VAMK Academic Adventures – Episode 2: VAMK Student Community

[00:00:01.83 --> 00:00:12.16] [Music]
[00:00:09.92 --> 00:00:15.24] Hello everyone welcome to the second
[00:00:12.16 --> 00:00:17.08] episode of VAMK academic adventures in
[00:00:15.24 --> 00:00:19.28] this series we will be talking about
[00:00:17.08 --> 00:00:20.80] student life career opportunities that
[00:00:19.28 --> 00:00:23.52] are related to international student
[00:00:20.80 --> 00:00:25.08] community and we have opinions from our
[00:00:23.52 --> 00:00:27.00] personnel and also from the Student
[00:00:25.08 --> 00:00:29.40] Union teachers and even from the
[00:00:27.00 --> 00:00:30.48] students themselves and I'm K and I'll
[00:00:29.40 --> 00:00:33.32] be the host
[00:00:30.48 --> 00:00:35.32] for this series and I'm an international
[00:00:33.32 --> 00:00:37.72] business student at VAMK and also doing
[00:00:35.32 --> 00:00:40.52] my training currently at the moment and
[00:00:37.72 --> 00:00:42.48] today we have Otto from VAMOK the Student
[00:00:40.52 --> 00:00:45.12] Union and we'll be talking more about
[00:00:42.48 --> 00:00:48.48] the student community in VAMOK in general
[00:00:45.12 --> 00:00:50.44] so hello Otto how are you hello I'm very
[00:00:48.48 --> 00:00:52.48] good thanks thanks for having me how are
[00:00:50.44 --> 00:00:55.28] you doing yes I'm doing good as well
[00:00:52.48 --> 00:00:57.36] Friday so it's yeah can't wait for the
[00:00:55.28 --> 00:01:00.04] weekend can't wait for the weekend yes
[00:00:57.36 --> 00:01:01.76] so since we are here can you introduce a
[00:01:00.04 --> 00:01:03.96] little bit more about yourselves because
[00:01:01.76 --> 00:01:06.52] to our listeners and also our viewers
[00:01:03.96 --> 00:01:08.52] about more of yourself yes of course uh
[00:01:06.52 --> 00:01:10.56] so my name is Oto makinami I'm the
[00:01:08.52 --> 00:01:14.40] chairperson of the board for the Student
[00:01:10.56 --> 00:01:18.32] Union VAMOK I'm currently on my third year
[00:01:14.40 --> 00:01:20.68] of studies I study uh business
[00:01:18.32 --> 00:01:22.60] administration so I'm ass soon to be
[00:01:20.68 --> 00:01:25.88] graduate I'm hoping to graduate by the
[00:01:22.60 --> 00:01:28.28] end of 2024 and this is my second year
[00:01:25.88 --> 00:01:30.72] in the VAMOK board as the
[00:01:28.28 --> 00:01:33.64] chairperson yes okay okay thank you so
[00:01:30.72 --> 00:01:35.80] much for coming uh here and uh
[00:01:33.64 --> 00:01:38.32] participating and sharing your opinion
[00:01:35.80 --> 00:01:40.56] yes so um since you're also a student
[00:01:38.32 --> 00:01:43.12] yourself at VAMK and also the chairperson
[00:01:40.56 --> 00:01:45.88] for two years continuously uh even since
[00:01:43.12 --> 00:01:47.44] I was a freshman so uh can you tell us
[00:01:45.88 --> 00:01:49.92] more about the student role of the
[00:01:47.44 --> 00:01:52.20] Student Union and what does it do yeah
[00:01:49.92 --> 00:01:55.52] of course uh so in short the Student
[00:01:52.20 --> 00:01:59.04] Union is a organization governed by the
[00:01:55.52 --> 00:02:00.84] students of this particular uh school
[00:01:59.04 --> 00:02:05.08] which is VAMK
[00:02:00.84 --> 00:02:07.48] and we are the people in the board and
[00:02:05.08 --> 00:02:09.60] the representative body are selected
[00:02:07.48 --> 00:02:12.56] every year uh at the end of the year
[00:02:09.60 --> 00:02:16.04] close to December and in short what we
[00:02:12.56 --> 00:02:19.44] do is we look out for the interests of
[00:02:16.04 --> 00:02:23.00] students and of our members and we
[00:02:19.44 --> 00:02:25.64] organize a wide range of extracurricular
[00:02:23.00 --> 00:02:28.84] activities for all the students in VAMK
[00:02:25.64 --> 00:02:30.76] and every single member of Wok Yeah so
[00:02:28.84 --> 00:02:33.52] basically it is for the students by the
[00:02:30.76 --> 00:02:36.32] students themselves yeah and I'm I've
[00:02:33.52 --> 00:02:38.44] been an active member of also VAMOK also
[00:02:36.32 --> 00:02:41.04] so I've been always engaged in the
[00:02:38.44 --> 00:02:42.76] activities and and I know how much like
[00:02:41.04 --> 00:02:44.24] um VAMOK also supports the
[00:02:42.76 --> 00:02:46.64] international students both the
[00:02:44.24 --> 00:02:49.52] full-time and also like the exchange
[00:02:46.64 --> 00:02:51.88] students as well to uh maximize their
[00:02:49.52 --> 00:02:53.88] studies in VAMK so uh can you also
[00:02:51.88 --> 00:02:56.28] elaborate more because I might miss out
[00:02:53.88 --> 00:02:58.12] some of the like activity so maybe you
[00:02:56.28 --> 00:03:00.48] can tell like how it supports the
