Transcript HANSA NOVA: Managing a multicultural workforce in the Baltic Sea Region Co-financed by:

HANSA NOVA:
Managing a multicultural workforce
in the Baltic Sea Region
Co-financed by:
Rationale
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The countries in the Baltic Sea Region are clearly
dependent on the economic and social relations
between them
Of all the Baltic States´ foreign trade, more than half
takes place with other countries that surround the
Baltic Sea
Cooperation in the region grows
The companies in the region increasingly need to
work with a multicultural workforce, either on a
permanent basis or in shorter-term projects
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Aims of the HANSA NOVA network
1. to increase the knowledge of cultural differences in business
organizations in the Baltic Sea Region
2. to develop and deliver a European Module supporting
multicultural management with modern ICT-tools in the
Region.
In the first phase of the product, materials for the Module
will be developed. The development takes place in
Communities of Practice where HEIs and companies interact.
Supervised students’ research on ICT-based multicultural
projects is an important part of the development work.
In the second phase, the Module will be implemented in
HEIs’ degree programmes. The Module will be delivered both
in classrooms and on-line (blended learning) by the HANSA
NOVA
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Network structure
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The HANSA NOVA network consists of local and
regional expertise in the Nordic and Baltic countries
and in Northwest Russia. Higher educational
institutions (HEIs) and companies interact in
dynamic Communities of Practice
Each network partner contributes with his/her
expertise in business culture and management and
shares this knowledge with the other network
members.
For the participating institutions, the network
provides a clear knowledge and resource advantage
compared to each institution developing multicultural
courses individually
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HANSA NOVA network’s founding
members:
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Higher Education Institutions
 Denmark: Tietgen Business College, Odense
 Estonia: Tartu University, Tallinn Technical University
 Finland: Arcada – a University of Applied Sciences , Helsinki
 Lithuania: Vilnius University and Vilnius College in Higher
Education
 Norway: Buskerud University College, Hönefoss
 Russia: St. Petersburg State University and St. Petersburg
Polytechnic Institute
Trade Union
Tradenomiliitto TRAL, Finland (association for business
graduates)
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Different roles of participating
companies
Provide practical input in different forms:
 Give presentations at network’s seminars
 Receive students/researchers for interviews
 Provide feed-back on students’ and
researchers work
 Comment on the final Module’s content and
suitability for companies
 Disseminate information about Hansa Nova in
own organisation and networks
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Time-table for project activities (2006)
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5 – 7 October 2006. Introductory seminar in
Helsinki. Representatives of HEIs, companies, and
NGOs will participate. The programme will include
topics such as business culture, multicultural
management, and leadership of international
projects. Workshops are conducted on the use of
ICTs in international projects.
October – December 2006. Lectures in
management of multicultural workshops in home
institutions. Students research the actual situation
in their country and collect material for writing
cases
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Time-table (spring 2007)
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January 2007. Mid-term reporting using ICTs, such as learning
management systems (e.g. WebCt) and video-conferences.
Mid-term reports will be written by students of the HEIs and
made available for network members.
February - March 2007. Work will continue in the home
institutions and cases finalised.
26 – 28 April 2007. Summarizing seminar (place to be
decided) (3 days) Results of the case studies will be
presented. Plans for the further activities of the network will
be made.
May – June 2007. Writing of handbook (in electronic and
paper form) summarizing the knowledge gathered and
developed. The handbook will contain reflections about
theory, practical experience, cases, and learning material for
the use of ICTs in international projects.
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Time-table academic year 2007-2008
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Course materials will be tested and evaluated (Sept – Oct
2007)
Module integrated in HEIs programmes
(Nov 2007 – April 2008) and total evaluation of project’s
activities
Concluding seminar (May 2008)
Final reporting (August-Sept 2008)
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Dissemination
The network will disseminate its results through a
variety of channels, e.g.
 project’s web-site
 seminars arranged by the HEIs and NGOs
 through participating companies’ networks
 through HEIs national and international networks
 International business education organisations websites (such as SPACE, EDEN, ISBE)
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Evaluation
In the project, both processes and products will be evaluated.
1. Processes will be followed by the management team, on the basis of
monthly reporting from each participating HEI. In addition, on-line
questionnaires will be used for process evaluation that can be
accessed by all network members. The following process evaluation
areas are under consideration and will be decided upon during the
introductory seminar:
- overall success in relation to the listed aims of the network
- partner involvement and co-operation
- pedagogical, organisational and technological factors
- students’ actual learning vs. planned learning outcomes
- dissemination activities
2. Products will be evaluated by the external evaluator. The external
evaluator will be assisted by personnel in the participating HEI
especially during editing and production of material and testing of the
Module. The external evaluator will suggest research instrument for
evaluation of the products, and is also responsible for analysing the
material gathered. The results of the evaluation of both processes and
products will be sent to the network participants and to network’s
stakeholders.
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On-going cooperation
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The network is established to correspond to the
management knowledge needed in the Baltic Sea
region. Members join the network with a long-term
approach to cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The material developed by the network will be
updated on an on-going basis and distributed to the
network actors
After the first year of activities, the network
participants will jointly decide about the specific
programme for the following academic year.
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Responsible co-ordinator
Ms. Eija Källström
Assistant Head of Department of Business, Media,
and Technology
Arcada – a University of Applied Sciences
Jan-Magnus Janssons plats 1
FI- 00550 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. + 358 207 699 528
Fax. + 358 207 699 644
[email protected]
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This project has been carried out with the support of
the European Community and in the framework of
the Nordplus and SOCRATES programmes. The
content of this project does not necessarily reflect
the position of Nordplus or the European Community,
nor does it involve any responsibility on the part of
Nordplus or the European Community.
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