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Aalto University Summer School welcomed 50 ambitious and curious students from the One District One Scholarship Program (ODOS), Thailand, for a six-week study entity this spring. This is the second time Summer School has designed a program in collaboration with ODOS; the first was in September 2025, when the first group of 50 Thai students visited Aalto University for six weeks. 

The Government of Thailand has established the ODOS programme to provide outstanding students with the opportunity for international education, with the aim of broadening opportunities for development in their home country. 

The Innovating through Technology program by Aalto University Summer School is a customised short-term program that emphasises topics related to engineering, business, human-centered design, innovation, artificial intelligence and data analysis.  

The program also encourages students to put everything they learn into practice by working on a project alongside the lectures. The project themes focused on the growing pressure on today’s healthcare services, and how technologies like digital systems, AI and robotics can better support both patients and healthcare professionals while keeping the human needs at the centre and ensuring ethical principles in the process.

We spoke with one of the students about her experience on her last day at Aalto University. 

‘I didn’t have a lot of expectations before coming to Finland and Aalto University, but let’s just put it this way today: I don’t want to leave. I really hope I can come back one day and pursue a master’s degree in business at Aalto,’ comments Kotchawan Chompusi, law student and participant in the ODOS program. 

The collaborations between the institutions ran smoothly thanks to the strong commitment of stakeholders on both sides 

‘It has been a wonderful experience collaborating with Aalto University over the past two programs. The students did not only gain academic knowledge and practical skills but also became more confident, open-minded, and inspired by the learning environment and culture in Finland. We truly appreciate the care and dedication that your team has given to our students, which made the experience both meaningful and memorable for them,’ says Vanatchaporn Sayanwisuttikam, Officer at the Digital Economy Promotion Agency in Thailand. 

In addition to the academics, the staff members at Aalto University Summer School also organised extracurricular activities tightly connected with Finland’s innovative startup scene, culture and nature. The program culminated with students getting a taste of Vappu and May Day, the Finnish spring carnival and popular student celebration. 

‘It was a truly rewarding experience working with the ODOS programme. The teachers did an excellent job adapting their course materials for a younger audience while ensuring the students received a genuine Aalto experience. For many participants, it was their first time in Europe or traveling independently, so it was especially important to us that their journey was enjoyable, educational and safe. I look forward to the opportunity to host more groups like this in the future,’ says Marcela Acosta-Garcia, Program Manager, Aalto University Lifewide Learning Services.