The implementation of polytechnics in Finland in the 1990s aimed at diversifying higher education. Former programmes in vocational higher education as well as new programmes formed the polytechnics. The reforming of higher education also aimed at raising the standards – preparing the students for the demands of a knowledge society. One of the aims for the programmes at the polytechnics was to contribute to the development of regional working life – to be able to link relevant research to local problems. However, research shows that teachers in the reformed VHE institutions have found especially aspects of their work related to research and development problematic. Especially the Navigation programme in the Åland university of applied sciences, has had problems with low rates of students who complete their studies. This is a problem for students, for local shipping companies, and it is a quality problem for the ÅUAS. The BA-thesis was identified as one of the main obstacle. The issue of this paper is to illuminate the indications of traditions (teachers’ education, different purposes of thesis since it’s implementation) within the programme as well as those of resistance that emerged during an ESF-funded R&D-project 2008-2011 aiming at changing the trend.