Internationalisation

Cooperation across borders

We regularly cooperate with Nordic and European educational institutions, companies, and higher education institutions. Our international cooperation network extends beyond Europe to Japan and Canada.

We enable international study and work exchanges for our students and staff, and together with our partners we carry out development projects in education and guidance services. Our institution is highly regarded internationally – thanks to our long-standing international relationships.

Internationalisation of students

We offer our students, already in the early stages of their studies, opportunities to choose courses related to different cultures as well as a wide range of foreign language studies. Students can take part in international seminars and study visits organised both in Finland and abroad. Study trips are carried out under the guidance of a teacher.

To encourage students and promote multiculturalism, we organise information sessions and themed events where students who have taken part in international activities share their experiences.

As studies progress, we offer students more independent study exchange opportunities, where they study abroad at partner institutions or work in local organisations. The longest student exchanges during studies last up to one semester. We also support student exchanges financially, as the institution awards scholarships for studies completed abroad. In addition to the institution’s own scholarships, students can also apply for support from the Foundation of the Finnish Business College Association.

To maintain language skills gained during exchanges and to strengthen competencies needed in an international environment, we offer students the opportunity to study in our English-language degree programmes, where student groups are multicultural.

Our international partners

Internationalisation of staff

In addition to teaching and guiding multicultural groups, our staff have the opportunity to improve their international competence and language skills by participating in international development projects, acting as study trip supervisors or assessors, or taking part in staff exchanges abroad.

Teacher exchanges are open to our teaching staff, and one-week expert exchanges are available to all employees. In addition to the leadership of the institution, the commitment of the entire staff to internationalisation is essential in developing students’ readiness for international activities.

Project activities

Our institution is currently involved in several international development projects, as well as projects that support the international mobility of students and staff.

Explore our ongoing international projects:

Our international cooperation network

Canada network

The Canada Network is a consortium of seven vocational education institutions that collaborate with Canadian educational institutions. The network promotes and implements student and expert mobility between Finland and various provinces in Canada. The Canada Network has been operating since 2010.

In Finland, the network includes the following institutions:

• Ammattiopisto Lappia
• Ammattiopisto Luovi
• Business College Helsinki
• Gradia
• Kainuun Vocational College (coordinator)
• Luksia
• Sataedu
• Turku Vocational Institute

EBBD network

EBBD (European Business Behaviour and Democracy) was developed in an EU-funded project over ten years ago. It is a European education programme that offers students a specialised qualification in the field of business and international trade. Its aim is to develop students’ practical business skills, language proficiency, and intercultural communication.

EBBD programmes implement a common European business curriculum. Students who meet all the required criteria in the curriculum receive, in addition to their regular qualification, a Certificate of Excellence. The network currently includes over forty schools from eight EU countries, and new schools are accredited annually. In Finland, in addition to Business College Helsinki, there are two accredited schools – Careeria and Tredu.

More detailed information about the network can be found on its website:

Visits

Each year, Business College Helsinki hosts a number of international experts and students.

We also organise an international student seminar annually and welcome exchange students and trainee teachers.

International Services

Our International Services team consists of the Head of International Operations and an International Coordinator. They are experts in international relations, responsible for tasks such as managing international projects, organising international events, and coordinating arrangements related to student and staff mobility abroad.

Contact details for International Services

Head of International Operations
Hilla Helasaari
hilla.helasaari@bc.fi | +358 50 490 4546

International Services Coordinator
Orsolya Simon
orsolya.simon@bc.fi | +358 44 775 6012