Guidance to support your career planning

Get a better idea of your future career and skills

At SAMK, the aim of career guidance is to support your career planning skills. As you develop your career planning skills, you will become more aware of different career options. You will know the possibilities of non-typical career choices, gain confidence in your own skills and better identify your own competences. You will be able to map out your future career and competences, job tasks and further education opportunities.

Student guidance, counselling and well-being

Career guidance providers

At SAMK, career guidance and career planning are part of study guidance and course content.

You can get guidance and support for your career goals from your teacher tutor, teacher supervising practical training, your thesis supervisor, teachers and your student counsellor. Your teacher tutor will promote your group’s career planning skills in small group or group meetings. You can also discuss career planning with your teacher tutor in an individual meeting. A teacher tutor is an expert in your field. It is also the role of the teacher, teacher supervising practical training and thesis supervisor to support you in your career choices, skills identity, career development, employment and entrepreneurship. In addition, the student counsellor will help you with career management, career and life planning, and issues related to working life and further studies.

Plan your own career

You can develop your career planning skills and plan your career in the Workplace Skills course. In the Effectual Entrepreneurship course, you will consider entrepreneurship as a career option. You will get tips on how to apply for practical training and a job at your faculty, e.g. from your teacher supervising practical training and teachers. You can discuss international placement opportunities and exchanges with the contact person in International Relations Office at your faculty. SAMK also organises career events.

Career stories told by alumni

Studies

22 Jan 2026

Our students will be employed: Building a Career with Robots

Ganesh Goutham moved from India to Finland to study Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence at SAMK. He explains what made him choose Finland, what studying in a practical environment is like, and what his dreams for the future are.

Studies

23 Sep 2025

Our students will be employed: Dinushika Maddegoda’s Journey in Nursing

From Sri Lanka to Dubai and finally to Finland, Dinushika Maddegoda has followed a path shaped by creativity, teaching, and a deep passion for helping others. Today, she is building her career in nursing at SAMK while already working as a Practical Nurse in elderly rehabilitation.

Studies

18 Sep 2025

Our students will be employed: Andrea Kovalova’s Journey in Data Science

From the Czech Republic to Finland, Andrea Kovalova turned her curiosity for artificial intelligence into a rewarding career. Today, she works as a Junior Data Scientist at Wärtsilä – a role she first discovered through her SAMK practical training.

Student counsellors

The student counsellor is involved in guiding and counselling students depending on their situation and needs. The student counsellor implements, coordinates and develops guidance and counselling in cooperation with other providers of student guidance and counselling in the faculty. The student counsellor is responsible for the equality of student counselling in the faculty in accordance with SAMK’s policies. Student counsellors are involved in the development of SAMK-wide student guidance and counselling. The teacher tutors are responsible for guidance and counselling of Master’s degree students. In special situations (e.g. delayed studies or returning to studies), students are supported by study counsellor Tiina García.

Tarja Elfvengren

Senior Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 44 710 3326 tarja.elfvengren@samk.fi

Faculty of Technology and Maritime Studies

Office
Faculty of Technology and Maritime Studies Operating unit
Faculty Office of Technology and Maritime Studies Other roles in organisation
Student Counsellor Establishment
SAMK Campus Pori

Tiina García

Senior Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 44 710 3343 tiina.garcia@samk.fi

Business Administration; Purchasing and Procurement (Rauma), International Business, Master’s degrees (all fields) 

Office
Faculty of Business and Management Operating unit
Faculty Office of Business and Management Other roles in organisation
Student Counsellor Establishment
SAMK Campus Rauma

Rauma: Business Administration (day and online), International Business

Rauma/Pori: Masters (all fields)

Antti Jokinen-Amee

Senior Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 44 710 3335 antti.jokinen-amee@samk.fi

Faculty of Technology and Maritime Studies

Marjo Keckman

Senior Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 44 710 3866 marjo.keckman@samk.fi

Business Administration (Huittinen, Pori) and Entrepreneur’s Degree Programme, Tourism, International Tourism Management 

Office
Faculty of Business and Management Operating unit
Faculty Office of Business and Management Other roles in organisation
Student Counsellor Establishment
SAMK Campus Pori

Tiina Mikkonen-Ojala

Senior Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 44 710 3422 tiina.mikkonen-ojala@samk.fi

Nursing, Fine Arts 

Office
Faculty of Well-being and Fine Arts Operating unit
Faculty Office of Well-being and Fine Arts Other roles in organisation
Student Counsellor Establishment
SAMK Campus Pori

Emmi Nevalainen

Senior Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 50 341 8740 emmi.nevalainen@samk.fi

On maternity leave. Social Welfare, Rehabilitation Counselling, Elderly Care, Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy

Office
Faculty of Well-being and Fine Arts Operating unit
Faculty Office of Well-being and Fine Arts Other roles in organisation
Student Counsellor Establishment
SAMK Campus Pori

Sari Tähtinen

Lecturer, Student Counsellor

+358 50 464 1571 sari.tahtinen@samk.fi

Social Welfare, Rehabilitation Counselling, Elderly Care, Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy

Office
Faculty of Well-being and Fine Arts Operating unit
Faculty Office of Well-being and Fine Arts Establishment
SAMK Campus Pori

International Facilitator

The International Facilitator is involved in providing international students with information and guidance tailored to work life in Finland, including CV preparation, recruitment matters, and support with finding an internship placement. The International Facilitator implements, coordinates, and develops connections between international students and local companies through various channels. The International Facilitator can be found in the international office, on the Pori campus.

Marion Plouet

International Facilitator

+358 50 560 7172 marion.c.plouet@samk.fi

Office
Research Operating unit
Research Center for Human Functioning Establishment
SAMK Campus Pori