Tuition in English enriches intercultural interaction, strengthens language skills and opens doors to working life – both in Finland and internationally.
The reform aims to enhance the integration and employment opportunities of international students in Finland. At the same time, it will support the internationalization and language skills of Finnish-speaking students.
— International students learn about Finnish culture, make contacts with Finns and get a bit of language immersion as well, says Senior Lecturer Leena Nolvi.
— In addition, the English language skills of Finnish-speaking students will improve. Nowadays, almost every job requires English skills — some to a lesser extent, while others require it extensively. Many companies in the field already have English as their corporate language, adds Jussi Törmälä, Head of Teaching.
Studies focusing on the future and internationalization
Since the combined group will not start for the first time until next autumn, the detailed planning of the content is still somewhat underway. However, Nolvi and Törmälä promise that the programme will have a strong working-life perspective.
— We have already approached some companies in the region with ideas for cooperation and the response has been positive. What exactly this collaboration will entail remains to be developed, Nolvi explains.
The programme has long traditions, but the curriculum has been regularly updated to meet the needs of working life.
— The curriculum is very versatile. We offer strong expertise in design, as well as knowledge in production automation, industrial systems, and production control, says Nolvi.
Degree programme to develop skills and open up career opportunities
International cooperation has also been planned. Three members of the Mechanical Engineering team took part in the international week organized by the University of Technology Nuremberg in autumn. During the visit, they presented the Degree programme in Mechanical Engineering and explored opportunities for cooperation.
The University of Technology Nuremberg is an interesting partner for SAMK, especially because they have also just started a degree programme in mechanical engineering with English as the language of tuition. This creates new opportunities for planning student exchanges and joint projects, for example. International networking will help to strengthen the international competence and attractiveness of both higher education institutions.
Jussi Törmälä says that graduates of the degree programme have good opportunities to advance quickly in their careers.
— Of course, everyone has to start somewhere, but graduates have a good chance of moving fairly quickly into positions of responsibility, such as project managers. Such positions are often located abroad.
Törmälä is enthusiastic about the new programme, which he says has been well received.
— We cannot just think that we developed something twenty years ago and everything is fine. The needs of working life change and we have to change with them, he sums up.
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Applications for the Degree programme in Mechanical Engineering (in English) open in January, and for the Degree programme in Mechanical Engineering (in Finnish) in March. Although the application processes are separate, students in the two degree programmes form a common group. All teaching will be face-to-face.
