27.4.2012

Substantial interest for TUAS International Week

A hundred foreign experts got to know Turku University of Applied Sciences

This year almost a hundred foreign teachers and experts participated in TUAS International Week (16–20 April 2012).  Most of the visitors came from Europe, but there were also participants from China and the United States. In addition to TUAS’s operations, the guests got to know businesses in Southwest Finland and the Finnish culture. TUAS International Week was organised for the fourth time.

The International Week could be seen at TUAS’s locations in Turku and Salo. The week’s purpose was to increase the renown of Turku University of Applied Sciences in the foreign partner universities. At the same time, the event also created possibilities for internationalisation for the students and staff, for example by way of participating in guest lectures and meetings with foreigners.

The number of visitors exceeded expectations

This year, the event was intended as multidisciplinary as possible, in order to extensively benefit the students and staff. The fields of the guest lecturers ranged from health and well-being services to bio and business competence and applied ICT. Nevertheless, the popularity of the event came as a surprise to the organisers.

“We expected about half the number of visitors”, says International Relations Officer Mari Tauriainen.

She believes that it was the versatile programme that attracted the visitors to Turku. The participants included e.g. library, human resources, communications and research staff, because they should also have the chance to get to know TUAS’s operations.

Visits to Turku University Hospital, Hesburger…

The event started on Monday evening with a reception organised at the ICT House. Tuesday was reserved for introducing the operations of TUAS. On Wednesday and Thursday the participants divided into the different locations where they got to know the tuition and operations of their own field. On Friday, in turn, they got to know companies and organisations in the region; for example Turku University Hospital, Tonfisk Design and Hesburger.

In addition to the official programme, the guests got a taster of Finnish culture through the leisure activities. The evening programme included e.g. getting to know the Finnish leisure time by the seaside and local museums and sights.

More information

International Relations Officer Mari Tauriainen