[00:02:58.12 --> 00:03:04.00] international students in general
[00:03:00.48 --> 00:03:07.32] yeah uh well as for international
[00:03:04.00 --> 00:03:09.80] students obviously we like look out for
[00:03:07.32 --> 00:03:12.88] interests of every single student in VM
[00:03:09.80 --> 00:03:15.00] including the international students uh
[00:03:12.88 --> 00:03:18.88] whether it be degree students or
[00:03:15.00 --> 00:03:21.44] exchange students and we also try to
[00:03:18.88 --> 00:03:23.68] help them integrate into Finnish uh
[00:03:21.44 --> 00:03:26.44] student culture and living in Finland
[00:03:23.68 --> 00:03:28.96] it's a shock to a lot of international
[00:03:26.44 --> 00:03:31.04] students who move here probably from a
[00:03:28.96 --> 00:03:34.44] lot warmer countries for example than
[00:03:31.04 --> 00:03:36.76] Finland so we help with that uh and one
[00:03:34.44 --> 00:03:39.20] of the things that we do is for example
[00:03:36.76 --> 00:03:41.40] we try to have these International
[00:03:39.20 --> 00:03:44.00] dinners especially with exchange
[00:03:41.40 --> 00:03:46.24] students where they can uh meet the
[00:03:44.00 --> 00:03:49.28] other exchange students get to know VAMOK
[00:03:46.24 --> 00:03:52.88] and VAMK and show off their own culture
[00:03:49.28 --> 00:03:55.12] as well yes yes yes I've been to uh
[00:03:52.88 --> 00:03:56.76] inter VAMOK International dinners also and
[00:03:55.12 --> 00:03:59.08] a lot of the exchange students but also
[00:03:56.76 --> 00:04:01.52] the full-time students like us also join
[00:03:59.08 --> 00:04:03.40] occasionally by time so we learn all
[00:04:01.52 --> 00:04:06.20] like not just Finnish but also around
[00:04:03.40 --> 00:04:08.64] Europe and also all from Asia everywhere
[00:04:06.20 --> 00:04:10.44] and that is really a great initiative to
[00:04:08.64 --> 00:04:13.80] get to know each other and integrate
[00:04:10.44 --> 00:04:16.80] into the studying and studying Student
[00:04:13.80 --> 00:04:19.72] Life yeah definitely and we have we have
[00:04:16.80 --> 00:04:22.88] gotten a lot of positive feedback from
[00:04:19.72 --> 00:04:25.16] those and pretty much every single other
[00:04:22.88 --> 00:04:27.68] event that we do that which is for
[00:04:25.16 --> 00:04:29.72] international students as well so uh
[00:04:27.68 --> 00:04:31.80] there's a it's a long way to go until
[00:04:29.72 --> 00:04:34.48] we're at the state where we want to be
[00:04:31.80 --> 00:04:36.40] but we're on a good track right now yes
[00:04:34.48 --> 00:04:38.60] I I do believe that it's on a good track
[00:04:36.40 --> 00:04:41.84] and also because I've been to a lot of
[00:04:38.60 --> 00:04:45.12] uh the events and activities that uh VAMOK
[00:04:41.84 --> 00:04:47.04] organizes so um it's like it makes even
[00:04:45.12 --> 00:04:48.76] if it's like finish event it makes sure
[00:04:47.04 --> 00:04:51.28] that everyone can participate so there's
[00:04:48.76 --> 00:04:52.96] always like English language included as
[00:04:51.28 --> 00:04:55.72] well so that has been a really great
[00:04:52.96 --> 00:04:57.36] experience so far and yeah but uh also
[00:04:55.72 --> 00:05:00.16] apart from the international dinners
[00:04:57.36 --> 00:05:02.00] what other programs and initiatives Bok
[00:05:00.16 --> 00:05:03.84] organized for the international students
[00:05:02.00 --> 00:05:06.20] to more integrate into the Finnish
[00:05:03.84 --> 00:05:08.96] Society yeah there are a lot of things
[00:05:06.20 --> 00:05:13.36] uh one thing that we do we try to have
[00:05:08.96 --> 00:05:17.12] uh at least one uh International or only
[00:05:13.36 --> 00:05:20.36] in English events uh once every semester
[00:05:17.12 --> 00:05:24.68] at least uh for example last fall we did
[00:05:20.36 --> 00:05:28.20] a seit in cooperation with ESN
[00:05:24.68 --> 00:05:32.00] Vasa and that was a really big success
[00:05:28.20 --> 00:05:35.32] since C is a popular student event in
[00:05:32.00 --> 00:05:37.12] The Finnish student culture but not too
[00:05:35.32 --> 00:05:39.48] many International students know about
[00:05:37.12 --> 00:05:41.36] it so that was a that was a really fun
[00:05:39.48 --> 00:05:44.68] thing to do and most of the people there
[00:05:41.36 --> 00:05:46.88] really enjoyed enjoyed the seit so for
[00:05:44.68 --> 00:05:49.64] example we we do those and as you
[00:05:46.88 --> 00:05:52.52] mentioned earlier we do the Finland 101
[00:05:49.64 --> 00:05:55.28] course which is to help International
[00:05:52.52 --> 00:05:58.80] students integrate into the Finnish
[00:05:55.28 --> 00:06:02.08] student life into Vaasa and into the
