 Incredible nature: Aleksandra Tregubovich, Russia
Well, my story is not that usual. First time I visited Valkeakoski 2 years ago – in spring 2010 when my friend was studying here as exchange student. The same spring I applied for the next exchange period and came back in fall 2010. It was a precious experience: living on my own, communicating with people from all over the world, studying in English. So, in summer 2011 I graduated in my home university in Saint-Petersburg, Russia and now I’m degree student here, in HAMK Valkeakoski.
HAMK itself is a good place: modern facilities, international environment, kind teachers. But what about me – I really enjoy the town, where our campus is situated. Valkeakoski is a quiet and calm place. People are not in a hurry, smiling to each other, air is so fresh, and nature is incredible: so many lakes! Now it is winter and it’s cold, but really beautiful – snow is everywhere. At the same time, it is only 30 minutes from Tampere and 40 minutes from Hämeenlinna, both are quite big comparing to Valkeakoski.
Why IB? For me it was an easy choice, my first qualification is economy, so IB is a kind of continuing studies and improving myself in this area of knowledge.
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In the international atmoshpere: Tuba Incaz, Turkey
When I traveled to Finland for the first time, one of my friends who lives in Tampere offered me to apply HAMK Uas. After his suggestion I found more information about HAMK on its web site and saw that HAMK is looking forward meeting with new foreigner students from all over the world. And among all other UAS, I decided to choose HAMK International Business as my first preference. I was really willing to study at HAMK and I came to participate entrance exams from Turkey to Valkeakoski Unit. Because I believed that taking entrance exams in Finland might increase my motivation. I met with my tutors and that was the beginning of my international life.
I have been living in Finland for 5 months and everyday I relize that I improve my
English in the best way. Sometimes I feel so far from my home, but whenever I need someone to talk, my friends are always with me, doesn’t matter which language they speak.
My teachers pay attention to speak English language even if there are Finnish students..
That was the point that I expected to see before coming here.
I lived in Turkey in my lifelong, I haven’t been abroad except Finland nevertheless I haven’t been affected negatively by Finnish weather especially darkness and cold. I had enough sun in my country, snow is enough to amaze me. I try to have fun with winter sports.
I have Finnish language course and we have a lot of events to meet with Finnish people to learn Finnish culture. In this international atmoshpere I also have a chance to learn Finnish at the same time.
Studying at International Business in abroad helps us to become an international person. However we learn how to operate business in abroad with foreigner. But we’ve already started to improve our business skills by learning other cultures and by communicating with them.
HAMK provides double degree and exchange studies in abroad. If I get a chace to go as an exchange student I want to take the chance.
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Work Placement in London Led up to the New Career: Iina Kankala, Finland
“I did my work placement for a London-based hedge fund called Beach Horizon LLP in 2008. Besides experience on hedge funds, the placement period gave me an excellent topic for my graduation thesis. In my thesis I investigated the investor relationship management of a start-up hedge fund. Now after completing my BBA degree, I am heading back to London to start my career.”
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First Bad English – Finally Good Outcome: Elina Puurunen, Finland
“Since I was small, I have been bad in English and I hated it at elementary school because whether I studied hard I always got satisfied with 6 or 7 out of 10 as a grade from exams and courses. It was pretty clear that I continued my studies at a university but the last option was to apply to HAMK and Degree Programme in International Business because of my level of English. I was prepared to move from Valkeakoski to another city for the future studies until...my circumstances changed totally.
My friend was recommended to apply to International Business – degree programme at Valkeakoski. She got me to apply there too only because that she did not wanted to go alone to the entrance test. As a good friend I applied, got an invitation to the entrance test, went there and I got in.
I was really shocked when I was accepted and after long and deep consideration I decided to take the risk and took the study place from HAMK. The reason why I finally made the decision was that when I went to the entrance test the atmosphere was very warm and friendly. Tutors, teachers and other students were really nice and I got a feeling that they really wanted all the applicants to feel very welcomed.
First two weeks was full of events which got all the new students more involved into the university and to the daily life. I was really trying to improve my English by speaking but at the same time I wondered do they understand me at all.
The first autumn went ok, I probably took too soft an attitude during the fall which was affecting my grades which make me change my attitude. The next spring (2007) was totally different according to my grades and my feelings and I started to realize that applying for the programme was one of the smartest decisions that I have ever made.”
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Involved into Many Things: Elina Puurunen, Finland
Tutoring and Marketing Circle
I have done a lot during the last 2.5 years. When there was a recruit of new tutors in the first semester I registered for it. As a tutor I got a chance to receive new exchange students already on next January and that way my English got practice too. Tutoring became a huge part of my study-life when I decided to apply for the tutor responsible-duty which task was mainly control, organize, lead and plan tutoring. Besides school and work I now work as tutor responsible and also took part in our school “marketing circle” which meant to market HAMK and especially our unit in high schools and vocational schools.
