Life is full of possibilities. That’s why studying should be much more than just courses and degrees. We at Arcada want to encourage our students to turn over every rock and explore every avenue of life. We offer a strong culture of multi-professionals and an inspiring environment for students to find their own path. GOOD MORNING. WAKE UP AND EXPLORE LIFE. ARCADA OASIS INSPIRES YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS P. 3 • LIFE IN THE FAST LANE - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENT EMMA KNOWS HOW TO KEEP BUSY P. 4 • BESAI MUÑOZ ENJOYS THE LEARNING FACILITIES AND ATMOSPHERE P. 5 PLASTICS TECHNOLOGIES HAS GIVEN ELENA A COMPETITIVE EDGE P. 6 • APPLICATION P. 7 UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED LIFE. Joint application 7.1–12.2.2013. APPLY! ARCADA.FI
Transcript
Life is full of possibilities. That’s why studying should be much more than just courses and degrees. We at Arcada want to encourage our students to turn over every rock and explore every avenue of life. We offer a strong culture of multi-professionals and an inspiring environment for students to find their own path.
GOOD MORNING.WAKE UP ANDEXPLORE LIFE.
ARCADA
OASIS INSPIRES YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS P. 3 • LIFE IN THE FAST LANE - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENT EMMA KNOWS HOW TO KEEP BUSY P. 4 • BESAI MUÑOZ ENJOYS THE LEARNING FACILITIES AND ATMOSPHERE P. 5PLASTICS TECHNOLOGIES HAS GIVEN ELENA A COMPETITIVE EDGE P. 6 • APPLICATION P. 7
UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED LIFE. Joint application 7.1–12.2.2013.
APPLY!ARCADA.FI
2
BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISHInternational Business Nursing Plastics Technology
BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN SWEDISH Business AdministrationCultural ManagementDistributed Energy SystemsEmergency CareFilm and TelevisionInformation and Media TechnologyNursingOccupational TherapyPhysiotherapyPlastics TechnologySocial ServicesSports and Health PromotionTourism Management
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMMESPlease find out more at arcada.fi
Advanced Clinical Care (in Swedish) Health Promotion (in Swedish)International Business ManagementMedia ManagementRehabilitation (in Swedish)Social Services (in Swedish)
FURTHER EDUCATIONArcada Further Education offers further education and courses for adult students. Custom-tailored study programmes can also be arranged for companies. Please see www.arcada.fi/further
DEGREE PROGRAMMES OFFERED AT ARCADA
STUDY IN FINLANDFor information on studying and living in Helsinki, Finland, please seeinfopankki.fifinland.fistudyhelsinki.fistudyinfinland.fihightech.fi
ABOUT ARCADA
Life is full of possibilities and choices. At Arcada we want to encourage our students to think, have opinions and chart their own career paths. We want to share the insight that reading books is not the only way to learn. It’s also important to sample, explore and experience life. We are all at our best when we get the possibility to use all the assets at our disposal and both sides of our brain.
Our students often say that they’ve chosen Arca-da because they want “to do” as well as “to learn” in a supportive, friendly and safe environment. They want work experience during their stud-ies, as well as substantial theoretical knowledge
LIVE, LEARN AND EXPLORE STUDENT LIFE AT ARCADA!to become skilled professionals. At Arcada you will receive a theoretical, as well as practical, education, with lectures, e-learning and hands-on workshops in exciting learning environments and work placements.
The basis for all education at Arcada is that nothing grows in a vacuum. Our lecturers and staff are not only well-educated experts within their own fields, but also keep a close eye on developments in the domes-tic and international job markets. They ensure that our state-of-the-art education stays current, relevant and that a degree from Arcada is always in demand.
Get to know a few of our students and be inspired by their stories to find out more about the opportunities
that await you at Arcada. Read about how Elena’s degree in Plastics Technologies secured a job for her in New Zealand. Why did Emma choose to study International Business in English, even though her mother tongue is Finnish? And how does Besai feel about his decision to leave Spain for Nursing studies in Helsinki?
We hope to see you soon at Arcada and per-sonally welcome you to the University of Ap-plied Life!
Gunilla, Fredrik and the rest of the communica-tions team
WHAT IS ARCADA?Arcada is a university of applied sciences in Helsinki, Finland. We offer high-quality education and further education in Swedish and English for our 2,700 students.
