International Students: “The teachers’ methods were surprising but worked well”
The first group of commissioned education students in the history of Business College has graduated (Qualification in Business, QB). The students’ feedback on the education they received has been extremely positive.
The commissioned education group at Business College included a total of 23 students, who came to Finland mainly from Asia – Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Their English-language program, the Qualification in Business (QB), corresponds to the Finnish basic qualification in business.
However, the students felt that their studies at Business College were more comprehensive than the name suggests and exceeded their expectations. For example, Filipino students mentioned that in their home country, the studies at Business College would be equivalent to a master’s degree.
The feedback especially praised the practical approach of the education and the entrepreneurship studies.
A Good Foundation for Light Entrepreneurship
Finland’s good reputation attracted the Asian students. All students in the commissioned education group are adults with previous education and work experience. Among them are professionals in marketing, accountants, and entrepreneurs.
One of the students is Clarrie Gaye Garcia from the Philippines. She studied pharmacy in her home country and worked in hospitals and pharmacies for about ten years, and then taught pharmacy for another ten years.
She wanted to pursue further studies abroad and expand her expertise. She learned about Business College through an agency that places students abroad. The tip turned out to be a stroke of luck.
Edunation places students at Business College.
“Business studies opened a new door for me and inspired me to explore what opportunities I might have in life and in my career. I discovered my passion for graphic design, marketing communication, market research, and customer service.
I want to focus on these in the future and am planning to become a light entrepreneur here in Finland.”
Clarrie says that at the beginning of their studies, students were thoroughly surprised by the teaching methods at the school. The teacher did not lecture from above but instead, topics were discussed in groups. A large part of the learning came from projects and internships.
“Learning was very dynamic. I liked the teaching style of the instructors, as they planned and adapted it to individual students and the group as a whole. We were able to learn at our own pace and were not forced into the same mold.”
Practical Training in Business Development
Filipino restaurateur Girlee Guzman also gave high praise. She highlighted a virtual business project where students acted as distributors of B-to-B food boxes. It provided a lot of hands-on experience in business development.
Students also learned the importance of understanding the customer: practical exercises taught the difference between B-to-B and B-to-C.
Girlee appreciated the teamwork, which developed collaboration and problem-solving skills. Orders, budgeting, and logistics were planned and managed together.
“I learned that business success requires strong planning. At the same time, I learned to manage my time better and became more confident.”
Students also participated in trade fairs, where they learned about sales, brand building, and clear communication.
The students gave personal feedback and thanks to Kaisu, who guided the group, for her dedication to teaching, sincere support, compassion, and patience.
The commissioned education group began their one-year studies in August 2024. The studies progressed efficiently, with most students completing their qualifications ahead of schedule by summer.