Marketing Research Led up to Summer Job
In the spring 2007 I had done a marketing research-project as a part of my “marketing research” course in our Business Laboratory (present Automaint) why I was probably asked to work there as a research-assistant part-time in January 2008. I took the job and thenceforth I did it during my studies and later in the spring also my work placement and summer job.
Practical Business Project
One of the greatest study-related things that I have experienced was a course called practical business project. During the course we made a real life project for a real company. The course was wide where students got a company that had a need towards their business functions and students had to fulfil the need with a report where they cover their subject. While doing the project we really had to work to earn a good grade since we didn’t have any theory lessons for the course. The course consisted only of writing the report, giving a couple presentations and meeting our supervisors who were our own instructors. The course gave me new business related skills and afterwards I have noticed that it has been easier for me to work independently when concerning homework or normal working.
Exchange Studies in USA
Recently in, fall 2008 I had to come out of my shell when I went for optional exchange studies all the way to USA. After the four months I spent there, only thing I can say is WOW. Studying in USA was the coolest thing in my life and I learned valuable skills that I would not have been able to learn in Finland.
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You are Here More than a Student - You are as a Person: Elina Puurunen, Finland
After 2.5 years experience I can say that in HAMK, instructors are not only our instructors nor students only students. When I step into our school building on Monday morning, whether it is an instructor, a student, a janitor, there is always someone who recognises me and says good morning and asks how I have been. And that is the thing why the school has become like a second home to me. No one has to be alone here, there is always someone with whom to talk and chat, you might sit on a sofa with your classmates, you might have a break and maybe talk with your instructors of daily things, not only school-related but also something outside from studies. When you begin your studies, the instructors, other students, know that you might be scared and make the school easier and more comfortable for you they interact with you from the beginning of the first day. You are part of a big family which consists of the instructors, students and other personnel. When I graduate within one year, I will still visit here once in a while and have a cup of coffee with the instructors like I did during my studies.
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Exchange Studies in Canada: Max Wolf Hertz-Kleptow, Germany
In the end of August 2008, I arrived in Thunder Bay, Canada; and started my exchange studies at the Confederation College. After a couple of days, which I and the other exchange students used for travelling around and visiting some famous sights, the actual studies began with an opening at the college. By that opening and the help of the international affairs office, I could coordinate, relatively create my own schedule and was therefore ready to study. During the study time of four months, I took several interesting courses, which were helping me to gain a better understanding of the field “International business”. This knowledge, the intercultural life and the acquired experiences in Canada will help me to be successful in my future studies, my future work life, and will be an important part of my life, which I do not want to replace! In my eyes these exchange studies are a great part of my studies and I would definitely recommend doing it to everyone!
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Internship in Romania: Max Wolf Hertz-Kleptow, Germany
Within the time between my second and third semester I decided to do an internship in Romania. Many people would think and have asked me, why did you exactly choose Romania, and I always explained it in the way, that in my case it was a great chance to gain some practical experience abroad, to see other customs, and to work in a country which lately became member of the European Union. Especially, the case that Romania is a new member of the EU makes it interesting for companies like Nokia or Emerson Electric, which opened for instance new facilities in this country. Another positive effect of this internship was that it has been an eye-opener for me! Besides the practical and intercultural experiences, it was showing me that our living standard isn’t that normal and there are people in the world, even in the EU, who are living in circumstances, which are so much lower compared to our accepted standards. Anyways if you have the chance doing a work placement abroad, I would take this opportunity!
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Taste of Real Business Life: Kati Yli-Hakkola, Finland
For me as a student, HAMK International Business gave an excellent opportunity to adapt theory into practise. One part of my studies was Practical Business Project which gave me marvellous opportunity to bring those two elements together. In this particular course I got a real business projects to handle with my partner. The project was commissioned by a real, existing enterprise. My partner and I got a quite challenging assignment where we were supposed to search for new possible partners from Russia for this particular company. After finding those possible partners, we were supposed to arrange meetings with them in Russia with the commissioner. Indeed this project was great experience and it gave us huge possibility to taste real business life! We really had to work hard but the results we reached were the most rewarding; we were very successful in our assignment and we got new valuable contacts.
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Working and Studying: Kati Yli-Hakkola, Finland
Work placement can be a key to a permanent job and maybe also to a real career and success. I was so lucky to find for myself a work placement company that gave me a permanent job after work placement period. To find this kind of company, I was required to have some decisiveness, courage, irrepressibleness, and maybe a hint of luck. At the moment I’m working there besides my studies (or am I studying besides my work..? ) as a part time and in the near future I’m going to start doing my final thesis to this particular company. This all gave and still gives me some “extra kick” to continue my studies. This all has also convinced me that I did the right choice when I took HAMK International Business.
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