International Business Students Write about Their Experiences

Aurelija Viluckyte - studies started in August 2009

My name is Aurelija Viluckyte and I am from Lithuania. I have started my studies at HH 3 semesters ago as a student of International Business Degree Programme in English language, otherwise called GLOBBA. It provides me possibilities to specialize in one of the four specialization tracks such International Marketing, Finance, Logistics & Human Resources Management in the 3rd year of the studies. I can also take an exchange period or work placement abroad.

In our Programme we also use a popular PBL (Problem Based Learning) learning approach. In the tutorials we discuss a certain topic which has to be prepared beforehand at home. The idea of the discussion is that a teacher is no longer the main focus of learning. In such discussions a student can train himself working in a group discussions, expressing opinions, commenting, criticizing, taking a leader’s or an observer’s roles. Such learning approach is also sometimes challenging as one has to always take self-initiative to bring up new subtopic or an opinion. I find PBL as an interesting tool to learn and apply course-related business topics as well as to hear other opinions and understanding to deepen my knowledge.

Duc Le - studies started in January 2008

I went to Finland 3 years ago to start my studies at HAAGA-HELIA. At first, I was thinking that I would just take a bachelor and go somewhere else to find a job as an average office worker. But HAAGA-HELIA has given me more than that. My life has completely changed since the day I went to this school.

Being one of the biggest business schools at the time in the middle of Helsinki, HAAGA-HELIA has also one of the most innovated premises and facilities for studying, teaching and researching Computers are everywhere. Printing is free. Blank paper is free to take and borrowing books is also free of charge.

The student union and student associations are very active, having so many activities both indoor and outdoor. We even have special student associations to take care of the foreign students’ wellbeing and provide information in English, which not many schools in Finland do. People in the student union and associations are very welcoming and easy to get along with.

Teachers are really nice and polite. They give us the impression they are our friends instead of creating barriers from the students. Some of the teachers even have a face-book account and befriend their students. They encourage us being as active and creative as we can be during our studies.

The environment is very much international with over 200 nationalities spreading across the campuses. During my time studying here in HAAGA-HELIA, I have had chances to work with people from over 30 countries in the courses that I have taken. Now I have friends almost everywhere in Europe, which is great!

I also learn the spirit of entrepreneurship here. At this moment, my friends and I are planning of opening our own company instead of suffering from searching for jobs which are even rarer than gold in this economy.

So, HAAGA-HELIA offers more than just a bachelor’s degree. It offers a lifetime experience that one does not want to miss.

Lotta Väinölä - studies started in January 2009

I’ve had many great experiences during my studies in HAAGA-HELIA. One of the most memorable so far, is definitely a study trip to Hamburg in April 2010. My German teacher encouraged me to participate in this trip to get to know the German business culture and to improve my German skills. At first I was a bit hesitant about going, because I had no idea who else would be going – none of my school friends studied German. However, I decided to go and that was an excellent decision.

During the trip, we made a few company visits to international German firms, like Aon, Hamburger Hochbahn AG and Hansa Bus Terminal. We also attended some lectures in our host University, the Hamburg School of Business Administration. The students of HSBA were our hosts and provided us with accommodation. They had also organized us program, like movies, dinners etc. for the evenings.

Our original plan was to stay in Hamburg for one week, but during the second last day of our trip, the volcano in Iceland erupted and we couldn’t fly back home. Luckily our hosts were super nice and they had no problem with us staying with them for another week. We ended up coming home by bus and ferry a week later than planned.

In my opinion, the trip was a success. I made tons of new friends, got to visit Hamburg and some very interesting companies, and only in two weeks, my German skills really improved. After the two weeks, I was sometimes even thinking in German. I think it is great that HAAGA-HELIA offers possibilities for study trips. I can’t wait for my next study trip to St. Petersburg in the intensive week with my International Marketing course!

Christoph Wilk - studies started in August 2009

I started my studies at HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences in August 2009 in the International Business Degree Programme in Pasila, Helsinki. I still remember clearly an overwhelming fact back then from the days in the introduction week in August: Within about 75 people starting in the business programmes, there were about 25 different nationalities. At that moment I was not aware of the impact this fact has for all of us studying at HAAGA-HELIA.

In a world driven by globalization, boundaries melt and businesses all around the world get closer connected than ever before. However, people with different cultural backgrounds have different beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. To be successful when acting these new and diverse environments, it needs in depth cultural knowledge as well as empathy. Within this issue, HAAGA-HELIA provides a unique environment for learning and application in a multicultural environment.

As most of the students have limited cultural experience before starting their studies, one gets well instructed about what to consider when dealing with different cultures and about how to act in a multicultural environment. As studying in an institution with a strong practical approach, one is given loads of possibilities to learn at HAAGA-HELIA. In my opinion, in nothing else than teamwork, a crucial element in today’s business life and of the practices at HAAGA-HELIA, you learn better.

The teams worked in within studies are created as diverse as possible. It often brings people together that haven’t been in contact with each other as an individual often tends to look for the easiest way - meaning working with people who share the same attitudes, values and behaviors.  It is obvious that it might often cause confusion and frustration when trying to combine different working methods and styles. However, overcoming these happens usually quite soon and individual, diverse output will be optimized into synergy.

One as an individual gathers interesting and essential knowledge of how people do things and what the particular background is. It personally enlarges one’s cultural horizon and improves the efficient working with different kinds of people. Another important aspect is gathering a network with people from all around the world, whether it is within class or within the several social activities offered by HAAGA-HELIA and its student unions.  It often happens that friendships are created that one can benefit from in personal and in business life.

To deepen cultural understanding and to apply already gained knowledge, a crucial part of the international degree program is outgoing student exchange. Twice a year the possibility is given to any student to apply for student exchange at HAAGA-HELIA’s several partner institutions in Europe, North and Southern America as well as Asia. Furthermore, incoming students from all over the world increase the internationality of the studies, giving one constantly the possibility to enlarge cultural experience and the personal network.

International Business Students Learn through Projects

HAAGA-HELIA BBA students study in many of their courses in close cooperation with business and non-profit organisations. In autumn 2010 in one of  the clients was actually their own study programme called GloBBA. The aim of the course project was to create material introducing their own degree programme and HAAGA-HELIA to potential applicants. Please see some of the project outcomes.

Globe Brochure (ppt)

Handshake & Business Card Posters (ppt)

The Police Line Up Video Clip (mpg)

Globby Video Clip (wmv)