Aurora is a study trip program by AVP for helping Aalto students understand the world better. We send students to global destinations, both established entrepreneurship hubs and locations where the ecosystem is only starting to bloom — where the future potential for creating impact is near limitless. While abroad, participants will form multidisciplinary teams, work with the community on projects related to entrepreneurship and sustainability, hear from local consumers and learn to see the world more broadly. Because solving global problems requires local knowledge.
The story of Aurora is rooted in our long collaboration with UC Berkeley, where we have been sending students for years to participate in the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and to learn, get inspired and make friends. With Aurora, we want to provide a similar experience but in a truly global setting. We want to connect our students not only to Silicon Valley, but to growing startup hubs everywhere, especially in the Global South, where startups can help solve major problems and potentially improve the lives of millions of people.
We’d love to send every Aalto student abroad, but unfortunately, places on study trips are limited. Fortunately, applications are always open to all full-time Aalto students, regardless of major or years of study. We do, however, expect that you have some AVP courses in your plans or already under your belt.
By joining a study trip, you become a part of our growing Aurora Network. The main purpose of the alumni network is to share the lessons and experiences gained all over the world with a broader group, but also just to have fun and share travel stories. Our alumni also have a chance to impact and inspire other students as guest speakers or judges at our lectures and events.
Keep an eye out for our next trip! It could be your time to shine.
Learn more about our destinations:
In the Aurora Handbook you can find more info and tips for our destinations, all freshly gathered by Aurora teams who have visited the country. If you notice something out-of-date, want to contribute your insights, or have questions, please shoot an email to my.2.nguyen@aalto.fi.
These study trips can’t happen without partners to host our students and provide interesting challenges for them to solve. If you’d like to be one those partners, get in touch! We’d also love to hear if you know of a perfect destination for a future Aurora trip, so don’t hesitate to drop us a suggestion.
