From 10th – 14th June 2019, UTM Johor Bahru had sent two representative, Ms. Rohaizan binti Khairul Anuar, Manager (Corporate Services & Industry Linkages), Centre for Community & Industry Network and Ms. Datin Huzaimah Yahya, Deputy Registrar, Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland as a part of the Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility Programme (outbound).
The representative, Ms. Rohaizan binti Khairul Anuar, had summarized her visit with the saying:
Impact to self in this context, is the attachment program being an eye opener and also to pursue life long learning on a daily basis. The Finnish are also a healthy society, where consuming freshly sourced food and exercising is a culture rooted in their lifestyle. This too is something I am trying to adopt (although struggling at times).
Ms. Datin Huzaimah Yahya also concluded from her visit with:
Finland has the highest happiness index in the world and I think this fact is very important for other nation to follow
suit. I was impressed by their hospitality, detailed and smooth arrangement for our trip even before it took place. They frequently replied our emails prior to the program despite the time difference. Our liaison officer is an excellent lady who knows about a lot of things and always be ready to assist us in any way that she is able to. Finnish and Helsinki resident in general has a very warm personality. They treat people with respect despite difference view in religions or politics.
10th June 2019: On Monday, the representatives were warmly welcomed by the Metropolia International Relations staff, Elina Värtö, Head on International Relations & Marika Antikainen, Erasmus Institutional Coordinator.
International Office
The representatives, Ms. Rohaizan and Ms. Huzaimah were invited to go on a informative campus tour around Metropolia University by Ms. Elina Värtö and Ms. Minna Kaihovirta-Rapo. This activity is intended to give insight on the lifestyle and facilities provided by UPM.
University of Helsinki Library (Accessible to the public)
Class Room are known as “Learning Space” at Metropolia University
Oodi Helsinki Central Library (Public Library)
After lunch in the campus cafeteria with Ms. Elina Värtö and Ms. Minna Kaihovirta-Rapo, the representatives were introduced to the education system in Finland and the HEIs in Finland. This opportunity was valuable as they learned the difference of Finnish Education in comparison with Malaysian Education system.
Education System in Finland
11th June 2019: On Tuesday, the representatives were asked to join a meeting with the staff of the Metropolia School of Business. The meeting was led by Minna Hautamäki, Head of School, School of Business and Terhi Topi, International Coordinator.
Metropolia Business School
After lunch, the representatives joined a meeting to discuss the Master’s Education and Cooperation within UPM with Erja Turunen, Head of degree programme in European Business Administration, Hanna Harilainen, Head of Master’s Degree Programme in Supply Chain Management and Marianne Pitkäjärvi, Responsible for the Master’s DP in Health Business Management. The representative, Ms. Rohaizan and Ms Huzaimah also covered on the Metropolia-UTM Partner Visiting programme with Rosli Kamarul-Baharin, Senior Lecturer of UPM. It was a very informative session between both universities representatives.
12th June 2019: On Wednesday, the representatives were organized for a tour of the field of technology that is researched and taught within Metropolia University by Tiina Piipponen. Then. the representatives joined a meeting together with Ms. Tiina Piipponen and Ms. Elina Värtö to discuss on possible future Erasmus Capacity Building project application. After lunch, the representatives were taken on another interesting tour of the Innovation hubs existing in Metropolia by Ms. Elina Värtö.
Innovation Centre (similar to UTM ICC)
13th June 2019: On Thursday, the representatives were asked to join a meeting to have a discussion on the HRD and HRM at Metropolia with Anu Luoma, HRD and Kristiina Rousku, HRM. After that, the representatives were invited to meet Tuire Ranta-Meyer, Director of Stakeholder Relations and was given the opportunity to learn about the Stakeholder Relations. After the meetings, there was an optional programme in which the representatives were invited to the Metropolia Staff Summer Barbecue with Mr. Terhi Topi, International Coordinator.
14th June 2019: On Friday (last day of visit), the representatives, Ms. Rohaizan and Ms. Huzaimah were introduced the SIMHE services (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education in Finland) in a meeting by Mr. Heidi Stenberg. Then, the representatives were shown the innovative and exciting 10 Days 100 Challenges Student Projects: http://10days100challenges.fi/ programme held for students in Metropolia University by Hannes Jesar and Juha Järvinen.
10 Days 100 Challenges – Organised by Student Innovation Centre (similar to UTMXCITE)
After lunch in the cafeteria, the representatives, Ms. Rohaizan binti Khairul Anuar and Ms. Datin Huzaimah Yahya were organised to have a meeting with Ms. Marika Antikainen. The meeting was followed by the closing ceremony in which the representatives were given a certificate as a token of appreciation for their participation.
Certification as Metropolia University Ambassador
The five-day visit to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland by Ms. Rohaizan binti Khairul Anuar, Manager (Corporate Services & Industry Linkages), Centre for Community & Industry Network, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Ms. Datin Huzaimah Yahya, Deputy Registrar, Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia under Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility Programme (outbound) ended on 14th June 2019.
by: shahidaa