We believe in keeping close contact with the workplace and co-operate with some 90 higher education institutions and universities across the world. We also con-duct practical research that is socially rele-vant to the world in which we live. These are just a few of the reasons why a degree from Arcada is so highly desired by employers.
With programmes in business adminis-tration, tourism, media, technology, sports,
social welfare and health care, we offer you a wide range of options from which to launch your career.
Our cross-disciplinary structure means that we promote activities, sylla-buses and research initiatives that go be-yond traditional disciplinary boundaries. As many of our alumni become entre-preneurs, we have also made every effort to actively promote the entrepreneurial aspect in studies and encourage our stu-dents’ business ideas.
The teaching languages at Arcada are Swedish and English.
WELCOME TO STUDENT SERVICES – LENDING YOU A HELPING HANDExcited and maybe a little bit nervous… there are many emotions in play when you enter a new phase of your life and becoming a student is definitely no ex-ception. There is so much to learn and a lot of information to digest, but don’t worry because Arcada can lend you a helping hand. Student Services can help you with questions regarding applications, students rights, career services, study guidance and international exchange. Don’t forget all the other services that Arcada also has to offer, such as IT and language support, as well as the library. We are here to make sure that your time as a student is the exciting journey that it is supposed to be… and some guidance might come in handy, once in a while.
Liking Arcada – University of Applied Sciences on Facebook makes it easy for you to stay up-to-date with all the latest news. Get information about current events and application periods, get in touch with other students and get a peek behind the curtains of student life at Arcada.
www.facebook.com/ArcadaUniversity
3ABOUT ARCADA
OASIS INSPIRES YOUNG ENTREPRENEURSWhat is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ’oasis’? At Arcada we associate the word with a place that in-spires, that energises and where creativity is given free rein. So choosing a name for the new initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation (introduced at Arcada in au-tumn 2012) didn’t pose much of a challenge. Welcome to the Arcada Oasis!
Mervi Hernberg, who is in charge of the Oasis, is fully aware that she has set the bar high. Not only is the Oasis closely tied to Arcada’s courses in entrepreneur-ship, but it also fills an important function as an out-of-class meeting place. The Oa-sis is where students, teachers and exter-nal partners, such as alumni and already established entrepreneurs, find a common platform for nurturing their entrepreneur-ial spirits.
– Among other things, we give sup-port and coaching for those interested in developing business ideas and starting their own companies, Hernberg says. It can be anything from advice on financing to finding suitable mentors. Our aim is for the Oasis to be a forum for the devel-opment of ideas of all kinds, both exter-nally and internally. Our work crosses the boundaries between the traditional fields of studies at Arcada and we aim to have a continuous and close cooperation with partners from different industries.
A SERVICE FOR THE DEDICATEDHaving joined the Arcada family after 18 years with the Fazer Group, Mervi Hern-
berg’s own business experience is substan-tial. The former head of marketing still em-phasises that her role at the Oasis is as a guide rather than as a teacher.
– This is where the truly dedicated and engaged students turn with their ques-tions about entrepreneurship, she says. Of course, I might not be the one who can an-swer all those questions, but then it is my job to contact experts from relevant fields who can.
Hernberg also wishes to underline the fact that having an entrepreneurial spirit not necessarily translates into wanting to start one’s own company.
– Our doors are open to everyone. You might, for example, simply want to find sure footing and advance within your own field of study. Why not use the Oasis to find a mentor, such as an alumnus from Arcada, who can function as a coach in a safe envi-ronment?
Even if the Oasis has already become a source of inspiration at Arcada, what we have seen so far is only the beginning. Now it is up to the needs and wishes of the stu-dents to decide what the future brings.
– We aim for the stars, Hernberg con-cludes. We already have interesting guest lectures and plenty of exciting projects in cooperation with external partners in the pipeline. We must never forget all the comprehensive research, development and innovative projects that are already taking place in different corners of the Arcada building. The Oasis is the perfect platform to give them the visibility they deserve.
MY CULTURE DAY – A SHOWCASE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITYWith 10 percent of our students coming from abroad, and representing more than 40 nation-aities, Arcada offers a truly international atmos-phere. We also understand the importance of giving new guests a warm welcome. We offer a wide range of student services and arrange ex-citing events to make sure that everyone feels at home – at Arcada, as well as in Finland.
