We talked to foreign student and a Finnish one about their experiences studying at the Uusimaa-based Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Milton Aldrete, a 28-year-old Mexican, migrated to Finland eight years ago when he started his Bachelor Degree in Business and Management. Currently he is working as a Planner of International Affairs at Laurea Leppävaara and finalising his Master’s Degree.

“Studying at Laurea was fun, I liked very much the international environment, the student support given by the staff members and the student union and of course I enjoyed the student parties,” says Milton.

Laurea has built up good networks in working life too - their educational plan is linked to real working-life projects assigned by companies. These project teams include students, lecturers, and often also company representatives. Students and lecturers are equal colleagues, and company representatives function as mentors. This model of learning where the students carry out projects in genuine working life is called Learning by Developing.

Antti Seppinen, a 29-old Laurea Leppävaara graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration, advises the students to take studies seriously and be active in networking. “I think it is important to gather contacts into for working life, the graduates and fellow students, and to make the most of your studies right at from the beginning.”

There are about 8,000 students at Laurea University of Applied Sciences – many of whom are international degree-seeking and exchange students – so internationalisation is very much emphasised.

All students should know that succeeding in studies requires initiative, responsibility and, not surprisingly, social skills. Graduates of Laurea have these competences that working life requires. As a part of their competence, students receive a developing approach to work, knowledge of working life, entrepreneur’s spirit, as well as knowledge of networking and internationalisation. These are the skills that help many Laurea students to find a job whilst still completing their studies.

aurea’s learning model has attracted interest internationally, and cooperates closely with the University of Cambridge, UK and Tohoku Fukushi University, Japan amongst others.