Transcript Slide 1

BScBA Degree Program
International Business
Global & Local in the Mikkeli Context
Science Day, April 13, 2010
Joan Löfgren, Director
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Key themes
• Info on our program and Aalto
University
• Internationality
• Teaching & research
• Links to the community
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The Program in Brief
• Started in 1989 (BBA program), completely in English
• 2001: Transition to BScBA degree program
– International Business major
– 80 study places are granted
– 1000 + applications last year
• Curriculum
– Offered in intensive, three-week modules year-round
– Students take one course at a time
– Semester abroad is standard part of program
• Distinctive educational philosophy
• Almost 90% of students graduate within 3 years
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Aalto Mikkeli
BScBA Academic Environment
Main Campus
Faculty
Degree Students
BScBA
Small Business Center
Degree
Program
South Savo Region
International Exchange
Partners
Business Community
City of Mikkeli
Mikkeli University
Consortium
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Mikkeli University Consortium
• Members
– Aalto Univ. (BScBA/PYK)
– University of Helsinki (Ruralia, Digitization)
– Lappeenranta University of Technology
– University of Eastern Finland
• Coordination, joint projects, community
development
• City of Mikkeli engaged in the cooperation
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Aalto University
• Created from the merger of
–The Helsinki School of Economics
–The University of Art and Design
Helsinki
–Helsinki University of Technology
• Three campuses in Helsinki, plus
Mikkeli, Lahti, Vaasa and Pori.
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The Mission of Aalto
• Aalto strives to change the world through:
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–
–
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top-quality interdisciplinary research
pioneering education
surpassing traditional boundaries
renewal
• Internationality a key priority
• Slogan: “No teaching without research, no
research without teaching.”
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Examples of new initiatives
• Design, Media and Service “Factories”
– Open environments for research and
education
• International Design Business
Management (IDBM)
– A joint multidisciplinary minor studies
program of Aalto’s three schools. Later
master’s program.
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Aalto & Mikkeli
• Our program highlighted in Aalto for
– innovative teaching
– internationality
• Future goal to share courses each
year with the other two schools.
• We can be a “laboratory” for new
teaching methods and approaches.
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Foundations of Educational Philosophy
Internationalization
Student
Professional
Development
Teaching
Innovation
Community
Development
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Research
Internationalization: Faculty
2007 – 2008
Region of Residence
2008 -- 2009
Africa (Cameroon)
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1
Asia (Malaysia, Japan)
2
2
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Europe (8 countries)
Finland (7)
(8)
North America (USA,
Canada)
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Total
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63
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Internationalization: Students
(Note: indexed figures)
University
Foreign
degree
students
Outgoing
exchange
students
Incoming
exchange
students
(% of all students)
(3 mos. + / 1000
degree students)
(3 mos. + / 1000
degree students)
Credits
completed
(courses taught in
foreign language /
1000 degree
students)
Aalto
Mikkeli
9,6 %
256,7
195,4
49840
Aalto
Helsinki
2,9 %
50,4
47,9
12255
Average
value
2,8 %
61,2
66,7
10178
All univers.
4,5 %
28,5
32,3
2321
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International Day
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Exchange students present their
home universities/countries
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Internationality in the Classroom
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Teaching Innovation
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Emphasis on
• Intellectual diversity (different schools of thought)
• Pedagogical innovation (wide range of teaching & learning
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strategies)
Curricular innovation (interdisciplinary and topical)
Cultural diversity (diverse cultural & business practices)
Learning environment
• Student-centered
• Activation a core value
• Interaction in the classroom
• Simulation of business environments
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Research
•
At bachelor’s level
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Progressive cultivation of research development
throughout the program
Thesis requirement
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Applied research courses through BCD project
– concept definition
– research skill development
– application
– Nov-May process with supervision
– Supervisors from several MUC units
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Business & Community Development
• Cooperation with the South Savo region
• We offer the work of our students and expertise of
our professors.
• In return, local companies and organizations can
offer their own expertise through guest lectures.
• Local partners give practical examples and material
for research through class excursions and
interviews.
• Student project coordinator plays key role
(Joonas Kallankari currently)
• Recent course examples on following slides
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1) Project Management for Global
Development (David Atkinson>Joan Lofgren)
• Cooperation partner: City of Mikkeli
• Marketing projects:
– Benchmarking other cities
– Foundations of a marketing plan
– Draft survey of newcomers
• Value added: Students research for city +
get experience working with city officials
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2) Digital Applications in International
Business (Dale Fodness)
• Student projects related to web 2.0. applications
– Eg social networks, wikis and virtual worlds.
• Partner: Digitization and Conservation Unit of
the National Library of Finland
• Projects included evaluation of existing web
pages, exploring marketing possibilities in
Second Life and Facebook and creating a webbased on-demand retail model.
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3) International Technology Venturing
(Cynthia Wagner Weick)
• Combined expertise in science of University of
Kuopio with expertise in international marketing
of our students.
• Students prepared feasibility studies for
scientists from the University of Kuopio and MTT
of Mikkeli, who were interested in taking their
research findings or technology to the
marketplace, domestically and internationally.
• Course results were evaluated by a panel that
included the Research director of MAMK (Dr.
Pekka Turkki) and Innovation Manager of
Innosuomi (MBA Toivo Venäläinen).
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4) Operations Management
(Susan Grinsted)
• Students choose from wide variety of
cooperation forms with local companies.
• Course visits to actual production facilities and a
possibility of doing work shadowing (following for
a manager for a day).
• This year students could also choose to conduct
a survey developed by Prof. Grinsted that
analyzes production of small and medium-sized
manufacturers.
• About 10 companies participate in the course.
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Student Professional Development
• Professional Development Portfolio
– Orientation to university studies
– Computer driving license
– Academic writing
• Simulation of business tasks
• Career day
– Presentations by alumni
– Local business leaders
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Thank You! Kiitos!
Application deadline:
Friday, April 16
Photo credits: Oliver Saarinen
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