No one is too good at interpersonal skills and they should be practiced throughout life. That's why I wanted to start this blog post with excerpts from a book that everyone should read: Olet hyvä tyyppi – Opas sujuviin ihmissuhteisiin (Nieminen, K. 2017).
Last week, we had the opportunity to participate in Rheology Power Week 2025, which was organised by Anton Paar Nordic AB in Malmö, Sweden. The event provided a good overview of various aspects of rheology, which is the study of material flow and deformation (Mezger 2014). The event had international participants from both industry and universities.
Five lecturers Taru Nurmala, Kaisa Kokko, Kirsi Karimäki, Tiina Wickman-Viitala and Sanna Tahlo from Tampere University of Applied Sciences participated in a train-the-trainer workshop in Vienna as part of the Personal Green Skills in Higher Education project in December 2024.
This blog explores why students deserve respect from educators and society, focusing on the Finnish education system as a model. It discusses the mutual responsibilities between students and teachers in taxpayer-funded education and highlights Finland’s tradition of collaboration between schools and the working world. Although centered on Finland, this analysis invites reflection on how its practices might inspire adaptations in different educational contexts, particularly in Africa.
"It feels like everyone else has a place They have their own gang, the club Where they can always be on Sundays wearing a suit with other people It feels like everyone else has a direction They have their own group rulebook And they don't have to wonder if they made a mistake again."
Internationalisation and international mobility are important areas at TAMK so my teacher exchange with the University of Staffordshire, in the United Kingdom, was a valuable experience. In January 2025, I visited Stoke-on-Trent, the university’s main campus. The main goal of my exchange was to deepen the relationship with the University of Staffordshire and consider different possibilities for future co-operation in education science and teacher education.
In the last week of November, Marika Kyllönen, Harri Karvinen and Toni Pippola from TAMK had the opportunity to participate in the International Week organised by HdM (Hochschule der Medien) in Stuttgart, Germany. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to network with international colleagues and to get to know the German higher education scene.
Evi van Doesburg has been working as intern in Pedagogical Innovations and Culture at TAMK from September 2024 until January 2025. In this blog she shares her experiences about her internship, living in Tampere and Finnish culture. What kind of challenges did she face? What were the things she enjoyed during her stay?
EU Interreg Central Baltic Project "Succeed in Business" continued in Tampere 4.-5.12.2024. Project gathered together students from TAMK, Tartu region in Estonia and Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies to learn more about general management and business development, and human resources.
International work-related travel is not just about hopping on a plane and “seeing what happens.” Oh no—it's a delicate dance of meetings, delegation dynamics, unexpected surprises, and perhaps a suitcase full of goodwill (and hopefully, snacks). Here are some “theses” for surviving, thriving, and occasionally laughing your way through international travel.
