Applicant's Guide 2015

YOUR ROAD TO

EXPERTISE

APPLICANT’S

GUIDE 2015

GRADUATE

EXPERT

WORKING LIFE STUDENT

APPLICANT

2

Expertise is more than the diploma in your hand.

Expertise is profound and complex knowledge and it is the readiness to solve problems and meet challenges. Most professions demand expertise which is obtained with ambitious studying and gaining experience in working life. Becoming an expert is a dream worth having.

Dear Applicant I am most delighted that you are interested in studying at Karelia University of Applied Sciences. I would like to encourage you to apply to us and make your dream of studying for future degree at a Finnish institution of higher education and career come true.

We have been providing studies in International Business for 20 years. During these years we have been able to support the internationalisation of the North Karelia region by sending International Business students to companies for training and development projects. The impact of international students is especially useful to small- and medium-sized enterprises in our region. During this era we have been able to establish an extensive network of foreign partner institutions, working life partners and alumni especially in Europe, Russia and Asia. This cooperation adds extra value to your degree as you have the chance to go on student and trainee exchange and work with international specialists and students in your everyday student life.

International students are an integral part of our student community at Karelia UAS. I am also certain that the North Karelia region and Joensuu as a popular Finnish student city will provide you with a safe and beautiful living environment, inspirational studying and meaningful freetime.

You are most welcome to study with us!

Petri Raivo President

We have been providing studies in International Business for 20 years.

3

Karelia University of Applied Sciences is the starting point for your expertise Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Karelia UAS) is the starting point of your future expertise if you wish to study internationally oriented business and practice in an international setting. Through your studies with us you gain competence in international business, create an international network and improve the important skills needed in working life.

Karelia UAS is the easternmost university of applied sciences in Finland and is located in the region of North Karelia. We provide education as a part of the European and national system of higher education. We respond to the demands of modern working life with excellence and efficiency. We are proud of the education we offer and at the same time we constantly develop the curricula to meet the challenges of the future experts will face.

At Karelia UAS we offer education leading to a Bachelor’s degree in 15 degree programmes and in 5 Master degree programmes in 6 fields of study. The Degree Programme in International Business is completely instructed in English. The innovative learning environment, quality teaching and active cooperation with working life make sure that your degree and level of competence increase your good career opportunities.

Karelia UAS guarantees the high quality of education with a long, consistent and comprehensive tradition of quality assurance work (audited by FINHEEC in 2011). The student’s voice is heard with an extensive feedback system as well as active interaction between students and staff.

4

As far as its impact on regional development is concerned, Karelia UAS is one of the best universities of applied sciences in Finland. With our expertise, the students challenge their knowledge and skills in real business projects provided by local enterprises.

Karelia UAS operates in Joensuu on 4 different campuses. The campuses are multi-field learning and development environments that enable study possibilities across the boundaries of different degree programmes.

FIELDS OF STUDY Social Sciences, Business and Administration Culture Natural Resources and the Environment Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services Social Services, Health and Sport Technology, Communication and Transport

FACTS AND FIGURES 2013 Total number of students 3,871 International students

138 degree students, 221 exchange students

Number of graduates

685

Staff

335

The Degree Programme in International Business offers great learning opportunities and experiences similar to what we could find anywhere in the world. Additionally, you get to enjoy all these experiences in the clean, relaxed and calm city of Joensuu.

ISAAC AD AAM, BBA (DEGR EE PR OGR AMME I N I NTER NATI ONAL BUSIN E SS) 2014

Whether you plan to set up your own company or work in a company in Finland or abroad, Karelia UAS will help you get into your future career.

N A BI L ASHR AF, B B A ( DE G RE E P ROG RA MME IN INT E RN ATI ONAL BUSI NESS) 2013 T R AINE E A C C OUNTA NT, T IL INORMIT OY, HELSI NKI

5

Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Programme in International Business

The Degree Programme in International Business enables you to develop expertise required in global business. Your studies focus on international marketing and services as a part of successful business. Studying in a multicultural environment in close cooperation with companies enhances your communication and interaction skills. It also provides you with an excellent starting point for the development of your organisational, self-management and leadership skills.

