Responsible Design Thinking - Summer Academy

The summer academy 'Responsible Design Thinking' is a one-week summer academy held in Aarhus, Denmark, from 29 June to 3 July 2026. There will be 2 x three-hour online sessions before this.

The Summer Academy is built around problem-solving for a real-life case within the theme of Responsible Design Thinking. Our ambition is to create a collaborative platform where students and faculty explore how design thinking principles can be applied responsibly to address sustainability challenges in a business context. By engaging with peers from partner institutions, participants will gain valuable experience in cross-cultural teamwork, sustainable problem-solving, and collaboration with client companies.

Learning outcomes

The summer academy will cover the following learning goals :

• an introduction to and learning to work professionally as an international team  – applying tools and practice during the activation project, this forms the professional output of your summer academy experience
• intensive work on intercultural teamwork, cross-cultural understanding, and design thinking principles, with a relevant sustainability challenge at the core of the learning process
• getting introduced to the design thinking innovation process which includes doing a learn-by-doing activation project using design thinking as a framework
• applying qualitative exploratory research to your summer academy project
• real-life business case: the host institution will collaborate with a local company to provide a real-life sustainability case. Students will apply design thinking principles to develop innovative and responsible solutions. The final exam includes presenting their work to the company, which will give feedback.

Learning will be based on theory and practical work in the field. The main objective of the summer academy is for students to gain theoretical insights as well as practical experience. The entire course will be taught in English by lecturers and professors from Business Academy Aarhus as well as our partners. 

Key takeaways: new perspectives, new knowledge, new international friends in a vibrant city full of Danish summer life!

Where and when

The summer academy will be held in Aarhus from 29 June to 3 July 2026. There will be 2 x three-hour online sessions before this. 

Aarhus has just been crowned the happiest city in the world (for the third consecutive year) by the Institute for Quality of Life.

Who can join

The course is offered to Business Academy Aarhus bachelor students from our business programmes. Partner universities will likewise offer this summer school to relevant business students.  

The summer academy is ideal for students who have a basic knowledge of business and want to incorporate a different academic or cultural experience in their educational profile. 

We envisage that the perfect participant will also:

• be curious to participate in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary teams
• have the courage to put one's own professional skills into play, as the other participants will have different prerequisites and backgrounds for participating in the summer academy
• be robust enough to be with fellow students approx. 24/7 for 1 week
• have self-discipline and be able to produce a good result when new methods and tools need to be learnt and immediately put into play for a real company
• be eager to familiarise yourself with and try your hand at skills such as Design Thinking and sustainability
• courage to pitch in front of a panel of professional externals
• have the desire and curiosity to expand their network, speak English 24/7 for 1 week and experience Aarhus day and night

Academic assessment

The summer academy is weighted 5 ECTS credits.

Students will work intensively on intercultural teamwork, cross-cultural understanding, and design thinking principles, with a relevant sustainability challenge at the core of the learning process.

Individual marks will be given according to the Danish 7-grade scale. The mark is based on an overall assessment of your solution to the case company and the lecturers, depth of research and realism of proposed solution, active participation in all milestone presentations, and feedback from your own and all other teams. An individual written reflection on the learning outcomes must be handed in at the end of the summer academy and will also be part of the assessment.

Practical information

Accommodation

Roberta's Society, which is right in the centre of Aarhus with direct transport to our campus in Viby (bus 4A or light-rail L2). This is luxury student hostel accommodation in large rooms with a private bathroom. Bedding will also be provided. 

Financial issues 

There is no tuition fee for the course for students from our partner universities.

You must pay all other expenses in connection with the summer school in Aarhus. 

If you are offered a place in this summer school, a non-refundable payment (1,500 DKK) must be paid in advance to ensure your registration. This amount pays for some of the combined social activities and meals, etc., and will only be used for your benefit.  

When you come to Aarhus:

• non-EU citizens might need a visa, please check and let me know
• you must have a valid passport
• make sure you have insurance (health and repatriation)
• you will need to have a credit card or money for meals and other related costs
• Aarhus is a great little city on many bucket lists, read more on Visit Aarhus

Pre-work material

You must expect some preparation for the summer academy. You will be told what to prepare at the first information meeting (online). 

Start by taking VIA Character Strength's Test (save a pdf of your results and bring on the first day)

CASE COMPANY
Visit the case company website and get familiar with the brand, products, etc.

Final programme

Will be uploaded as soon as ready.