Vaasa International Talents
The programme admits international degree students from each of the higher education institutions in Vaasa, that is; University of Vaasa, VAMK University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Åbo Akademi University and Hanken School of Economics.
As a participating degree student, you will be equipped with must-know facts about Finnish and local working life and its expectations on job applicants and employees.
The programme provides you with competence development knowledge and tools of different kinds. It further provides possibilities needed to develop Finnish working-life skills and to connect with companies and other actors within the region.
The aim is to help the students to integrate into the Finnish job market and establish themselves in the region after graduation.
Key Take-aways from Programme Participants
"Impactful programme, engaging speakers, and amazing fellow talents. All in all, a truly rewarding experience."
"I am thankful for the professional development that the programme provided me and for all the inspiring people I met during this period!"
"This is a great programme for international students to step into the Finnish working life. Many opportunities start here, and lovely people meet here."
"Thanks so much for this valuable program. I really enjoyed it, and appreciated all the efforts you put into it!"
"I am proud that I joined this program! It was the key for me to develop"
"The programme turned out to be wonderful and exceeded my expectations.”
"It is a great initiative in Vaasa! I wish it had started much earlier."
"Very beneficial programme for international students in Vaasa. Hoping for it to be long-term."
"Great programme for networking"
Competence development
The Competence development – Skills for Finnish working life part of the programme consists of two modules. It equips the participants with must-know facts about Finnish and local working life and its expectations on job applicants and employees. This part kicks off end of October 2023. It will include
- guest lectures on different topics
- individual coaching
- feedback on your job application materials
- simulation of a job interview
- group discussions
- assigned tasks that will support your personal and professional development
Time investment needed?
The estimated required time investment in the lectures and individual coaching is roughly 25 hours. In addition, you will need to reserve time between the sessions for keeping a journal of your learning and for work on your job application materials and other related assigned tasks. With a few exceptions, all sessions will be held on Thursdays after office hours. At the end of Module 1, you will need to hand in your learning journal for review in order to secure a seat on Module 2.
Additional possible tools offered for your competence development:
Individual or group mentoring
This will be offered based on the indicated needs of the selected programme participants. Since the availability of mentors is a prerequisite, we cannot guarantee that all students’ wishes can be met. However, by actively participating in the programme, you will get the tools and support to help you find your own mentors.
Connections to working life
The following activities will vary from participant to participant,
- internships and partial funding for these
- thesis work
- job shadowing
- company visits
- other types of networking possibilities
We cannot guarantee that you will get any of these possibilities through the programme, since they will be dependent on the needs and availability of the working life actors. What we can guarantee, however, is that by actively participating in the programme, you will be able to find your own connections to working life actors. Amongst other things, if you manage to find yourself an internship position which fulfills certain criteria, the programme will financially partly support your internship salary.
For whom?
To be eligible, you need to
- hold a valid residence permit in Finland or have a Finnish citizenship
- you are an international Master student in one of the following programmes
- as an international Bachelor student you have completed at least your first year of studies inone of the following programmes
- you have graduated from any of the following programmes since September 2022
University of Vaasa
- Master’s Degree Programme in Finance
- Master’s Programme in Industrial Management
- Master’s Degree Programme in International Business
- Master’s Programme in Industrial System Analytics
- Master’s Programme in Smart Energy
- Master’s Programme in Strategic Business Development
- Master’s Programme in Sustainable and Autonomous Systems
- Master’s Programme in Strategic Project Management
VAMK University of Applied Sciences
- International Business, Bachelor of Business Administration
- Information Technology, Bachelor of Engineering
- Project Management, Master of Engineering or Master of Business Administration
- International Business Management, Master of Business Administration
- Cloud-Based Software Engineering, Master of Engineering
- Energy Technology, Bachelor of Engineering
Novia University of Applied Sciences
- Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing
- Bachelor of Beauty and Cosmetics, Beauty Care
- Bachelor of Engineering, Energy Technology
- Master of Business Administration, Digital Business and Management
- Master of Engineering, Automation Technology
- Master of Engineering, Industrial Management and Engineering
- Bachelor of Health Care, Biomedical Laboratory Science
- Master of Health Care/Master of Social Services, Health Care and Social Services
- Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology
Åbo Akademi University
- Master’s Degree Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research
- Master’s Degree Programme in Teaching and Learning
- Master’s Degree Programme in Advanced Practice Nursing
- Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology
Hanken School of Economics
- Master’s Degree Programme in Marketing and Management.
When and how to Apply?
Instructions on How To Apply to the 4th round of the programme.
Please note that students are required to apply only if they are prepared to invest the time and energy needed to complete the programme
Selection
-
30 students will be selected to the programme
-
Seats will be reserved for students from each higher education institution
- For Bachelor students, priority will be given to students on 2nd year and onwards
-
The programme reserves the right to select the participants
-
The final selections were made by mid-October. All applicants to the programme will be informed once the selections have been completed
- Please note that incomplete applications will be discarded
What we expect from you
We expect the selected participants to
- be physically present in Vaasa
- attend the “Competence development - Skills for Finnish working life” sessions
- keep a learning journal throughout the programme. At the end of the programme this journal will include your personal reflections and insights related to what you learn during the lectures, discussions, coaching sessions, etc.
- complete other related tasks, such as work on job application materials
- actively contribute to learning from each other by sharing questions, insights, lessons learned and best practices etc. with the other participating students, companies and other working life actors
- actively network with the other students in the programme.
- At the end of Module 1 you will need to hand in your learning journal for review, in order to secure a seat on Module 2.
Session dates:
(with a few exceptions, all sessions will be held on site on Thursdays after office hours)
2023: 25.10, 2.11, 9.11, 16.11, 23.11, 30.11, 4.12, 14.12.
2024: 11.1, 18.1.
Questions?
Drop us an email at info@vaasainternationaltalents.fi
You can also contact
- Novia UAS
- Pia Jünger - Project Manager - pia.junger@novia.fi +358 504782005
- Harriet Okumu-Nisula Project Assistant - harriet.okumu-nisula@novia.fi +358 50 4090086
- University of Vaasa: Senior Specialist in Career Services - Nina Nässlin nina.nasslin@uwasa.fi
- VAMK UAS: Talent Coach - Francis Oyeyiola francis.oyeyiola@vamk.fi
- Åbo Akademi University: Project Planner - Charlotta Wendelin charlotta.wendelin@abo.fi
- Hanken School of Economics: Manager, Hanken International Talent - Henna Konsti henna.konsti@hanken.fi
All programme participants will at the end of the programme receive a certificate of participation which can be used as future reference.