Degree title

Bachelor of Business Administration

Extent and duration 210 credits, 3.5 academic years Location Karjalankatu 3, 80200 Joensuu, Finland Intake

40

The first-year studies familiarise you with the basic elements of business and strengthen your communication skills so that you can effectively operate in a multicultural environment.

Language of tuition English

The second-year studies take you to the level of international business. You are able to get a broad perspective on business and analyse operative environments and corporate activities.

You will work together with international students and learn to understand other cultures and to work in multicultural groups. Language studies also develop your skills in English and in another language.

During the third year of studies you will deepen your knowledge in marketing and sales. You can also complement your studies with a study semester in a foreign partner university.

Moreover, the third-year studies contain practical training in a company where you can apply your knowledge and skills to international tasks either in Finland or abroad.

Graduates with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree are equipped with the skills to work in international business in the global labour market. They can use their competence to create an interesting career in companies or to establish your own business. The graduates can work in assistant and expert positions in the export business, marketing or sales. Additionally, they are able to develop such abilities and skills that enable them to carry out management and leadership duties. We are proud of the success of our graduates in their careers in international business.

In your fourth study year you will prepare your thesis, preferably as an assignment for an internationally oriented company.

6

INFORMATION

FORM ATION FOR MORE IN DIE S U ST ON .fi en@karelia satu.saarin N O FORM ATION FOR MORE IN ON PROCEDURE TI THE A PPLICA relia.fi

admissions

@ ka

Skills in international business are vital for the new generation of global managers in today’s international marketplace. Small businesses and global corporations are looking for people with insight into the complexities of intercontinental rules, cultures, buying preferences and ethics.

Our International Business Programme is designed to equip the students with these skills and to develop the confidence they will need to compete in the global business environment.

IO U RI KO TO RO V, LECTUR ER , I NTER NATI ONAL BUSI NES S

7

STUDYING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Your curriculum - the topics and outline of studies - is designed in co-operation with a network of international companies.

Your professional progress is outlined in logical steps. First you learn the fundamentals of a successful business, ie. how to create solutions for customers (marketing) in a profitable way (financial calculations). Next, you study the operations of international business in marketing, exports and logistics as well as sales and business negotiations. After these obligatory studies you will choose a specific field of global business in which you deepen your expertise.

The studies consist of a combination of lectures, assignments and projects. In addition to theoretical studies, company-based projects in which you carry out marketing and export projects for companies are included in the studies. Company visits and meeting with graduates bring additional insight into the challenges of present business life. An average study week looks as follows: 15-20 hours of lectures, 10-15 hours of team work, and 10-15 hours of individual homework. Weekly 35-45 study hours leaves you plenty of time for social and cultural activities with your classmates. Your study group represents a small multicultural world: students from different parts of the globe are studying together. Language studies improve your communication skills.

CASE: Launching a product for international market

A meeting of students, the company and the instructor, in order to agree on the target country (countries) and customers.

A regional company has developed a new product.

The company is planning to sell this product abroad as well, but it has limited knowledge about the potential market. The company contacts the university for help.

A instructor appoints a team of 4-5 students to work with the company.

Students are selected based on their knowledge of the potential country and with the product.

8

The student team organises its activities independently by selecting a project manager and preparing a project plan.

Learning is result of joint efforts by you and us. Your active role in studying sessions and in team work creates valuable environment for multicultural learning and networking.

Co-operation with company allows students to promote themselves, and in some cases company offers student internship or a job.

» Combination of theory and practice » Global approach » Active participation of students

The outcome includes a report of 30-40 pages containing information about customer behavior in the target country, description of relevant sales channels, competing products and a list of potential distributors.

The team searches information with the help of Internet sources, emails and phone calls. The team also consults the case company for additional information.

The instructor supervises the work in weekly meetings.

The project is normally carried out in two months.

