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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Students’ Opinions on Financial Compensation from Project Work

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Project-based learning with real customers arguably offer value for all stakeholders. This value has been discussed in literature both from the viewpoint of customers and the related economic value, and the enhanced learning of students. This paper presents the results from an empirical study on students who have completed a multidisciplinary project course with real customers. A qualitative survey was focused on how students see the value of project-based learning and whether there should be financial compensation to students. The students placed a higher value on learning than financial compensation, and while they argued that it would be fair and nice if some compensation was paid, they did not see it as a necessity. They also considered financial compensation problematic: how should it be distributed within the team, and could it affect students’ and customers’ motivation to participate in the project course. Students emphasized that the issues related to financial compensation should be discussed openly.