja Kupiainen, tel. +358 50 520 9749.