[00:05:58.80 --> 00:06:04.52] Finnish work life as well so we have for
[00:06:02.08 --> 00:06:07.20] example last time we did it we had uh
[00:06:04.52 --> 00:06:09.36] the city of Vaasa people came and talked
[00:06:07.20 --> 00:06:12.60] about Vaasa and all the opportunities for
[00:06:09.36 --> 00:06:18.60] any extracurricular activities in the
[00:06:12.60 --> 00:06:22.32] city and some heads of big corporations
[00:06:18.60 --> 00:06:25.08] came by told them about what they do and
[00:06:22.32 --> 00:06:28.04] how they should go about trying to get a
[00:06:25.08 --> 00:06:30.76] job at that particular company or any
[00:06:28.04 --> 00:06:32.44] other major company for that matter so
[00:06:30.76 --> 00:06:34.76] we're trying to help International
[00:06:32.44 --> 00:06:36.56] students integrate into the Finnish life
[00:06:34.76 --> 00:06:40.00] a bit more and that has been a great
[00:06:36.56 --> 00:06:43.48] success I think last time we had just
[00:06:40.00 --> 00:06:46.88] over 70 participants in the course and I
[00:06:43.48 --> 00:06:49.48] think over 50 of them uh passed the
[00:06:46.88 --> 00:06:52.68] course so it's a it's a past fail type
[00:06:49.48 --> 00:06:55.00] course yes okay yeah and I've been uh
[00:06:52.68 --> 00:06:56.44] participated in all these activities and
[00:06:55.00 --> 00:06:59.08] events that you mentioned some of these
[00:06:56.44 --> 00:07:01.44] examples for example the Finland 101 or
[00:06:59.08 --> 00:07:03.36] also International sit set like which
[00:07:01.44 --> 00:07:05.20] makes me really much more adapted into
[00:07:03.36 --> 00:07:06.64] the Finnish culture because it's all a
[00:07:05.20 --> 00:07:08.76] whole new thing to me as an
[00:07:06.64 --> 00:07:10.84] international student myself so I would
[00:07:08.76 --> 00:07:13.36] say it is a really great benefit like
[00:07:10.84 --> 00:07:15.04] you just get of course in the courses
[00:07:13.36 --> 00:07:17.12] you will get to know more theoretically
[00:07:15.04 --> 00:07:18.92] and all from the experiences but when
[00:07:17.12 --> 00:07:20.76] you are inside like a social event like
[00:07:18.92 --> 00:07:23.04] a s then you get to know the Finnish
[00:07:20.76 --> 00:07:25.48] students more and know about them yeah
[00:07:23.04 --> 00:07:27.04] exactly so this is like really a great
[00:07:25.48 --> 00:07:29.60] benefit even for an international
[00:07:27.04 --> 00:07:31.44] student myself so I'm a living proof of
[00:07:29.60 --> 00:07:33.36] yeah okay awesome the the international
[00:07:31.44 --> 00:07:35.04] student who is getting the benefits but
[00:07:33.36 --> 00:07:36.76] yeah uh in terms of the benefits what
[00:07:35.04 --> 00:07:38.56] other benefits do you think like
[00:07:36.76 --> 00:07:41.48] International students can participate
[00:07:38.56 --> 00:07:44.88] from uh joining into these kind of
[00:07:41.48 --> 00:07:47.16] activities and events arranged for them
[00:07:44.88 --> 00:07:51.08] I would tell every single International
[00:07:47.16 --> 00:07:54.84] Stu student who is uh new to Vaasa just
[00:07:51.08 --> 00:07:57.28] be active and try to participate in many
[00:07:54.84 --> 00:07:59.84] different ways and as much as you can
[00:07:57.28 --> 00:08:03.16] because that is the way that you will
[00:07:59.84 --> 00:08:06.72] get the most out of studying here in
[00:08:03.16 --> 00:08:09.24] Vaasa and in Finland in general so I
[00:08:06.72 --> 00:08:11.96] would say be active uh join the Student
[00:08:09.24 --> 00:08:16.28] Union definitely we have we usually hold
[00:08:11.96 --> 00:08:18.68] a pub quiz every month and one uh party
[00:08:16.28 --> 00:08:21.28] usually every month and we also do uh
[00:08:18.68 --> 00:08:23.92] sport trials and for all vok members we
[00:08:21.28 --> 00:08:27.28] have free sport shifts every week uh
[00:08:23.92 --> 00:08:30.28] four to five times a week so there's a
[00:08:27.28 --> 00:08:34.56] lot to do so I would say just be active
[00:08:30.28 --> 00:08:36.68] and try to participate in all the events
[00:08:34.56 --> 00:08:39.72] that you can and you can also check out
[00:08:36.68 --> 00:08:41.48] es and Vaasa they have a lot of awesome
[00:08:39.72 --> 00:08:45.04] things for international students here
[00:08:41.48 --> 00:08:47.56] in Vaasa as well yes I'm also a f member
[00:08:45.04 --> 00:08:49.52] myself and also uh like apart from all
[00:08:47.56 --> 00:08:51.28] the activities and events I also try to
[00:08:49.52 --> 00:08:53.68] go to like gym because we have the free
[00:08:51.28 --> 00:08:55.36] gym access at the Wasa sports club and
