Sustainable Growth for International SMEs

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Sustainable Growth for International SMEs, 3 ECTS

An Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme with international students from Savonia University of Applied Sciences Finland, DHBW Heidenheim Germany, and NHL Stenden the Netherlands cooperating on the challenge “Sustainable Growth for International SMEs”. Students will be working on a project related to the challenge in mixed teams, guided by workshops and lectures from the participating international lecturers and (local) business entrepreneurs to get a better understanding of the topic within an international business environment.

Dates & location

Physical intensive week: 10-14 March 2025
Virtual meeting: 27.2.2025
Location: Savonia UAS campus, Kuopio

What you will learn

The content of the lectures and workshops will include topics like collaboration, intercultural awareness, customer value management, sales concepts, sustainable trade (ESG), digitalization, sales pitches and developing international business skills. At the end of the week, students will present their (digital) deliverable and findings to industry experts and teachers.

The virtual sessions will introduce above topics, hence first group assignments will be given to the participating students to create awareness and to prepare for the physical international week in Finland, hosted by Savonia UAS.

Teaching methods

Virtual/online
Workshops, lectures, group work, student presentations

Practical information

The international week’s programme features several social activities in a relaxed atmosphere including an evening with dinner and sauna experience with the fellow students. It is easy to make new friends!

Accommodation

You may ask directly if they offer student discounts for students from outside Finland:

Hostel Matkustajakoti

Hostel Hermanni

Hotel Savonia

Forenom Aparthotel Kuopio

Aseman portti

Hotels in Kuopio-Tahko area

You are also free to choose accommodation elsewhere if you prefer something else:
https://www.booking.com/
https://www.airbnb.com/

Savonia Microkatu campus can be reached by local buses:
https://www.savonia.fi/en/savonia-uas/campuses/visit-us/

Finances

Joining the intensive course is free of charge for the elected students of Savonia’s partner universities. However, you must take care of your own living expenses. Basic student lunch at the campus restaurant is 2,95€, including a variety of salads, a hot meal, bread, and one glass of milk/juice/home-made beer (water not limited).

Ask your home university about the possibility to get an Erasmus+ grant to cover your travel and housing expenses.

How to arrive to Kuopio

The intensive week is arranged at Savonia UAS Microkatu campus (Microkatu 1) in Kuopio. The distance between Helsinki and Kuopio is 400 km.

You can travel to Kuopio by plane, bus or train. Bus ticket (one way) costs approx. 15 -30 €. Please check the timetables at: http://www.matkahuolto.fi/en

Busses are leaving from Helsinki airport and from city center bus station (Kamppi).
Train ticket (one way) costs approx. 25-45 €. Please check the timetables at: http://www.vr.fi/en/. Trains are leaving from the Helsinki city center or Helsinki airport.
Finnair flies to Kuopio several times a day and from Helsinki. Ticket prices vary normally (one way) from 100 to 200 €. More info at: http://www.finnair.fi

From Kuopio airport you can either take a taxi (e.g. https://taksi1.fi/) or a local bus to Kuopio city center. The bus between the city center and airport operates on weekdays (Mon-Fri) only.