One such event at Arcada is My Culture Day, an annual get-together that focuses on
sharing knowledge about different cultures and making new friends. Current topics of in-terest are discussed – from immigration mat-ters to talking about the needs and expecta-tions of newly arrived students. You also get the opportunity to listen to inspiring guest speakers who have gone through the transi-tion of moving to Finland themselves.
This year, for example, the guest speakers were Mohammed El-Fatary, the founder
During My Culture Day 2012 the big square in the Arcada building was transformed into a fair, where international students showcased their cultures and gave colourful performances.
URBAN LIVING AT THE ARCADA CAMPUS
It is a hundred metres to the Arcada building. This is the same distance as to the tram or bus that can take you to the centre of Helsinki in just 15 minutes. A hundred meters is also how far you have to walk to reach the Arabia shopping mall, where you can find food and clothes shops, a pharmacy and restaurants.
The beautiful Arabia beach is just behind the building. A gym, tennis courts and a football pitch are also nearby. The local jogging tracks are excellent and also allow you to admire cows and sheep in their meadows as you work out. In the winter, you don’t have to think twice about strapping on ice skates because the rink is just around the corner. The Arcada campus is set in a perfect location.
Neighbouring the Arcada building, the student flats are modern and have their own kitchens and bathrooms. Your visits to the laundry room are free of charge, of course. In the “oldest” building, which is a mere six-years-old, you can choose between one, two, three and four room apartments.
In December 2012, students living on campus will get new neighbours when the construction of an additional 179 flats is completed, bringing the total up to 406. It doesn’t stop there: more buildings are scheduled for completion in August 2014.
These homey and modern apartments are in constant demand, and there is one thing on which all students living on campus can agree: they get value for their money. The prices are competitive, to say the least.
Living in a student flat on campus will certainly spice up your student life. This is where you can unwind after a hectic day, where you study and where you make friends for life. Why not rent the rooftop sauna or other facilities for you own get-togethers? The Arcada Student Union (ASK) has also found its home on campus, in the COR-house, and this is where many student events take place.
of muxlim.com, and Ahmed Hassan, en-trepreneur and politician. Paul Brennan, founder of the Jolly Dragon events com-munity, shared his tips on how to meet new friends in Finland and how to avoid the big-gest (often comical) mistakes when getting to know a new culture.
Arcada is also part of the HERA (Hel-sinki Education and Research Area) co-operation network, which consists of all
higher education institutions in the met-ropolitan area. This year, HERA, together with the cities of Helsinki and Espoo, or-ganised the “Helsinki Region Welcome Weeks” for the second time. The Welcome Weeks are filled with interesting, informa-tive and entertaining events that offer a great opportunity for networking between foreigners and other internationally mind-ed individuals.
4 THE PROGRAMMES/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
DEGREE PROGRAMME IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA)Extent 210 ECTS creditsDuration 3,5 yearsStudy places 35Entrance examination 24.4.2013
The Degree Programme in International Business at Arcada prepares students for a successful career in Finnish and international companies, by giving them a solid overview of all aspects of international trade and business. Students major in either e-Business and Distribution, or in Financial Management, making them top level professionals in their chosen field. A broad range of extension studies enables students to tailor their education to their particular needs and interests.
More than 50 % of the International Business students are of non-Finnish origin, which contributes to a truly international atmosphere and a wealth of perspectives. Teachers with diverse and international backgrounds, as well as visiting lecturers from partner universities and business schools abroad, ensure that the teaching is state of the art. Students spend several months on work placements at companies both in Finland and abroad, thus applying their knowledge to practical situations. Through our extensive student exchange programmes, students can spend up to one year abroad at one of our partner institutions. Students can continue their studies at a Master’s level.
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE – INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENT EMMA KNOWS HOW TO KEEP BUSYEmma Lilja, 22, is on the final stretch of completing her Bachelor’s Degree in International Business at Arcada. One thing is certain: she hasn’t been sleeping through her studies. Not only has she managed to shave a whole year of the time it normally takes to finish the degree, she has also secured a job (during one of her work placements) that is wait-ing for her when she completes her studies. All this, while also working on her Swedish language skills. Emma is not one to sit around twiddling her thumbs.
Just as important as language skills when focusing on an international career in busi-ness is cultural understanding. This is where Emma feels that she has benefited the most, with more than half of her classmates being of foreign origin.