RESULTS

Working with company gives opportunity to apply the theoretical studies in practical case, and feedback from company gives idea about the acquired skills.

Study also develops team working skills.

The results are presented for the company. In some cases the results help the company to start successful export.

The conclusion can also be that for some reason the product doesn’t suit in the target market.

9

Support and counselling Student counselling supports and guides you to perform as well as possible in your studies. You can get information and counselling related to your studies from your Student Counsellor. Each new student also has student tutors and a tutoring teacher who will help you when you are starting your studies and along your study path. Furthermore, the instructors of the courses will provide you with coursespecific counselling.

A student counsellor helps you to prepare your individual study plan and realize its goals, collaborates in finding answers to study-related problems as well as in engage in active student life. The student counsellor also helps you to develop your autonomous study skills, nurtures you in taking responsibility for advancing your studies and supports your individual growth and professional development as well as your entry into working life.

My goal is simple: helping you to achieve yours. I will help you to create your own study path and find your individual potential to become the expert in the diverse field of international business.

SATU SAARINEN, STUDENT COUNSELLOR

10

W채rtsil채 Campus an international student community W채rtsil채 Campus reflects the multicultural athmosfare at its best; most international activity is happening inside Campus walls. At the Campus International Business students, Business Economics students and Engineering students work towards their professional future. At the Campus you will enjoy a relaxed and warm learning environment and you will be part of our supportive community.

The Campus is located just a stone throw away from the city center of Joensuu. You can easily access our Campus from all parts of the city by bike and bus. Our Campus is modern; the wireless internet access as well as group work and computing facilities enable you to study efficiently during your days. The Campus restaurant provides you with warm and affordable breakfast, lunch and snacks at low student prices.

Studies Abroad Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Canada, China and many more. In which country will you prefer spending one semester?

Gaining international experiences through study and training periods abroad is a part of the vital core of your International Business studies. The competitive edge gained through international experiences is highly appreciated in the working life.

Karelia UAS boasts excellent international partnerships and ensures you versatile opportunities for creating global networks as well as strengthening and deepening your professional competences during a study semester abroad at one of our partner universities.

Our Campus facilities offer you versatile places for independent studies. You also have opportunities to impact on study related matters through joining the activities of our Student Union Poka. Our friendly staff members will help you enjoy your study time at our campus. You are most welcome to study at our Campus!

ltural, Multicu and relaxed ning ear warm l ment environ

11

FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT FINLAND Population

5.4 million, 15.8 inhabitants per km²

Spoken languages

Finnish, Swedish, SamĂ­ (English widely spoken)

Form of government

Republic, parliamentary democracy

International cooperation

Member of United Nations since 1955 and European Union since 1995

GDP per capita

37,018 Euros (2013)

Currency unit

Euro

Capital

Helsinki (1.25 million inhabitants in metropolitan area)

Climate

Cold winters and fairly warm summers (2010 extremes: coldest day in Kuhmo -41.3 C/-42.3 F, warmest day in Joensuu 37.2 C/99.0 F)

Source: Statistics Finland

12

LIVING IN JOENSUU As the host of many institutions of higher education, Joensuu is the capital of eastern Finland.

Here you can lead an active student life: due to the high number of students, the leisure time services and the lively culture in the city will not leave you cold even during the most freezing winter months.

u– Joensu city big a little lers, for cyc ers, lov culture eople p sporty ents d and stu

In order to keep the balance between studying and free time, the city offers creative opportunities for your leisure time. If you are into sports, you have plenty of sport clubs to choose from. The sports facilities vary from indoor swimming pools, skate ramps and climbing walls to football fields, ice skating rinks and ski slopes. Cultural activities include concerts from classical music to rock and jazz, fine art exhibitions, cinemas and dance performances. The student union POKA at Karelia UAS offers you many sports classes ranging from street basketball to yoga. If you are interested in unspoiled nature, our city and its surrounding area gives you plenty of opportunities to experience peaceful forests and dozens of lakes. Relaxing might include hiking, fishing and bird-watching.