[00:08:53.68 --> 00:08:57.08] of course uh sometimes like sports
[00:08:55.36 --> 00:08:59.84] shifts whenever I'm interested in like
[00:08:57.08 --> 00:09:01.96] batminton or yeah batminton or
[00:08:59.84 --> 00:09:04.60] volleyball yes we have volleyball and we
[00:09:01.96 --> 00:09:06.40] also have floorball uh sometimes
[00:09:04.60 --> 00:09:08.64] basketball we have we have a lot of
[00:09:06.40 --> 00:09:10.80] different things they can vary from year
[00:09:08.64 --> 00:09:14.28] to year depending on what the the
[00:09:10.80 --> 00:09:15.92] members of VAMOK want we usually have a
[00:09:14.28 --> 00:09:18.04] questionnaire open at the end of the
[00:09:15.92 --> 00:09:21.48] year to see what can we do better next
[00:09:18.04 --> 00:09:23.48] year and what we should add or take out
[00:09:21.48 --> 00:09:26.28] so it might vary a little bit but those
[00:09:23.48 --> 00:09:28.08] are the usual Sports we have yes yes
[00:09:26.28 --> 00:09:30.88] that's true and it's kind of always
[00:09:28.08 --> 00:09:32.60] exciting to go a bond with also like not
[00:09:30.88 --> 00:09:34.48] just the international students among
[00:09:32.60 --> 00:09:36.44] themselves but also with other finnished
[00:09:34.48 --> 00:09:39.04] students cuz everyone comes like not
[00:09:36.44 --> 00:09:41.16] just separated International or finish
[00:09:39.04 --> 00:09:43.56] and you Bond over these activities and
[00:09:41.16 --> 00:09:45.40] events so I would say it's been a great
[00:09:43.56 --> 00:09:47.48] also networking and also to make
[00:09:45.40 --> 00:09:49.52] yourself more home at Finland while
[00:09:47.48 --> 00:09:51.68] you're studying so definitely yeah but
[00:09:49.52 --> 00:09:53.24] in terms like just you have been a
[00:09:51.68 --> 00:09:55.56] chairperson and also of course you've
[00:09:53.24 --> 00:09:57.48] been engaging with students like all
[00:09:55.56 --> 00:09:59.56] Finnish and also International but when
[00:09:57.48 --> 00:10:01.88] it comes to International students what
[00:09:59.56 --> 00:10:03.08] kinds of challenges do you have to help
[00:10:01.88 --> 00:10:07.00] them
[00:10:03.08 --> 00:10:09.20] overcome uh I think in general still uh
[00:10:07.00 --> 00:10:12.00] all the problems or most of the problems
[00:10:09.20 --> 00:10:14.88] that International students face are
[00:10:12.00 --> 00:10:17.60] quite personal and they might vary from
[00:10:14.88 --> 00:10:19.56] uh person to person but there are few
[00:10:17.60 --> 00:10:24.44] few things that we've seen multiple
[00:10:19.56 --> 00:10:26.40] times one being that especially when
[00:10:24.44 --> 00:10:28.08] they move here they have trouble with
[00:10:26.40 --> 00:10:30.40] housing for example even getting from
[00:10:28.08 --> 00:10:33.48] the airport to the city Centrum and
[00:10:30.40 --> 00:10:36.08] getting the keys to their apartment and
[00:10:33.48 --> 00:10:37.40] knowing what what else do you need to do
[00:10:36.08 --> 00:10:39.12] for the apartment you need to get
[00:10:37.40 --> 00:10:41.92] electricity you need to pay for the
[00:10:39.12 --> 00:10:46.80] water and every all of these things so
[00:10:41.92 --> 00:10:49.16] for that we have tutors which we uh
[00:10:46.80 --> 00:10:50.80] recruit once a year and then train we're
[00:10:49.16 --> 00:10:54.12] actually right now in the middle of
[00:10:50.80 --> 00:10:56.96] recruiting new tutors for the upcoming
[00:10:54.12 --> 00:10:59.48] upcoming semester starting in the fall
[00:10:56.96 --> 00:11:01.16] but sometimes the tutors will just tell
[00:10:59.48 --> 00:11:02.68] you okay this is the person you you need
[00:11:01.16 --> 00:11:05.12] to call and this is the place where you
[00:11:02.68 --> 00:11:06.68] can pick up your keys but also sometimes
[00:11:05.12 --> 00:11:10.12] we have very active tutors who will
[00:11:06.68 --> 00:11:12.80] actually go there pick up the keys uh
[00:11:10.12 --> 00:11:16.04] for the new place with them with the
[00:11:12.80 --> 00:11:18.60] exchange students or the degree students
[00:11:16.04 --> 00:11:22.92] so uh they're a big
[00:11:18.60 --> 00:11:25.72] help and but one big thing that has been
[00:11:22.92 --> 00:11:26.72] a problem at least for the past maybe
[00:11:25.72 --> 00:11:31.00] two
[00:11:26.72 --> 00:11:32.96] years has been getting the new
[00:11:31.00 --> 00:11:35.00] international students into Finland I
[00:11:32.96 --> 00:11:36.92] think that's one of the biggest biggest
[00:11:35.00 --> 00:11:39.20] problems uh that's something that the
[00:11:36.92 --> 00:11:41.72] Student Union can't really help with our
[00:11:39.20 --> 00:11:45.40] hands are pretty much tied on that it