– I get to study with people from all over the world, and it has given me impor-tant insights, Emma says. It is fun, for start-ers, but also something I will have use for in my career. You have to know the culture of the people with whom you are doing busi-ness; it’s as simple as that. Business is con-ducted in such different ways in different parts of the world, and studying and work-ing in teams with students from Southern Europe or Asia, for example, really broadens your horizons.
VERSATILE STUDIESOne year into her studies Emma realised that if she dedicated herself to her studies she could finish the programme in 2.5 years, rather than the usual 3.5 years.
– Okay, I might be a little bit of an over achiever, Emma admits with a smile. If there is the option to work hard and finish something quickly, then that is the option I’m always going for. I’m just wired that way. Once or twice I’ve had to compromise with my social life, but in general it has gone very well. You just have to be organ-ised and prioritise.
To make all the pieces of the puzzle fit when combining courses to speed up her studies, she had to take one course at the Aalto University in Helsinki.
– Where will I be in five years? By then I will be a very successful career woman, Emma says with a laugh. I will be doing an excellent job while working for a great international company. I just haven’t decided yet if that company will be located in Finland or abroad.
She is joking when being pressed about her future plans. Even though Emma has plowed through her studies at Arcada, she is nothing if not modest. One thing that was meant to be taken seriously, though, is that she has her mind firmly set on working for an international company in the future.
– I’m not sure why, but culture clashes have always been what makes me tick, Emma says. I’ve always wanted to see the whole world. I think that studying business in Eng-lish will allow me to do just that.
A MULTI-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAfter first being told about Arcada by her Swedish-speaking father, Emma moved from her hometown Porvoo to study in Helsinki two years ago. She saw it as an opportunity not only to get a state-of-the-art education, but to also improve her language skills.
– Finnish is my mother tongue and it has been extremely rewarding to study in another language, she says. The programme I’m study-ing is in English, which is the international language of business. At the same time, I’ve been surrounded by the Swedish language eve-ry day and it would have been impossible not to improve. Everyone knows that employers in Finland consider Swedish skills as an added bonus, so this is something I think that more Finnish-speakers should take advantage of.
– This shows the flexibility of the Degree Programme in International Business, Emma says. In general, I love how flexible and versa-tile the courses are. I have friends who study business at other universities and in compari-son I really have had lots of possibilities to shape my own education. You can choose to focus on areas like entrepreneurship or busi-ness in the Baltics. You can even choose a sec-ond major if you want.
Emma’s class was the first International Business class at Arcada that got to choose a major for their Bachelor’s Degree, either in e-Business and Distribution or Financial Man-agement. For Emma, the choice was easy.
– I’ve never been too good with com-puters, but, on the other hand, I love the numbers, she says. Financial Management was, and continues to be, my cup of tea. Definitely!
A JOB WAITING FOR HERNormally, International Business students have two periods of work placement in their studies – at the end of the second and third years. However, since Emma aims to finish
her Bachelor’s Degree before she even reach-es her third year, she did one five-month pe-riod instead.
– I was really lucky and ended up at the pension insurance company Ilmarinen, where I got to take on really big responsibilities, Emma says. I actually found the work place offer at the Job Board here at Arcada, and the position turned out to be fantastic. When portfolio managers bought and sold shares, I was the one handling the back office part of it. It meant being in constant contact with people all over the world.
Emma wasn’t the only one really happy with her work placement, so was her em-ployer. With one course and the thesis left of Emma’s studies, she already knows that there is a job waiting for her at Ilmarinen when she finishes. Yet, Emma being Emma, it’s far from certain that a full-time job will be enough to keep her busy.
– I am planning to apply to a Master’s Degree programme in Business at Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki as well. We’ll see. It shouldn’t be a problem to combine it with work, Emma concludes.
THE eBUSINESS LAB The ARBIT (Applied Research in Business and IT) research group at Arcada has a modern development and learning environment, the eBusiness Lab. Students can use various digital services like ERP and CRM systems. They can create e-shops and mobile applications in ARBIT research and development projects and test them together with industry partners.
Emma Lilja feels that studying in an international environment has broadened her horizons.
5THE PROGRAMMES/NURSING
DEGREE PROGRAMME IN NURSING
BACHELOR OF HEALTH CARE (REGISTERED NURSE)Extent 210 ECTS creditsDuration 3,5 yearsStudy places 20Entrance examination 17–19.4.2013
Graduates from the Degree Programme in Nursing qualify as registered nurses with EU competence. The curriculum is based on caring science with multidisciplinary elements from natural sciences (medicine), social and behavioral sciences.
