Foreign students skills and cultural knowledge represent an important resource for companies. Jyväskylä is attracting increasing numbers of foreign students.
Lak János, 26, shows hotel guests into the restaurant with a friendly smile. After just 18 months of studying in Jyväskylä he speaks Finnish well enough to serve customers in their own language.
Originally from Hungary, János is a student on the English-language Degree Programme in Facility Management at Jyväskylä Polytechnic. He has learnt Finnish at the university, at evening college, and in his spare time. He keeps a notebook with him at all times to write down new words. János is doing his practical training at Hotel Rantasipi Laajavuori, which has offered training places to several foreign students.
We always serve our Finnish guests in their own language so we require at least a reasonable knowledge of Finnish on the part of our trainees. In addition to language skills, we also stress the need for a helpful and positive disposition, initiative, and a proactive approach, says Shift Manager Satu Lodman.
Foreign students receive the same type of job familiarization as their Finnish counterparts. The tasks become more demanding as the training progresses. Job familiarization is important, because we want to offer a consistent level of service to all our customers, Satu Lodman says.
Lak János is pleased that he has the opportunity to do practical training. He says that the training has especially helped him to understand the spoken language and learn the terminology related to the job.
The customers have been patient and friendly. The atmosphere is a lot more hectic in Hungary. János has not yet decided whether to look for a job in Finland once he has completed his studies. With several languages and a range of skills, he will certainly be a sought-after employee if he does decide to stay.
János previously qualified as an English teacher, and he also speaks French, Finnish and some Swedish. His degree course at Jyväskylä Polytechnic will give him a broad range of skills that can be applied in the hotel and restaurant business, marketing, finance, and human resources management.
At the moment I am looking for a Finnish company which is planning to expand its operations to Hungary. It would be great if my final thesis could support a project which is going to materialise in the near future.
Increasing numbers of foreign students are interested in studying in Jyväskylä. They are attracted to Jyväskylä because the city is fairly small, close to nature, and its educational institutions have a good reputation. In particular Jyväskylä is attracting students from China, Poland, Germany, and Russia.
This year there are more than one thousand exchange and degree students at the Universities and vocational institutes whose studies include a period of practical training.
The University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä Polytechnic, and Jyväskylä Vocational Institute have launched a joint project to encourage companies to offer training opportunities to international students.
According to Kirsi Torkkola, Project Manager, the students are a resource that companies should utilize. These students have the latest theoretical knowledge and IT skills. Quite a lot of University students have already completed a lower degree. In addition they are motivated and enthusiastic.
When trainees go into companies they take their own culture and language with them. They know what sort of things are appreciated by travellers or companies from their own country. They look at Finland with a fresh pair of eyes and can contribute new ideas. In addition, when a company takes on a foreign trainee its employees can practise their language skills in a natural way in everyday situations, Kirsi Torkkola explains.
She encourages employers to find out if their trainee has any useful prior work experience and contacts. One company in Central Finland was able to use a trainees contacts to set up an office in the Czech Republic.
International students have more to offer companies than just traineeships. Students can do research, produce studies, or prepare reports either on-site or on a teleworking basis. The students we have in Jyväskylä represent an important resource for the whole region and they meet a range of different needs, Kirsi Torkkola states.
Photo: Satu Lodman, Shift Manager at Hotel Rantasipi Laajavuori, ensured Hungarian student Lak János received on-the-job familiarization with the Finnish hotel and restaurant business.
By Pia Tervoja Photo by Petteri Kivimäki