[00:11:41.72 --> 00:11:48.32] has to do mostly with uh the immigration
[00:11:45.40 --> 00:11:50.24] laws in their country of origin where
[00:11:48.32 --> 00:11:52.36] they're coming from so they might get
[00:11:50.24 --> 00:11:53.88] stuck in this sort of funnel that they
[00:11:52.36 --> 00:11:57.96] can't really get through and head over
[00:11:53.88 --> 00:11:59.84] to Finland and that obviously VAMK
[00:11:57.96 --> 00:12:02.80] provides uh
[00:11:59.84 --> 00:12:04.08] online courses and online classes during
[00:12:02.80 --> 00:12:06.32] that time when they can't make it to
[00:12:04.08 --> 00:12:10.76] Finland but that also
[00:12:06.32 --> 00:12:12.80] affects uh their bonding with their
[00:12:10.76 --> 00:12:15.64] classmates since they can't really meet
[00:12:12.80 --> 00:12:18.12] up in person they only can talk through
[00:12:15.64 --> 00:12:21.56] maybe like WhatsApp or Telegram and only
[00:12:18.12 --> 00:12:24.00] see each other online during classes so
[00:12:21.56 --> 00:12:26.64] that's not optimal I think it's getting
[00:12:24.00 --> 00:12:29.28] better but it's still a big problem that
[00:12:26.64 --> 00:12:31.76] we can't really help with too much yeah
[00:12:29.28 --> 00:12:33.80] that's true yeah but of course uh when
[00:12:31.76 --> 00:12:36.44] it comes to immigration and it depends a
[00:12:33.80 --> 00:12:39.36] lot on the law and all the traveling and
[00:12:36.44 --> 00:12:41.48] Visa processes so luckily for me I was
[00:12:39.36 --> 00:12:43.56] able to come in time so I didn't have
[00:12:41.48 --> 00:12:45.92] challenges but I've met other students
[00:12:43.56 --> 00:12:47.88] who also have like challenges with
[00:12:45.92 --> 00:12:50.32] coming to school on time and then they
[00:12:47.88 --> 00:12:52.96] get a semester late so a lot of these
[00:12:50.32 --> 00:12:55.20] problems occur but I think um regardless
[00:12:52.96 --> 00:12:56.80] to that what the Student Union VAMOK also
[00:12:55.20 --> 00:12:58.56] has been like doing when they are
[00:12:56.80 --> 00:13:00.68] arriving here and also assisting them
[00:12:58.56 --> 00:13:02.44] with guiding and I think guidance is the
[00:13:00.68 --> 00:13:04.64] most important thing for international
[00:13:02.44 --> 00:13:07.48] students at this point like because when
[00:13:04.64 --> 00:13:09.04] we get accepted to a university and uh
[00:13:07.48 --> 00:13:10.16] we we get Aller letters but we don't
[00:13:09.04 --> 00:13:12.16] know what else to do because we don't
[00:13:10.16 --> 00:13:14.44] know anything about the towns or the
[00:13:12.16 --> 00:13:16.32] cities that we're in so like oh knowing
[00:13:14.44 --> 00:13:18.72] something about like housing where to
[00:13:16.32 --> 00:13:20.20] apply and even if the tutors are guiding
[00:13:18.72 --> 00:13:22.04] and of course there can be people
[00:13:20.20 --> 00:13:24.48] directly coming and picking up keys that
[00:13:22.04 --> 00:13:26.56] would be extra help but even with some
[00:13:24.48 --> 00:13:28.52] guidance I think it's a lot helpful for
[00:13:26.56 --> 00:13:30.80] international students like even for
[00:13:28.52 --> 00:13:32.72] myself as well cuz uh of course when you
[00:13:30.80 --> 00:13:34.12] just find there are a lot of information
[00:13:32.72 --> 00:13:36.76] and you don't know which one is the
[00:13:34.12 --> 00:13:39.00] right one yeah so I think like in terms
[00:13:36.76 --> 00:13:41.20] of that VAMOK has been doing a great job
[00:13:39.00 --> 00:13:43.80] to support the international students to
[00:13:41.20 --> 00:13:46.68] better you know in integrate and like
[00:13:43.80 --> 00:13:49.00] start their studies smoothly because uh
[00:13:46.68 --> 00:13:52.64] once you start the studies uh you also
[00:13:49.00 --> 00:13:55.36] have to be um ready for your uh life
[00:13:52.64 --> 00:13:57.12] staying you have a room or else you will
[00:13:55.36 --> 00:14:00.56] not be able to focus on your student
[00:13:57.12 --> 00:14:02.80] life yeah definitely I think uh having
[00:14:00.56 --> 00:14:04.28] having the right amount of tutors and
[00:14:02.80 --> 00:14:06.68] good tutors
[00:14:04.28 --> 00:14:10.80] which is is really important and that's
[00:14:06.68 --> 00:14:12.88] why our tutor trainings are maybe a bit
[00:14:10.80 --> 00:14:15.16] uh longer and take a little bit more
[00:14:12.88 --> 00:14:17.80] effort than some other student unions
[00:14:15.16 --> 00:14:19.88] but we have worked on it a lot for this
[00:14:17.80 --> 00:14:22.36] particular reason that especially for
[00:14:19.88 --> 00:14:24.92] the international students yeah to help