Modern technology is utilised in the learning process. Theoretical knowledge and practical skills are combined in simulated situations in the Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Center. Teamwork is trained as students, teachers and practitioners work together in simulated settings with reality-based patient cases. Theory is also supported by web-based studies, practical skill stations in class, and work placements with health care organisations. Students conduct their theses in research projects involving working life.
The learning process advances from basic nursing skills, nursing in different contexts (medical, surgical and psychiatric nursing, nursing of women and children) to extended studies in e.g. rehabili-tation, elderly care, mental health or leadership.
PARALLEL PROGRAMMES MAXIMISE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCEThe labour market is increasingly becoming international, and nursing is one of Arcada’s three English language degree programmes, which are closely modelled on similar programmes in Swedish. The idea is to utilise the structural networks and learning experiences from existing programmes, and also familiarise students with the Finnish labour market in a genuinely multi-cultural environment.
BESAI MUÑOZ ENJOYS THE LEARNING FACILITIES AND ATMOSPHERE AT ARCADA
The Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Center is one of the largest medical simu-lation centres in Finland. The centre offers Arcada’s students, as well as profes-sionals from the field, a safe environment for training caregiving, medical skills, leadership and communication in various caregiving situations. The Patient Safety and Learning Center is equipped with learning environments adapted to the tasks and needs of nurses, midwifes, emergency care professionals and occupational therapists. The centre also boasts a fully computer directed life-size patient simu-lator with programmable disorders, bodily functions and respiration. As the simu-lator also talks, those training with it also learn to keep the patient calm, to explain the procedures and adapt a suitable bedside manner. The rest of the team can follow the ongoing simulation through a TV-screen in the next room and the video material is then used for debriefing the group. This means that the exercise in it-self is very authentic while the whole team can learn from it. The centre is used by students studying Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Arcada, but training courses are also offered to professionals in the field through Arcada Further Education.
ARCADA PATIENT SAFETY AND LEARNING CENTER (APSLC)
“If you enjoy working with people in a multi-professional environment, relish responsibil-ity, are willing to develop and are looking for a meaningful job, then nursing could be what you are looking for!” Those are the first lines you stumble across when reading the pro-gramme description for the Bachelor’s De-gree programme in Nursing at Arcada. The exact same lines could be used to describe 25-year-old Spaniard Besai Muñoz, who left his home country two years ago for Finland to begin his studies. It did indeed turn out that nursing was exactly what he was looking for, and there is no mistaking his enthusiasm!
− I am really excited about my studies, and the atmosphere here is awesome, he says. Nursing is a great profession and here at Arca-da you get to learn in a challenging way, which means that you will become a very competitive nurse. I have studied for little over a year now and I have learned a lot already. One of the best things is that we get to practice what we have learned in actual working places.
ARCADA’S PATIENT SAFETY AND LEARNING CENTER A cornerstone for all degree programmes at Arcada is that they focus on both theory and practice. For nursing students this means that theoretical lessons are varied with computer-based self-studies, practical skills training in class and clinical training in working life. About 50 per cent of the studies are carried
out as practical training in different nursing settings and in open counselling centers.
A large portion of the nursing students’ practical education is carried out in Arcada’s Patient Safety and Learning Center. The cen-tre, being one of the largest of its kind in Fin-land, offers simulation facilities for students in Nursing, Midwifery, Emergency Care and Oc-cupational Therapy.
− We are lucky to have the opportunity to practice in excellent simulation facilities, Besai says. That is where I have learned a lot of my practical skills.
Besai and his classmates have been using these facilities a lot already during their first year at Arcada. The tasks start off easy, but get more and more advanced as the studies pro-gress. When students enter working life they can feel confident in their abilities after already having honed their skills in a life-like setting.
− So far we have done practical simulations within Basic Care and have also taken the First Aid course in the simulation centre. Basic care includes making beds, washing and bathing pa-tients, feeding, doing enemas, curing wounds and giving injections, Besai explains.
PRACTICAL TRAINING AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STUDIESThe studies are carried out in close coop-eration with working life, such as through projects completed both individually and in groups. The first practical training period for the nursing students is Basic Care at a real hospital or care center where the students put their skills to the test. Besai used this opportunity to return to Spain to get better acquainted with the nursing profession in his home country.
