Karelia’s international business students Ayeman Rahman, Saúl Hernandez Morales and Han Nguyen share their internship experiences at ELY Centre and TE Office, shedding light on their academic pursuits and future aspirations.
Ayeman Rahman hails from Bangladesh and embarked on his academic journey in Eastern Finland in 2022, choosing Karelia University of Applied Sciences for its practical approach to education. His decision to study international business was influenced by his desire to gain a hands-on learning experience, a quality he found appealing in Finland’s educational offerings.
Saúl Hernandez Morales, originally from Mexico, moved to Finland six years ago due to family reasons. His wife’s academic pursuits brought them to Joensuu, where she studied to become a teacher at the University of Eastern Finland. Following her, Saúl also decided to start his studies at Karelia.
Han Nguyen from Vietnam decided to pursue international studies when in high school. She picked Finland as her destination because of its excellent reputation in education. Han enjoys her studies at Karelia and finds people in Joensuu friendly and helpful.
Internship at ELY Centre: A step towards career diversification
Ayeman and Saúl sought internships at ELY Centre to gain diverse professional experiences. Ayeman, who had previously interned at Kesla, aimed to expand his skillset by engaging in video editing and graphic design projects at ELY Centre. His project involved producing a video series showcasing immigrant success stories in North Karelia. Saúl did his thesis for ELY Centre, which focused on a feedback questionnaire for the WiNK (Work in North Karelia) project, reflecting his interest in developing North Karelia.
Both students’ internship journeys at ELY Centre were equally enriching. Saúl describes it as a positive, albeit initially challenging, experience.
“The autonomy and need for self-direction were new to me, and it took some time to get used to that”, he explains.
Ayeman finds the internship very useful regarding his professional future.
“Gaining new skills and diversifying my portfolio are definite plusses for me.”
Sini Hukka, Immigration Specialist at ELY Centre, considers the experience with international interns worthwhile for the employer. She understands that the special characteristics of Finnish working life may surprise employees with different backgrounds.
“When onboarding an international employee, you should consider language and cultural differences. For instance, using plain language and modern translation technologies can help a newcomer understand Finnish in meetings.”
Internship at TE Office: Valuable insights into employment services
Han did her internship at TE Office in June. Together with her supervisor, she set a few goals for training: getting to know the local work culture, studying the Finnish language, and gaining knowledge of employment services. Han finds the experience useful.
“It is very valuable for my future career, as I developed my communication skills and learned some Finnish”, she describes.
One of Han’s tasks was to act as a job seeker-customer and test the service process as a person without Finnish skills. Her supervisor, Development Specialist Visa Rinne, sees the testing as a win-win situation.
“It confirmed mutual understanding of the process flow and was a safe way to evaluate it.”
“Han also acted as an employer-client, which means she also got to know that side, for example how to set up a company and what kind of help is available.”
Reflections on the Finnish work environment
All three students note significant differences between Finnish work culture and that of their home countries. Saúl observes that in Finland, employees are encouraged to think proactively and take the initiative. Ayeman echoes this sentiment, praising the Finnish work environment for its conducive conditions.
“Freedom to decide how to do your tasks leads to creativity and innovation”, Ayeman sums up.
Han appreciates the professionalism and effectiveness of Finnish coworkers. She also values the work-life balance.
“The possibility of remote work gives flexibility to your life”, she notes.
After graduation, Saúl and Ayeman face uncertainties regarding their futures in Finland. Saúl remains undecided, taking a wait-and-see approach. Ayeman, while appreciative of his experiences in North Karelia, is concerned about the limited job opportunities, especially given the current economic climate.
Han, however, would very much like to stay in the area. To enhance her prospects in the job market, she plans to start Finnish language studies full-time after graduation.
Enhancing support for international students
Reflecting on how Eastern Finland could better support international students, the students offer valuable insights. They emphasise the need for more effective pathways from internships to employment, noting that internships often do not lead to job offers.
Sini encourages employers to hire international employees, as language skills develop over time and an international background can bring added value to the organisation.
“The future of Eastern Finland depends on the ability to offer international talents meaningful employment opportunities. Without immigration, the region will age rapidly.”
Visa calls for more language courses to be included in the studies as most employers in the area look for Finnish speakers.
The Talent Hub Eastern Finland project aims to ensure that international students arriving in the region find their place, secure employment, and integrate into Eastern Finland. One example of its services is the Future Talents team. It aims to increase cooperation with companies and find internships, student project work, workplace learning opportunities and part-time jobs. The team markets and sells its expertise and that provided by its degree programme. It can also do on-demand projects. For employer organisations, the team offers a new way to find talent.
Talent Hub Eastern Finland is a cooperation of UEF, Karelia, Savonia, Riveria, Sakky and YSAO. The project is co-funded by the European Union. You can learn more about it on our website: https://www.karelia.fi/en/talent-hub-eastern-finland-eng/
Tiina Weman, Communications Specialist
Talent Hub Eastern Finlandm UEF