[00:14:22.36 --> 00:14:27.60] them integrate faster into Finland and
[00:14:24.92 --> 00:14:30.24] the Finnish student life because it's
[00:14:27.60 --> 00:14:32.28] it's a big change coming from somewhere
[00:14:30.24 --> 00:14:34.92] maybe even outside the EU and then you
[00:14:32.28 --> 00:14:37.32] move to Finland and you start to study
[00:14:34.92 --> 00:14:40.04] and you get the entire Student Life
[00:14:37.32 --> 00:14:42.76] culture so it's a it's a big shift in
[00:14:40.04 --> 00:14:45.52] your everyday life yeah definitely so
[00:14:42.76 --> 00:14:47.28] that's why I I really value our tutors
[00:14:45.52 --> 00:14:50.52] they are really good at what they do and
[00:14:47.28 --> 00:14:54.60] I'm pretty proud of our tutor trainings
[00:14:50.52 --> 00:14:56.32] they we've thought almost of everything
[00:14:54.60 --> 00:14:58.32] when it comes to the trainings and I'm
[00:14:56.32 --> 00:15:00.64] I'm really happy with that yes I think
[00:14:58.32 --> 00:15:02.84] the tutor training is also covered a lot
[00:15:00.64 --> 00:15:04.84] like what you bear in mind sometimes
[00:15:02.84 --> 00:15:07.00] like you might know how to help but
[00:15:04.84 --> 00:15:09.20] there can always be cultural differences
[00:15:07.00 --> 00:15:11.56] also like between each other and then
[00:15:09.20 --> 00:15:14.60] there can be misunderstanding so how to
[00:15:11.56 --> 00:15:16.88] minimize any like you know conflicts or
[00:15:14.60 --> 00:15:18.88] any issues like there's also cultural
[00:15:16.88 --> 00:15:21.12] awareness in the trainings as well not
[00:15:18.88 --> 00:15:23.44] just like what to do but also like the
[00:15:21.12 --> 00:15:25.84] attitude also soft skills kind of
[00:15:23.44 --> 00:15:28.04] communication training yeah definitely
[00:15:25.84 --> 00:15:30.16] I've been also mixing with the
[00:15:28.04 --> 00:15:32.88] international student and also the
[00:15:30.16 --> 00:15:34.48] Finnish students together and I've been
[00:15:32.88 --> 00:15:35.96] having a great balance of knowing some
[00:15:34.48 --> 00:15:38.32] Finn students as well but how do you
[00:15:35.96 --> 00:15:40.08] think is the situation of the Finnish
[00:15:38.32 --> 00:15:42.52] students and international students as a
[00:15:40.08 --> 00:15:45.08] community together uh definitely it can
[00:15:42.52 --> 00:15:47.80] be improved but I think we're at a
[00:15:45.08 --> 00:15:49.08] pretty good place right now since W is a
[00:15:47.80 --> 00:15:52.68] Bilingual
[00:15:49.08 --> 00:15:55.44] School uh Finnish and English and almost
[00:15:52.68 --> 00:15:57.56] every single student at VAMK knows uh
[00:15:55.44 --> 00:15:59.44] English well enough to talk with
[00:15:57.56 --> 00:16:02.44] International students even though it's
[00:15:59.44 --> 00:16:05.52] not their native language so I don't
[00:16:02.44 --> 00:16:07.16] think or I think that it's pretty good
[00:16:05.52 --> 00:16:10.04] there are of course as you mentioned
[00:16:07.16 --> 00:16:12.28] there are some cultural differences that
[00:16:10.04 --> 00:16:13.20] we can as the Student Union we can see
[00:16:12.28 --> 00:16:16.16] those
[00:16:13.20 --> 00:16:18.12] differences but in general I think it's
[00:16:16.16 --> 00:16:22.32] quite good obviously there are things to
[00:16:18.12 --> 00:16:24.68] improve on but that it depends on a lot
[00:16:22.32 --> 00:16:28.00] of different factors it might be we need
[00:16:24.68 --> 00:16:30.64] to educate our tutors better and it also
[00:16:28.00 --> 00:16:33.84] there is still a level of responsibility
[00:16:30.64 --> 00:16:36.32] on the students themselves to be active
[00:16:33.84 --> 00:16:39.24] and try to make friends uh inside of
[00:16:36.32 --> 00:16:43.00] their class and even with the Finnish
[00:16:39.24 --> 00:16:45.48] speaking students so we try to help as
[00:16:43.00 --> 00:16:48.08] much as we can but they also need to be
[00:16:45.48 --> 00:16:50.52] active themselves to make that happen
[00:16:48.08 --> 00:16:53.00] that's true I I agree as well because
[00:16:50.52 --> 00:16:55.00] like being active is really important
[00:16:53.00 --> 00:16:57.16] whether like no matter how much like the
[00:16:55.00 --> 00:16:59.08] Student Union can support it will not be
[00:16:57.16 --> 00:17:01.88] effective unless the student themselves
[00:16:59.08 --> 00:17:03.52] can be more active and more engaged in
[00:17:01.88 --> 00:17:06.72] activities as well because there's a lot
[00:17:03.52 --> 00:17:09.24] to do but it's up to us the students to
[00:17:06.72 --> 00:17:11.28] also uh grab the opportunities to become
[00:17:09.24 --> 00:17:13.88] one and or else it will be kind of just