− I wanted to go to my own country for the first practical training because I wanted to see the difference between how nursing works in Finland and back home, Besai says. It was a really good idea. I had a great time
during the practical training and I got to do a lot of different things. In general, there are many more patients per nurse in a Spanish hospital or care centre than in Finland. This is, of course, not ideal, but as a student it means that you might get to take on even big-ger responsibilities early on.
EU COMPETENCE TO WORK AS A REGISTERED NURSEThe education provides the students with competence to act in different caring settings, from open counselling centres to intensive care units. They can choose to work with children, youth, grown-ups or the elderly in Finland, the rest of the Nordic countries or even internationally. The Arcada Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Nursing qualifies stu-dents as registered nurses with EU compe-
tence. This was an important aspect for Besai when it came to choosing where to study.
− This is something I really value, Besai says happily. My plan is to stay in Finland af-ter my studies, but who knows? If I return to Spain a few years after my graduation, I will have the possibility to work as a nurse there as well, which is great – and not just there, but in many other countries as well.
If Besai does decide to stay in Finland in the long run, he certainly won’t be lacking employment opportunities. There is a great demand for nurses, as well as plenty of possi-bilities to continue studying at a Master’s level.
− I would like to continue my studies, absolutely, Besai tells us. My dream is to be a paramedic. As you can tell, I am very excited because I am already a little closer to achieving that goal.
6
DEGREE PROGRAMME IN PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERINGExtent 240 ECTS creditsDuration 4 yearsStudy places 20Entrance examination 25.4.2013 Plastic unfairly has the reputation of being an unsustainable and outdated material, and we see it as our mission to prove this myth wrong. As the material is taking on a new role, there is a great demand for modern and innovative plastics engineers. Plastics are becoming increasingly biologically degradable and can either be recycled or used to replace fossil fuels. The structure of the polymers ensures superior strength in airplane materials, offers surgery an alternative to human tissue and provides the market with high resolution displays at affordable prices. The polymers, the main ingredient in plastics, essentially define the mechanical and chemical properties of plastics, such as strength, elasticity and stability. Additives are then used to give the material qua-lities such as a specific colour or enhanced UV-stability. Thus, once you understand polymers, you can perform miracles; create new applications, mix new combinations of additives to evolve new properties or simply utilise polymers as raw materials in product design.
The plastics education at Arcada will give you in-depth knowledge in polymers as well as in processing methods used in industrial production today. We will study innovations, multifunctional materials, as well as plastics in medical applications and high technology. The elective studies enable you to tailor your studies according to your personal interests. Within these you can choose foreign languages, entrepreneurship. We support highly motivated students with an interest in design to become experts in injection moulding or extrusion. It is possible to take speciali-sation studies abroad at our partner institutions. After graduation your career opportunities are excellent, especially as there is no similar study programme anywhere else in Finland. A degree from our programme will give you eligibility to apply to a Master’s degree programme.
THE PROGRAMMES/PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY
PLASTICS LABORATORY Arcada’s plastics engineers put their skills to work in a machine laboratory that simulates a plastics factory in miniature. Students learn to master the entire pro-cess, from understanding the properties of various materials to product design and the manufacturing of plastics products. The Plastics Laboratory is equipped with all key machinery used in the plastics industry.
PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY HAS GIVEN ELENA A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN THE JOB MARKETBorn in Siberia, near the Russian border with China and Kazakhstan, Elena Lezhneva has come a long way to study at Arcada, and it has been worth it. Set to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Plastics Technology in December 2012, Elena is confident that the programme’s hands-on approach has given her an invaluable edge in the international job market.
The journey that led Elena to Arcada isn’t best described by counting kilometres, though. The road was winding in many ways. After high school, she enrolled at the renowned St. Petersburg University of Eco-nomics and Finance to study accounting and financial analysis. This was a choice, she admits, that was influenced by her mother’s accounting profession. However, after two years, she became ‘bored’. She decided to leave St. Petersburg for Helsinki and enrol in the Degree Programme in Plastics Technol-ogy at Arcada, while at the same time finish-ing her Bachelor’s Degree in accounting and financial analysis via distance studies.
She found her motivation again in a sur-rounding that she describes as helpful, sym-pathetic and understanding.
– During the initial studies, when we went through the basics of chemistry, it was clear that the teachers at Arcada understood the needs of international students. It felt like you were among friends, she says.
