The International Week in Paris Enhanced European Partnerships and Provided Tools for Intercultural Collaboration

A group photo of the international week participants at USPN campus Villetaneuse.
International week participants in group photo at USPN campus Villetaneuse

University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN) held an international week themed “European Alliances, Challenges in Interculturality” from May 19-23, 2025, supported by the European Commission Blended Intensive Programme (BIP).

Over 20 participants from seven universities attended to the event. TAMK was represented by Johanna Niemonen and Heli Turpeinen from Human Resources (HR) and Kirsi Jokipakka from Education and Learning Services. The event included individual and team activities, with three workshops on interculturality led by MITRA+. Participants also visited a unique USPN’s ethology lab, where researchers study ants and mice. As part of the programme, colleagues from different European countries also had a chance to see Château de Chantilly, learn the art of whipping cream, and enjoy a scenic river cruise on the Seine.

Picture represents the Interculturality and European Alliances workshop organized by Agnes Domercq and Ghislaine Tamsie.
Interculturality and European Alliances workshop organized by Agnes Domercq and Ghislaine Tamsier (MITRA+)

For Johanna and Heli, attending their first international week offered fresh perspectives on HR in a European context. The three-day group work focused on communication, time management, project work, learning, and cultural diversity. Working in multicultural teams revealed how cultural norms influence everyday practices and how diversity can strengthen collaboration and problem-solving.

A highlight of the week for Johanna and Heli was a meeting with Marine Magot from Université Sorbonne Paris Nord’s HR unit, who introduced the university’s organizational structure and employee benefits. USPN’s HR comprises around 50 staff members working in specialized roles. In comparison, TAMK’s HR professionals often manage a wider range of responsibilities within a single position. Among the benefits offered at USPN are 52 days of annual leave and access to sports facilities. One notable difference compared to Finland was the way career progression works in the public sector: employees can be directed to take an examination, and by passing it, they become eligible for higher-level positions. It was also interesting to learn that Paris is home to 13 independent universities, each operating autonomously without a shared administrative framework.

Although more meetings with HR peers would have deepened the benchmarking, the visit provided valuable insights. It emphasized the importance of flexibility, cultural awareness, and clear communication in international HR work. The experience also highlighted language aspects: understanding English was manageable, but using HR-specific terminology in conversation required extra effort.

Participating in the USPN International Week was overall a valuable and beneficial experience. One noticeable difference between TAMK and USPN was in time management. In Finland, schedules are typically fixed, whereas the week in Paris followed a more flexible rhythm, with days often extending into the evening. The week, which was exclusively for representatives of the Uninovis European Higher Education Network, enabled deeper planning of future cooperation and meeting important partners. During the week, discussions were held on how to make cooperation more efficient and smoother in the future from the perspectives of education, research, and support services. The key to this is building personal relationships and agreeing on common rules. This requires open, direct, and respectful interaction, to which all participants of the international week are ready to commit.

A group photo of the international week participants at USPN campus Villetaneuse.
International week participants in group photo at USPN campus Villetaneuse

Text: Johanna Niemonen, Heli Turpeinen and Kirsi Jokipakka

Photos: Kirsi Jokipakka and Sandra Carlier (USPN)

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