SAMK’s partnership programme, launched last year, aims to establish systematic collaboration that benefits both parties. Partners are also invited to provide feedback on how well the collaboration is working and how it could be improved.
The programme currently includes 13 companies. Based on the survey, partners are satisfied with the collaboration and the partnership programme’s content. They praised the positive atmosphere in the meetings and that agreed matters progressed as planned and on schedule. Having a dedicated contact person at SAMK was also seen as a major benefit, making communication smooth and effortless. Long-term partnership collaboration was seen as having positive effects on both companies’ operations and the region as a whole.
Partnership Manager Tanja Vaitiniemi considers it important to develop the programme’s forms of collaboration and ways of working together with the partner network. The aim is to meet the needs of both current and future partner companies as effectively as possible in their cooperation with the higher education institution.
– The survey responses did not reveal any significant areas for improvement, but we received some valuable suggestions. These related to, for example, networking among partner companies and visibility. We have already started working on these issues.
Partnership brings new perspectives and expertise
Partnership requires commitment from both parties and a willingness to promote collaboration in a long-term and constructive way. For a successful partnership, the company must see it as a genuinely significant investment in future skills needs and business development.
Regular partnership meetings provide opportunities for dialogue and planning future collaboration. Planning takes into account each partner company’s needs and resources, which may vary from year to year.
One of SAMK’s partners is Vatajankoski (a Finnish energy company), [HT1.1]which has engaged in diverse and practical collaboration with SAMK for several years. This has included, among other things, work placements, thesis topics, expert visits, student group visits to production facilities, and participation in research projects.
According to Eero Hammais, Head of Communications at Vatajankoski, the partnership provides a strong link to both higher education and work-oriented research.
– We gain fresh perspectives on energy sector topics, new expertise and a direct connection to the professionals of the future. Furthermore, we can draw on SAMK experts’ knowledge in areas that are important to us.
The collaboration is also taking the form of concrete new initiatives. Vatajankoski is currently in discussions with SAMK about developing emissions accounting to cover the company’s value chain, where applicable. The collaboration is being planned as expert work and possibly also as a thesis project.
One experience that has particularly stayed with Hammais was a visit to a lecture on sustainability management at SAMK, where students actively provided feedback on Vatajankoski’s sustainability report.
Developing the collaboration further
In the future, Vatajankoski is particularly keen to develop research collaboration and opportunities for work placements and thesis projects.
– Research collaboration is an area I’d like to develop further. We’d be happy to contribute our industry expertise to SAMK’s research projects. We also want to do our bit to create work placements and thesis project opportunities for students and, in doing so, raise awareness of our company among students, says Hammais.
According to him, the partnership programme is particularly well-suited to organisations that want to develop their expertise and build connections with future professionals.
– SAMK is a partner that has a deep understanding of the needs of working life and an extensive stakeholder network. The partnership is ideal for organisations that want to update their expertise and gain a direct connection with future talent.
Find out more about SAMK’s partner companies and the partnership programme here
