LAB Focus Blogs
The blogs of LAB's four focus areas bring forth each focus area’s RDI and education activities.
Publication series
The LAB publication series publishes reports, monographs and compilations based on the RDI and higher education teaching activities at LAB.
All publications in the series are available online via Theseus.
About publishing in LAB
You can read more about LAB’s publishing activities from the LAB Guide to publishing and open science. The guide also offers information about open science, how to evaluate scholarly publications, and how to promote your research.
For any additional information or questions, please contact julkaisut
lab [dot] fi (julkaisut[at]lab[dot]fi)
Latest articles
LAB Open
AI for developing professional communication skills
As artificial intelligence reshapes the professional landscape, its role in communication is becoming increasingly relevant. This article explores how AI tools - often seen as technical instruments - can also support the development of essential communication skills, particularly in language learning and professional expression. Source
Comparison of Nurse Anesthetists’ Education and Role in Finland and the United States
Nurses working in anesthesia care are nurses who work in the operating room, taking care of patients during their surgeries. Nurse roles and places of employment, however, are much wider and broader than the general perception. In this article, the education and role of the anesthesia nurse in Finland and the nurse anesthetist in the United States are compared. LAB University of Applied Sciences provides an anesthesia nurse specialist programme for nurses. Source
How Migrants’ Cultural Values Could Strengthen Finland’s Future Economy
Finland is at a crossroads. With a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and increasing pressure on the welfare system, the country faces long-term demographic and economic challenges. Yet, hidden within these challenges lies an opportunity: the cultural values and economic potential of Finland’s migrant communities. Source
LAB Focus
Participatory research design: Students as research partners
Academic research can be more than producing insights, it can be a useful tool for empowerment. In design thinking, we recognize that users are true experts of their experiences. Through empathy and co-creation, we uncover needs that might otherwise remain hidden (Kelley & Kelley 2013, 21). This is fundamental to good design, and the same principle […] The post Participatory research design: Students as research partners appeared first on LAB Focus.
iWeek 2026: Technoethics as a shared perspective
Technoethics is the unifying theme of iWeek 2026 at the LAB University of Applied Sciences, taking place in Lahti from January 19 to 23. While not every session directly addresses ethics, the goal is to encourage all participants—students, educators, developers, designers, and researchers—to reflect on how technology both shapes and is shaped by human values. […] The post iWeek 2026: Technoethics as a shared perspective appeared first on LAB Focus.
IronNotes – Metal Art Today
The future of metal art is increasingly shaped by sustainability, technology, and community engagement. Traditional forging skills now coexist with digital production methods such as 3D printing and robotics, creating new possibilities for artistic expression. At the same time, the role of art as a tool for societal dialogue and collective memory grows. In public art, […] The post IronNotes – Metal Art Today appeared first on LAB Focus.