What kind of role does emotional intelligence play in leadership? Emotional intelligence is an essential feature of a good leader, as it helps the leader to understand the emotions of others and his/her own emotions, which improves the overall well-being, communication and leads to a better decision-making.
Artificial intelligence has arrived with a bang and is making its mark in the world of work. Various AI programmes have come to the market, and at times it can be difficult to grasp what these AI programmes are actually capable of doing. How can we leverage artificial intelligence in the international contexts of higher education?
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.
During our trip to Namibia as a part of the Circular Economy Models in Namibia: Capacity building project we had an opportunity to visit a local training centre in Swakopmund. In our visit we discovered a circular economy ecosystem which appears as a good example of strong sustainability covering environmental, economic and social elements. We also learned a punch of good practices on how to create value for local actors and communities from circular economy.
There has been a unique cooperation between TAMK and North Carolina State University (NCSU) for over 15 years. The cooperation has included, among other things, a double degree agreement already in the very early days of the cooperation. This co-operation has since then turned into active student and staff exchanges, both as guest lectures and project-related visits. In the future, the intention is to focus on cooperation in research as well.
Ulla Häggblom and Piia Kanto were invited to present the concept of the working life-oriented concept “Talent Factory” in July 2024 in the BioTech Tunisia Project Closing event in Tunisia. The presentation got excellent feedback because of the interesting topic and the captivating way of presenting.
On November 11th and 12th, 2024, the EU Interreg Central Baltic project Succeed in Business started with a dynamic two-day event in Riga, Latvia. The Succeed in Business project aims to encourage young people to become entrepreneurs by providing them with practical skills, international networks, and continuous mentorship. This project offers a platform for students to turn their business ideas into reality, supported by coaches, mentors, and an engaged network of peers from across the Baltic region.
The first implementation of the AntofaEDUCA program has come to a successful conclusion, marking a key achievement in advancing education in the Antofagasta region. This ambitious initiative, the result of shared efforts and international collaboration between TAMK, Fundación Entrepreneur in Chile, the Regional Government of Antofagasta, and other partners, is designed to drive a transformative educational reform across all public schools in the region, including primary, secondary, and vocational education. By fostering innovation and collaboration among teachers, educational leaders, and students, the program aims to create lasting improvements in teaching practices, leadership, and school environments.
The collaboration between Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Finn Church Aid (FCA), and Kenyan Technical and Vocational education and training (TVET) institutions is creating new opportunities for youth employment and education in Kenya. This partnership aims to improve vocational education and address youth unemployment by combining Finnish expertise in education with local Kenyan needs where the emphasis on collaboration with workplaces is expressed in the notion of “Dual TVET”. Project called Youth Employment and TVET in Kenya is funded by the German development cooperation organization Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Our staff exchange with the University of West Bohemia was an inspiring and fruitful experience. The main goal of our exchange was to find a new partner for nursing and midwifery education, and project collaboration, as well as to establish the framework for future student and staff exchanges between our institutions. The trip also supported our goal of becoming the most international university and aligned with the social and healthcare strategy to function as a versatile and internationally active unit.
Tampere University of Applied Sciences' Succeed in Business project aimed at young people aged 18–25 in the Pirkanmaa Region interested in entrepreneurship to participate in international training that strengthens networking and competence. The Awareness Rising Conference organised at TAMK was attended by 22 participants. I was particularly pleased with the young people's sociability and openness to talk to each other and share experiences and questions about entrepreneurship right from the start.
Notifications
