– Business Association takes part in this

International students met companies operating in Uusimaa at the IMIB network’s kick-off event. The event provided an inspiring start for cooperation between students and companies as well as entrepreneurship coaching for the network.

The autumn round of activities of the IMIB network, which promotes the employment of international experts in Finland, started with a kick-off event at Haaga-Helia’s Pasila campus, where international students, company representatives and project team members gathered to get to know each other and network with each other.

The event also served as the start of the entrepreneurship coaching and mentoring model offered by the network, which will be developed over the next two years. At the same time, the project team’s experts were able to tell the participants more about the activities of the IMIB network and its ambitious goals.

The entrepreneurship coaching provided by IMIB helps participants identify and strengthen their own entrepreneurial skills, while in the mentoring model, international students get to work as teams on assignments defined by companies under the guidance of competent coaches.

According to the organizers of the event, the atmosphere was enthusiastic. Many students had been waiting to get to know the companies. According to the students, the IMIB network is a great opportunity to get a foot in the door. In the autumn, they are especially looking forward to getting to know Finnish working life.

Both companies and associations involved

In addition to Finnish Bluet, Cadmatic, EntryLab, Medigoo and Skillhive, two associations will participate in the IMIB network’s autumn activity round, and students will be able to work on their assignments as teams under the guidance of their coaches.

Anne Hatanpää, Finland-Central and Eastern European Countries Business Association, says she expects new ideas and solutions from students and wishes to widen the association’s perspective. Markus Raivio, Director of Kukunori, feels well-prepared for the collaboration with the student team.

– The group is diverse and enthusiastic, with a strong interest in tackling social challenges especially for mental health. The assignment was clear, and the group dynamic felt collaborative and open.

Coaches’ expectations are also high

The successful pilot period in the spring and the inspiring kick-off event, the expectations of the IMIB network coaches are also high. The support of the network’s career coaches and entrepreneurship coach plays an important role in supporting the employment of international experts. Päivi Käri-Zein, Lecturer at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, is one of the three career coaches in the network, who believes that cooperation between students and companies benefits both parties.

– Some companies have been talking even about hiring students or about having a contact with them for a longer period, which would be excellent. It would also serve the purpose of the project beautifully.

What is the IMIB network?

The IMIB network functions under a project financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). The project is coordinated by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and co-implemented by Laurea and Metropolia universities of applied sciences between January 2024 and May 2026. The IMIB network serves not only studies and employment but also business life.

The original text was published here by Ms Maija Suonpää, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.