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Monikulttuurinen ammattiosaaminen
Start date: Aug 1, 2014, End date: Jul 31, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The main task of our school is to provide the metropolitan area with qualified professionals for jobs in Business and Administration and in Information and Communication Technology. Companies today are operating in a global market and their staff is multi-cultural. This is reflected in skills requirements. In addition to subject-specific competence, it is more and more important to have social skills and an entrepreneurial approach. The main objective of this project is to improve the students' employability and professional skills that also include the skills to work in an international environment. In the beginning of the studies we aim to steer students towards an international path by strengthening their faith in their own skills to operate in an international environment. Exchange periods abroad improve the employability of students by developing their own initiatives and entrepreneurial approach, by providing a broader perspective to do the job, by expanding their networks and by improving their language skills. For the teaching staff, the project's main objective is to improve their skills of guiding multi-cultural student groups as well as to improve their language skills, especially for those who are teaching in English language. The exchanges can provide participants with new ideas and motivate them to develop their own work. The aim is to increase international activities according to our strategic plan. The students targeted in this project are BA and ICT student. 22 % of our students are of a foreign background and 5% of our students are studying in our English program (QBA). The teaching staff targeted is working in Finnish or English teaching BA or ICT, or teaching in the preparatory program for immigrants. In the beginning of their studies students can choose a two-week seminar abroad as part of their elective courses. This seminar is organized by the hosting institution with the participation of the local students. The teacher prepares the students beforehand and guides and assists them during the seminar. At the same time he/she gets familiar with the partner school’s activities. The students’ on-the-job learning periods are personalized. The lengths of these periods are 8 or 15 weeks and agreements with the hosting school are made in advance. The hosting school provides support to students during the exchange period, if necessary. The student’s supervising teacher keeps in touch with the student and the employer. The teacher can also visit the on-the-job learning place in the beginning of the period in order to agree about the tasks and to give more information about the evaluation process. During his visit the teacher can also explore new on-the-job learning opportunities. The evaluation of the student is done through Skype or ACP at the end of the exchange period. Teachers can participate in a week -long job shadowing period in a partner school abroad. During the exchange they follow activities related to their own work such as teaching, counseling, cooperation with working life or administrative work. They can participate in the activities as well as discuss different ways of implementation. By comparing practices teachers can get new ideas for developing teaching and other activities in both of the partner schools. Teachers can also combine job shadowing and supervising students on their on-the-job learning periods in case there are only few students to be looked after. Teachers that teach in practice enterprises can take their best practice company to the annual international practice enterprise fairs. The teacher provides guidance and supervises the construction of the stand as well as the presentations during the fair and helps to dismantle the stand after the event. While attending international practice enterprise fairs, teachers can network and exchange ideas with other teachers. Exchange periods abroad improve students' professional skills, motivation to study and employment after graduation. Students' ability to communicate in a foreign language is also improved, they have more self-confidence and they are able to work in a multicultural environment. Students benefit indirectly from the teachers job shadowing periods also, as new teaching methods can be introduced to motivate and inspire the students. The teaching staff becomes familiar with the partner institution’s teaching and other activities, improve their language skills and get ideas they can use to develop their own work. In addition they can network and deepen cooperation between our two institutions. The project has a significant impact on developing the activities of the sending and the hosting institution. After the exchange all participants write a report about the exchange and these reports will be used when planning future mobility and when informing students and staff about international activities. The best ideas and best practices will be disseminated in our national and international networks.

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