Housing The Student Housing Company Joensuun Elli provides students with flats ranging from affordable shared flats in the outskirts of the city centre to single-room studios next to main streets.

In a city of cyclists you can easily reach both the city centre and your campus by bike.

For more information, see www.joensuunelli.fi/en

13

Timetable for application 2015 JAN FEB APR

JULY

727

Application period starts 7 Jan 2015. Apply online at www.studyinfo.fi Application period ends 27 Jan at 3:00 p.m. Finnish time.

10

Applicants applying with non-Finnish qualifications must send the required enclosures to the admissions office of their first-choice UAS by 3:00 p.m. Finnish time.

617

FINNIPS network organises entrance examinations in several countries (finnips.fi).

22

National entrance examination in Finland for the International Business programmes.

24

Karelia UAS’s Entrance examination in Petrozavodsk, Russia.

1 15

AUG

14

The latest date on which admission results are announced by letter and on the Karelia UAS website.

Admitted students must confirm the study place by 3:00 p.m. Finnish time.

Studies begin in Joensuu. Welcome to Karelia UAS!

Apply HOW TO APPLY? In Finland, applying to programmes conducted in English at a university of applied sciences (UAS) takes place online at Studyinfo.fi.

Apply online at Studyinfo.fi during 7 – 27 January 2015. Student admissions follow the admission criteria decided on by the UASs in the joint application system and the order of application preference options chosen by the applicant. The application must be submitted before the end of the application period, 27 January 2015 at 3:00 pm Finnish time. The admission is conditional until Karelia UAS has checked the applicant’s school and other relevant certificates.

See the full admission criteria at www.karelia.fi/admission and www.studyinfo.fi

HOW TO ACCEPT A STUDY PLACE?

WHO CAN APPLY?

In principal, general eligibility for the programmes is given by a completed general upper secondary school or a upper secondary vocational qualification of at least a three year duration. Qualifications, which give eligibility for higher education in the awarding country, are also accepted. See the full admission criteria at www.karelia.fi/admission.

NON-EU/EEA citizens applying with a NON- EU/EEA qualification must provide a proof of their English language skills by 10 February 2015 3:00 p.m. Finnish time. See the list of accepted language certificates at www.karelia.fi/admission.

Discretionary admission

You can apply with discretionary admission if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen and apply with a non-Finnish qualification that you will receive your graduation certificate by 31 July 2015. Proof of the language skills is required.

Further instructions, see www.karelia.fi/admission

Instructions for the admitted applicants With the letter of admittance, you will receive a confirmation form.

Make sure that you send the confirmation to Karelia UAS by 15 July 2015 by 3:00 p.m. Confirmation of the study place is binding and cannot be altered or cancelled.

The studies start with an orientation to studies, get-together events to meet students and staff, an individual interview with a counsellor and with a tutoring teacher. The staff and student tutors will assist you with all your questions also before the semester starts, so do not hesitate to contact us!

E AT

APPLY ONLIN

info.fi www.study

15

7 - 27 Jan 20

Visa and residence permits

Students coming from countries outside of the European Union should visit the Finnish Immigration Service website at www.migri.fi.

In addition to the residence permit, a student from a non-EU country needs to have valid health insurance issued by a reliable company or institution. Non-EU students who are studying in Finland in a fulltime degree programme for the minimum of two years need health insurance that covers medical costs.

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT ADMISSIONS@KARELIA.FI

15

o.fi f n i y d IOD stu ION PER PPLICAT ES JOINT A E PROGRAMM E R G H TO DE ENGLIS CTED IN CONDU

015

an 2 7 - 27 J

Admissions Office KA RE L I A U N I V E R S I T Y O F A PPL IED SC I EN C ES Tikkarinne 9, FI-80200 Joensuu, Finland

admissions@karelia.fi

www.karelia.fi/admission

LAYOUT: Advertising Agency Fabrik | GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHS: Salla Anttila, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Tuukka Pakarinen