BREAKING THE ICEElena admits that when she first arrived in Finland she found that she had much in com-mon with other international students – a
natural reaction, of course, when it came to adapting to a new culture that was quite dif-ferent from her own. It didn’t take long be-fore she grew closer to her Finnish Swedish classmates.
– The Düsseldorf Plastics and Rubber Fair was one of the events which brought us closer together. We planned and raised funds for the trip together, and we had a good time in Germany. The ice had been broken, she says.
Plastics technology has traditionally been a male-dominated field, but Elena was determined to hold her own.
– I wanted to take on a challenge. If something is too easy you lose motivation, you know, she says with a laugh.
A HANDS-ON APPROACHOne aspect that impressed Elena was the practical, hands-on approach in the Plastics Technology programme.
– The tradition of visiting companies is one of the best parts of the programme, she says. It also felt great to see that even if the machines that they were using were bigger, they were similar to the ones at the Plastics Laboratory at Arcada.
THE PET CLUB UNITES STUDENTS OF PLASTICS TECHNOLOGYThe PET club at Arcada is a small but very active student club. And for those of you who did not know, PET is not an abbreviation. It is the material that the most com-monly recycled plastics bottles are made of. PET at Arcada is a club that unites the students of Plastics Technology, introduces them to the industry and protects the interests of the plastics students. The club is primarily for students from the Degree Programme in Plastics Technology – both the programme in Swedish and the paral-lel programme in English.
Another interesting and useful part of her studies was the entrepreneurship course, which is a compulsory component of the three-month work placement programme. She worked in a team that was tasked to de-vise a solution for plastic hip implant wear and come up with technical recommenda-tions.
– That was a great course that really increased my motivation and sharpened my focus, Elena says.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUESElena will be graduating in December and heading for New Zealand to work for a com-pany specialising in the manufacturing and
sale of health care products. It is an amaz-ing opportunity, but definitely not an unde-served one. Elena feels that after five years of not only studying, but also working with plastics, she has a clear advantage in the job market. Very few universities in the world offer a practical, hands-on programme in this field.
− One of our instructors once famously said that, for a potential employer, there is a huge difference between a job seeker who says that: “I saw this machine in a book and now I need six months to learn how to oper-ate it”, and one who says that: “I have used this kind of machine, now give me a week or two to master it”.
Elena Lezhneva is heading for New Zealand after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Plastics Technology.
APPLY!7.1-12.2.2013
APPLICATION
HOW DO I APPLY TO ARCADA?
HOW DO I APPLY?www.admissions.fi
Apply online through the national joint application system at www.admissions.fi.
Through the joint application system you can apply to a maximum of four different degree programmes conducted in a foreign language at universities of applied sciences in Finland. It is important that you carefully consider the order of preference you put in your application as this order is binding and influences which programme you may be selected for. You can only accept one study place at a higher education institution in Finland starting the same academic term.
AM I ELIGIBLE?www.arcada.fi/application
In general, if you have completed an upper secondary education or the matriculation exami-nation and have valid English language certificates you are eligible to apply. You are also eligible if you have a foreign degree or qualifications which give you eligibility for higher education in the degree awarding country.
22TH FEBRUARY 2013 4.15 P.M.Deadline for attachments.
MARCH 2013Invitation to entrance exams posted to eligible applicants.
MAY/JUNE 2013Results are announced.
AUGUST 2013The academic year begins.
12TH FEBRUARY 2013 4.15 P.M.The online application closes. Deadline for paper applications.
APRIL 2013Entrance exams.
31ST JULY 2013Last day to accept study place.
HOW IS THE SELECTION MADE?Passing an entrance examination is required for admission to all degree programmes at Arcada. Formal invitation letters are sent by post to all eligible applicants. The entrance exami-nations are organised at Arcada in Finland. For more information on possible entrance examina-tions abroad, please see our webpages. Details and topics on the entrance examinations and final selection criteria are found on arcada.fi.
Arcada does not have admission quotas and does not select certain groups for admission. Arcada may also accept results of entrance examinations taken at another Finnish university of applied sciences for the same/corresponding degree programme. Please see arcada.fi for more information.
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Arcada is ECTS- and DS-certified since 2004. Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Centre (APSLC) has by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture been granted status of centre of excellence for the years 2010-2012.
ECTS Label 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 3Awarded by the European Commission to
