International cooperation

Project name

Erasmus+ Mobility Project; student and staff mobility project (2023-2024)

Business College on the Move; student and staff mobility project (2022-2023)

Global Mindset; student and staff mobility project (2020-2022)

Instructing Excellence; student and staff mobility project (2019-2021)

Broaden your World!; student and staff mobility project (2017-2019)

Ready for the World! student and staff mobility project (2016-2018)

Coordinator Business College Helsinki

The aim of the project

The project offers students, teachers and other personnel the opportunity to go abroad on a study, work or training period to support their studies or work. The main objective of the project is to develop the ability of students and staff to work in an international environment and to improve language skills.

Project description

Students can apply for an Erasmus grant for their on-the-job-learning period abroad or for a student exchange. The amount of the grant depends on the length of the period abroad and the country of destination. Staff can apply for a one-week job-shadowing period. In addition, teachers have the opportunity to embark on a 4-day trip to support student’s internship.

More information

Head of International Affairs Hilla Helasaari, hilla.helasaari@bc.fi

Coordinator of International Affairs Orsolya (Ursula) Simon, orsolya.simon@bc.fi

Duration 2023-2025

Coordinator: Business College Helsinki

Funding: Nordplus Junior

The focus in this project will be on increasing the student’s awareness of and knowledge about different aspects of diversity within the Nordic region. How can diversity in the workplace be an asset for business organizations in the Nordic region. How and why should integration be promoted at educational institutions, for example. The participating schools have strong business programmes and wish to contribute to solutions of global challenges by opening the student’s eyes to the varied work being carried out for promoting social sustainability in the Nordic region. Special attention will be given to how different types of organizations (NGO’s,authorities, youth organizations, companies and entrepreneurs etc.) are working towards a more diverse society at large. How can students and youth organizations contribute to promoting diversity, integration and cultural competence? What is the role of the Student Body / Student Union at each school in promoting social sustainability? By promoting social sustainability, the wellbeing of students will improve and lead to better learning outcomes and better self-esteem.

Partners: Commercial College of Iceland (IS-Versló), Nacka gymnasium (SE), Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College (DK), Yrkesinstitutet Prakticum (FI)

More information

Head of International Affairs Hilla Helasaari, hilla.helasaari@bc.fi

Project manager Tuula Pahkala, tuula.pahkala@bc.fi

Duration: 1.1.2022-31.12.2023

Funding Erasmus + (KA2)

Coordinator: Business College  

The current situation calls for development of sustainable alternatives and cooperation with European partners to learn from and with each other to face today’s challenges in education and society. This means that VET institutions have to provide new flexible transnational projects, which can be carried out remotely or as blended learning to adapt to global and environmental or societal changes. 

Considering the possibilities in technology and the growing relevance of digital education, partners want to explore and share good practices in digital education, entrepreneurial projects and simulations. The project will help business VET students to gain extensive professional skills in entrepreneurial mindset, language and international competences and they are able to utilize those skills, to become more prepared for the future work life and be able to consider career options including entrepreneurial and international skills. 

The main target group is business VET students, whose needs are to experience international cooperation that prepares them for the future of work; by providing the students with the positive experience of their entrepreneurial skills, we are able to foster the students to become autonomous members of our European societies, integrate them in the labour market and help them in developing realistic aspiration regarding their individual lives. 

Participating in this Erasmus+ Key Action 2 project are experts and students of: Helsinki Business College, (Finland) Summa College (the Netherlands) Skive College (Denmark) Nazaret Fundazioa (Spain)  Charles Peguy ( France) & Rijn IJssel (the Netherlands) 

More info:

Orsolya Simon orsolya.simon@bc.fi or Kaisu Luukka kaisu.luukka@bc.fi

Aim

This project aims to produce solutions that will give adult learners more possibilities to gain much needed skills during their studies and to succeed in their careers. For the organizations participating in the project new opportunities, teaching methods/approaches and international network will be a great asset to become more knowledgeable and attractive. The staff in the organizations will get the opportunity to brush up on their language skills, teaching, and networking skills. By means of benchmarking discussions with their counterparts, the participating organizations get ideas and opportunities to develop their processes and pedagogical approaches.

Description

This project is targeting various kinds of adult learners. In the thematic network best practices will be shared and new knowledge will be gained with the help of surveys. First, the project will map the current situation in each organization, second, it sets students and companies in focus by asking them what skills are missing and how these skills could be achieved. It is important to build versatile cooperation with companies as they are the current and future employers of the students we are educating. This project also wants to include staff from each partnering organization in project activities and planning. As a result of this project innovative ideas and activities will be planned for adult learners, to help them improve their international and multicultural skills. A network of adult educators will be established, with the aim that after this project co-operation will continue in a mobility project, and hopefully with even more partners joining the network then.

Duration
2024-2025

Coordinator
Business College Helsinki

Funding

Nordplus Adult

 Project partners

• Utbildning Nord, Sweden
• Komvux Värnamo, Sweden
• Tartu Vocational College, Estonia
• Pärnumaa Vocational Education Centre, Estonia
• Kaunas Information Technology School, Lithuania
• Køge Business College, Denmark
• Yrkesinstitutet Prakticum, Finland

More information

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

Tuula Pahkala, Project Manager  | +358 50 564 3911 | tuula.pahkala@bc.fi

Project Summary The GREENLAB project aims to promote systematic reform across vocational education sectors by developing innovative approaches in management and consulting roles within key strategic areas of the green transition. The project will enhance business leaders’ and consultants’ green skills through online education utilizing microcredentials. It also aims to foster cross-border and multi-stakeholder collaboration among vocational trainers, businesses, and policymakers.

Project Duration and Funding Duration: 2024–2026

Funder: Erasmus+ Forward looking projects -category

Coordinator: CESIE (Italy)

Partners

• EUROtraining (Greece)
• INCOMA (Spain)
• Helsinki Business College (Finland)
• Joist Innovation Park (Greece)
• Blue Room Innovation (Spain)
• CSI (Cyprus)
• GrantXpert (Cyprus)
• CRnet (Finland)
• CANDIDE International (Belgium)
• Syntra (Belgium)

Objectives and Activities The project aims to identify key soft and hard skills needed to support the green transition in business and improve the acquisition and recognition of these skills through created microcredentials. Actions include national surveys on trends in sustainable development management and environmental consulting, defining skill needs through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups, and establishing a sustainability committee. GREENLAB will develop a learning program for vocational education on the GREENLAB e-learning platform (EQF level 5) and organize an international congress focusing on new opportunities in VET for future-oriented leaders and consultants.

Target Groups Target groups include business management professionals, project management experts, business advisors, sustainable development consultants, and other key individuals interested in improving their skills for adopting more sustainable practices, as well as providers of vocational education in management, project management, and consulting fields.

Expected Outcomes The project is expected to increase interest in sustainable development management and environmental consulting issues, improve knowledge of microcredentials and their benefits, and strengthen the capabilities of vocational education providers and professionals in green jobs. Additionally, the project will promote innovation in vocational education study paths and diversify vocational education offerings, especially through continuous learning.

Projects web-page

Further information: Jouni Hytönen, development manager, jouni.hytonen@bc.fi

Further information: Hilla Helasaari, Head of International Operations. +358 50 4904546, hilla.helasaari@bc.fi

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or national agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ”