Over Five Hundred Participants in West Finland HEInet Outgoing Orientation Day 2011

SAMK, SeAMK, TAMK, TUT and UTA (commonly known as West Finland HEInet - West Finland Higher Education net) organized their joint Outgoing Orientation Day 2011 at Tampere University of Technology (TUT) campus on 15th of April 2011.

The aim of the event was to offer vital information for exchange students and people who are going to do their practical training abroad. Additionally, the idea was train them to deal with situations which may arise during the exchange period

The event attracted over 500 attendants, so we can honestly say that the event was a success. There weren’t too many free seats in the Auditorium.














The whole programme started with distributing the information folders accompanied with free sandwiches and coffee for everybody.

One of the highlights of the day was a presentation by Mr. Teemu Palosaari, a Research Fellow from Tampere Peace Research Institute. This was his third time performing in this joint orientation day. One of his messages was that the media is giving a slanted view on some countries, because bad news is interesting for the masses. He pointed out, that it is completely possible to spend a safe night in about any country. Additionally, there is a possibility that you can get robbed in your good old and safe home town. Mr. Palosaari even told us that he had been robbed in New Zealand, which should be one of the safest countries in the world. He also described that a common man should first get to know the practicalities in their target country i.e. Where to get drinking water. Mr. Palosaari also hinted that the best sources for this kind of information are Ministry for Foreign Affairs and CIA Factbook.

Mr Teemu Palosaari

The programme also included lectures about culture shock by Mr. John Shepherd (from TUT) about health issues by Ms. Tarja Järvinen (from FSHS) and about being a Finn abroad by Ms. Irja Pietilä (from TAMK).

After the lectures the students were taken to country or area specific groups. There they had the chance to meet students (known as “veterans”) who already have completed their exchange period. These two hour sessions were full of questions and discussions. Judging from the feedback, the country groups were the best part of the day.

We at TAMK International Services would like to thank everybody who participated to this wonderful event. Special thanks to the veterans who were there to give answers to their fellow students. You were a big part of this day.

More pictures can be found from TAMK Flickr.

Text: Elias Suominen
Photos: Elias Suominen

Postcard from Esslingen am Neckar

This week has been amazing in Germany - we thank our hosts (and whoever booked the weather) at Hochschule Esslingen!



Members of international staff and student services staff from all over Europe have spent this week discussing how we can provide students with the best experience humanly possible while abroad for a study or training placement. Some questions are harder to answer than others, but we will both be returning next week with a fresh set of ideas for our colleagues at TAMK!

Five days from early morning until late at night with colleagues from partner universities can only bring good things - networking is king!

Piri Hiltunen, International Services
&
Anne Salonen, Student Services

Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus suggests cooperation with TAMK

Dr. Mauri Grönroos and Dr. Shaidul Kazi of TAMK IB met with Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Yunus, the inventor of microcredit received the Nobel Prize in Peace 2006 for his contribution.

The next idea of Yunus is social business that aims to reduce dependency on permanent development aid by providing business skills and teaching the poor to help themselves. International Business TCA has developed the concept further and has a pilot project in Namibia.

Professor Yunus was pleased to hear of the progress and had many ideas to improve the concept further.

Further information:
Mauri Grönroos
mauri.gronroos (at) tamk.fi

Goin’ternational Attracted Students to Explore The World

As previously mentioned in the TAMK International Blog, a group of exchange students organized an international fair at TAMK Kuntokatu campus on 14th April 2011.

The mission was to let exchange students tell about exchange possibilities to Finnish students who are thinking about doing an exchange period abroad. Also, the event was helpful for students who were still thinking for the most interesting exchange location. However, the exchange students themselves are experts of their countries, so it is extremely useful to hear them talking about the exchange possibilities.








Each country had a variety of material and treats for the students.







The organizers introduced their home countries to Finnish students and the exchange possibilities available to TAMK students. The organizers had leaflets, videos, and presentations to show for interested people. The auditorium was booked for the whole day because country groups were presenting their countries. Additionally, the students offered traditional sweets and cuisine from their home countries. Some groups even arranged some special programs. For example, The French team arranged a Pétanque tournament where everybody was welcome to join.














Mr. Sebastian Klix from Stuttgart, Germany was telling the visitors about his home country and the exchange possibilities there.

The course was organized by exchange students as a part of a ProAcademy course and the organizers earned credits by completing the project. Hopefully this event attracted more people for outgoing exchange. TAMK has numerous Partner Universities in various countries and they are willing to accept more Finnish students.

More pictures can be found in TAMK Flickr and in Goin’ternational Facebook.

Text: Elias Suominen
Photos: Elias Suominen

TAF International Week guests went to smoke sauna

TAMK organized its fourth Tampere Art Factory International Week on 11 - 15 April 2011. During the week TAMK received guests from all over the world. The guests participated in various events, including seminars, lectures, and workshops and of course, leisure activities.

One of the highlights of the week was on Wednesday 13th of April, when the international guests were taken to Hangaslahti sauna premises. There they enjoyed dinner, drinks and good company. Probably the most memorable event was the chance to go to an authentic smoke sauna and then taking a dip in the semi frozen Lake Näsijärvi. Some were brave enough to try their luck in the water which was approximately +6 Celsius degrees.

The TAF guests were accompanied by nice clear weather which made this outdoor photo possible.

Some of the guests were TAF veterans and had been before at Hangaslahti. However, the sauna never gets old and the extreme heat made everybody feel refreshed. The atmosphere during the whole night was very relaxed and people were clearly enjoying their time in Finland.






The guests quickly realized it will be extremely hot in the smoke sauna.








On behalf of the TAMK International Services and TAMK Art and Media Programmes, we’d like to thank everybody who participated in this delightful week full of events. The sauna evening went so quickly and we almost missed the bus because it was impossible to get out of the sauna in time.

Remember, next year will come soon and hopefully we will meet again.

More pictures can be found from TAMK Flickr

Text: Elias Suominen
Photos: Elias Suominen