[00:17:11.28 --> 00:17:16.32] you'll feel not comfortable studying and
[00:17:13.88 --> 00:17:18.60] that that's also so and and also I know
[00:17:16.32 --> 00:17:21.40] that um like if we have issues we can
[00:17:18.60 --> 00:17:24.24] always contact to the like harassment
[00:17:21.40 --> 00:17:26.12] contact person inok so like that is also
[00:17:24.24 --> 00:17:28.00] I think really helpful cuz uh I've
[00:17:26.12 --> 00:17:31.24] experienced like some exchange students
[00:17:28.00 --> 00:17:33.44] coming to uh and then there are some uh
[00:17:31.24 --> 00:17:35.36] misunderstandings between other exchange
[00:17:33.44 --> 00:17:37.28] students among themselves and then
[00:17:35.36 --> 00:17:39.20] tutors can like also guide them to
[00:17:37.28 --> 00:17:41.68] contact to the harassment contact person
[00:17:39.20 --> 00:17:44.96] so they can proceed with how to resolve
[00:17:41.68 --> 00:17:48.12] this issue and how to uh minimize any
[00:17:44.96 --> 00:17:50.96] bad results yeah I think pretty far F
[00:17:48.12 --> 00:17:53.08] has been like International itself so it
[00:17:50.96 --> 00:17:54.92] has been not really much of a problem so
[00:17:53.08 --> 00:17:57.04] I think now the student Community is
[00:17:54.92 --> 00:17:59.72] pretty yeah yeah not really since W is a
[00:17:57.04 --> 00:18:02.00] bilingual and W has a
[00:17:59.72 --> 00:18:04.36] big goal of being a very international
[00:18:02.00 --> 00:18:07.84] school which I think is really good I
[00:18:04.36 --> 00:18:10.64] think Finland definitely needs more
[00:18:07.84 --> 00:18:13.76] International students and in Vaasa
[00:18:10.64 --> 00:18:16.52] especially when there there's such good
[00:18:13.76 --> 00:18:18.12] uh employment opportunities I think Vaasa
[00:18:16.52 --> 00:18:19.72] really could benefit from a lot of
[00:18:18.12 --> 00:18:22.92] international students and I think it's
[00:18:19.72 --> 00:18:24.96] really good that bum is actively trying
[00:18:22.92 --> 00:18:27.16] to get more International students here
[00:18:24.96 --> 00:18:29.20] and trying to integrate them into the
[00:18:27.16 --> 00:18:31.72] Finish life a bit better into the finish
[00:18:29.20 --> 00:18:34.32] working life so that the people who come
[00:18:31.72 --> 00:18:37.16] here would would want to stay here even
[00:18:34.32 --> 00:18:39.72] after their studies raise a family here
[00:18:37.16 --> 00:18:42.20] and get a job and live their life here
[00:18:39.72 --> 00:18:44.28] in Vaasa yeah yeah and of course it all
[00:18:42.20 --> 00:18:47.88] comes down like how they have enjoyed
[00:18:44.28 --> 00:18:50.16] their studiesa in like so the role that
[00:18:47.88 --> 00:18:52.12] the school itself and also the VAMOK plays
[00:18:50.16 --> 00:18:54.96] in the students life on how they can
[00:18:52.12 --> 00:18:57.08] enjoy is really um precious I would say
[00:18:54.96 --> 00:18:59.76] so they would like say yeah I belong to
[00:18:57.08 --> 00:19:01.48] VAMK like I belong to here even though I
[00:18:59.76 --> 00:19:04.08] came from a different country so you get
[00:19:01.48 --> 00:19:05.56] that kind of familiar sense of belonging
[00:19:04.08 --> 00:19:07.88] like when you enjoy your student Life
[00:19:05.56 --> 00:19:10.12] Community yeah so how do you envision in
[00:19:07.88 --> 00:19:12.48] the future I would in general I would
[00:19:10.12 --> 00:19:15.52] really love to see more International
[00:19:12.48 --> 00:19:19.00] students in VAMK even there are plenty but
[00:19:15.52 --> 00:19:21.24] even more and just have the student
[00:19:19.00 --> 00:19:24.64] Community a little bit more a little bit
[00:19:21.24 --> 00:19:27.40] tighter TI to try to integrate The
[00:19:24.64 --> 00:19:29.84] Finnish culture with the different
[00:19:27.40 --> 00:19:32.84] International cultures we have and try
[00:19:29.84 --> 00:19:34.56] to create a big student community that
[00:19:32.84 --> 00:19:36.88] would be my dream obviously I don't
[00:19:34.56 --> 00:19:39.00] think that's even possible so that
[00:19:36.88 --> 00:19:40.56] everyone would be included in that but
[00:19:39.00 --> 00:19:43.56] that's my dream and I I think we're on
[00:19:40.56 --> 00:19:46.56] the right track getting there at the
[00:19:43.56 --> 00:19:49.56] moment and that also depends a lot on
[00:19:46.56 --> 00:19:52.08] the students activities but we need to
[00:19:49.56 --> 00:19:54.24] create an environment where the
[00:19:52.08 --> 00:19:57.48] international and the Finnish
[00:19:54.24 --> 00:20:00.80] students can enter all these different
[00:19:57.48 --> 00:20:02.80] things whether it be events or career
