The Product Development Project (PdP) is a hands-on course that has been refined over the past 29 years and is hosted by Aalto University in Finland. Master's students and final-year product design bachelor's students from VILNIUS TECH have been invited to join the Product Development Project (PdP).

During the nine months from September to May we aim to give the students an actual opportunity to get their hands dirty in real product development projects for actual companies. Students get the chance to put the theory learnt in the other courses into practice. Teams have around 10 members from different disciplines for example different engineers, business, and design. Most teams also have a global subteam from universities worldwide. The teams get to choose which project they want to work with as well as a project manager from among them. However, the project manager is expected to be located in Aalto University. PdP gives the students a unique opportunity to gain work experience in a real project while still having the safety net of the university and the Design Factories staff there to help with whenever and whatever needed. 

The global teams typically visit Aalto University twice during the course. For PD6 week (this year PD6 week will be from September 29 to October 3) and one or two weeks for the Final Gala which will be held on May 8, 2025. The global subteam students are as important a part of the team as any other student and you will have the opportunity to learn from the full product development cycle!

Too often you hear that the graduating students aren’t ready for the work-life. PdP is here to change that! You will have the chance to learn how to move forward with the fog of the unknowns in the process, how to communicate with other disciplines, and how to use your skills to benefit the team the most, for example. And of course you’ll find new lifelong friendships and learn!