Haaga-Helia's fully TikTok-based higher education course , launched last year, won bronze in the prestigious Cannes Lions competition.
It was reportedly the first course in the world to be completed entirely in the TikTok app and awarded credits. The course took advantage of the popular platform and showed how change can be seen as an opportunity to develop and renew ways of learning.
The course combined the platforms used by young people and higher education in a new way. It offered short video readings on entrepreneurship and included assignments as well as final work, just like traditional higher education courses.
– This recognition shows that a communications and marketing educator can also be successful at the forefront of creativity. As one of the largest communication and marketing trainers in Finland, we don't just teach, we do a lot. In addition to this work, Haaga-Helia will be represented by student Jaani Piirainen at the Young Lions competition in Cannes, says Teemu Kokko, President of Haaga-Helia.
Haaga-Helia wanted to offer students opportunities to learn where they already were. TikTok, which has emerged as the main news and communication channel for young people, offered a new way to do this. The course was open to all and could be completed through Haaga-Helia's Open University of Applied Sciences.
– We try, try and try again. This course was a perfect example of our bold culture of experimentation and how we want to constantly innovate the way we learn, Kokko continues.
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is one of the leading providers of communication, marketing and business skills in Finland.The TikTok course and the international recognition it has received underline the institution's commitment to continuous development, experimentation and keeping education ahead of the times.
The course has been widely recognised both nationally and internationally. In addition to the Cannes Lions Bronze Lion, the course has been awarded the Grand Prix at the Nordic TikTok Awards and the Grand One as the best campaign of the year, as well as two Effie bronzes. The work has also been recognised in the Peaks of the Year, Gerety Awards and One Show competitions. The creative partner behind the work was advertising agency Bob The Robot / NoA and the media agency was ToinenPHD.
In the photo: Pia Moilanen (Bob the Robot), Hanna Huuskonen (Haaga-Helia), Katariina Ollari (Bob the Robot) and Ville Ohtonen (Bob the Robot / NoA) in Cannes 18.6.2025.