[00:20:00.80 --> 00:20:04.96] events or recruitment events or anything
[00:20:02.80 --> 00:20:06.68] like this we need to create an En an
[00:20:04.96 --> 00:20:09.00] environment where it's easy for the
[00:20:06.68 --> 00:20:12.32] students to participate in all of these
[00:20:09.00 --> 00:20:15.60] activities so I think that's how I will
[00:20:12.32 --> 00:20:18.68] I would envision it it'll be better yes
[00:20:15.60 --> 00:20:21.56] I truly hope and I truly believe that
[00:20:18.68 --> 00:20:24.76] and I want the Student Union to be a
[00:20:21.56 --> 00:20:26.60] part of it and make it easy for the
[00:20:24.76 --> 00:20:28.24] students to create that big Community
[00:20:26.60 --> 00:20:32.28] because we can't create it for them we
[00:20:28.24 --> 00:20:34.24] can only create the framework for that
[00:20:32.28 --> 00:20:36.76] Community yeah that's true definitely
[00:20:34.24 --> 00:20:39.04] and it's really heartwarming to hear uh
[00:20:36.76 --> 00:20:40.32] from a finish local student like you
[00:20:39.04 --> 00:20:42.16] also them themselves like you're
[00:20:40.32 --> 00:20:44.56] welcoming more International students
[00:20:42.16 --> 00:20:46.64] like happily welcoming so it feels more
[00:20:44.56 --> 00:20:48.32] encouraging for the other upcoming
[00:20:46.64 --> 00:20:50.44] International students and of course all
[00:20:48.32 --> 00:20:52.80] the existing students like me to more
[00:20:50.44 --> 00:20:55.04] like stay in Finland more as well cuz it
[00:20:52.80 --> 00:20:57.68] feels much more welcomed you know yeah
[00:20:55.04 --> 00:21:00.16] yeah awesome good to hear yeah
[00:20:57.68 --> 00:21:02.20] definitely so do you have any like
[00:21:00.16 --> 00:21:03.84] messages or advises to upcoming
[00:21:02.20 --> 00:21:07.04] International students who would like to
[00:21:03.84 --> 00:21:10.04] come to study to VAMK and anything in
[00:21:07.04 --> 00:21:13.60] general um with the risk of repeating
[00:21:10.04 --> 00:21:15.88] myself a lot in I would say if I had if
[00:21:13.60 --> 00:21:19.12] I could only give one piece of advice I
[00:21:15.88 --> 00:21:22.64] would say be active as the VAMK slogan goes
[00:21:19.12 --> 00:21:25.04] "be bold" be bold be bold so come here
[00:21:22.64 --> 00:21:28.64] take part in everything you can try to
[00:21:25.04 --> 00:21:31.88] go to events go to recruitment events
[00:21:28.64 --> 00:21:34.80] try to create a network not only for
[00:21:31.88 --> 00:21:37.44] your career but for your life because if
[00:21:34.80 --> 00:21:40.12] you come here and you and you be active
[00:21:37.44 --> 00:21:41.60] you will make a lot a lot new friends
[00:21:40.12 --> 00:21:45.88] and you will learn a lot about the
[00:21:41.60 --> 00:21:48.16] Finnish culture so I would sum it up be
[00:21:45.88 --> 00:21:51.20] bold if you come here and please come
[00:21:48.16 --> 00:21:53.96] here yes thank you I'm bold enough also
[00:21:51.20 --> 00:21:55.72] I guess yeah you are I am being active
[00:21:53.96 --> 00:21:57.32] so yes thank you so much that is really
[00:21:55.72 --> 00:21:59.88] a nice discussion and I think I've
[00:21:57.32 --> 00:22:02.08] reflected on my uh stay here as two
[00:21:59.88 --> 00:22:04.08] years uh of course including this year
[00:22:02.08 --> 00:22:06.20] and I have been enjoying and as much as
[00:22:04.08 --> 00:22:08.60] I can actively participating in these
[00:22:06.20 --> 00:22:09.88] events and it's not just about jobs and
[00:22:08.60 --> 00:22:11.88] everything it's all about social
[00:22:09.88 --> 00:22:13.80] connections and how you feel connected
[00:22:11.88 --> 00:22:16.96] to these people and you know when you're
[00:22:13.80 --> 00:22:19.48] connected you also get uh the network to
[00:22:16.96 --> 00:22:21.08] more possibilities like so much more
[00:22:19.48 --> 00:22:22.92] possibilities that you will know you
[00:22:21.08 --> 00:22:24.68] will one day you're just classmate but
[00:22:22.92 --> 00:22:26.40] next day you can be business partners
[00:22:24.68 --> 00:22:28.36] together yeah exactly the sky is the
[00:22:26.40 --> 00:22:31.44] limit yeah the sky is the limit so be
[00:22:28.36 --> 00:22:33.76] both B be bold okay thank you so much a
[00:22:31.44 --> 00:22:35.92] for having us with us today so thank you
[00:22:33.76 --> 00:22:38.80] for having me yes thank you byebye have
[00:22:35.92 --> 00:22:38.80] a nice day you
[00:22:41.32 --> 00:22:47.60] too thank you everyone for tuning in to
[00:22:44.28 --> 00:22:50.80] this episode of VAMK Academic Adventures we
[00:22:47.60 --> 00:22:50.80] will see you in the next
[00:22:56.24 --> 00:22:59.24] episode!