My first semester in Porvoo Campus is soon over. Feels weird! It was like yesterday when I started my studies.. Can't believe how fast time is passing by.
I've been thinking about my moves for the future. We had our International Opportunities info couple of days ago where Porvoo Campus' International Coordinator Mari Austin told us about exchange opportunities in HAAGA-HELIA and what is needed for it. I was thrilled to hear that HH will most likely have a new partner university in England: Manchester Metropolitan University! I will apply to the exchange programme so that I would be in England for the Spring semester 2015 or the whole of my 3rd year (2015-2016). Fingers crossed!
I am planning to do my first intership period next summer. I am going to be in contact with travel agencies in Manchester very soon. I just need to get my CV back with comments from our teacher.. I would like to do either 2 or 3 months work placement. The overal compolsory work placement time is 5 months. I'm also interested in Australia and New Zealand but unfortunately byt budget is not enough for those awesome places..
Although the Matka project has gone well I can't get this nasty feeling out of my chest. I and many others from my group have faced difficulties with communication and reliability with some members of our teams. It is sad but unfortunately reality in every community that not everyone is equally motivated. My challenge as the Project Manager has been motivating the people, keeping all the pieces together and keeping the people being open about their problems and challenges with the project. I just hope that we manage to finish all our tasks before our Christmas holiday starts..
sunnuntai 15. joulukuuta 2013
tiistai 26. marraskuuta 2013
What have we been doing?
Porvoo and Haaga tourism students are working together at the stand and Porvoo students are in charge of the project. I'm really glad that the students from Haaga Campus are working with us at the stand since there are not that many people in our own group (so help is needed!) and I think it's nice to know the students from other HAAGA-HELIA's Campuses, especially those who are studying the same field as we are. I'm looking forward to meet Haaga tourism students again and I wish we could arrange some kind of a "get-together event" before Christmas Holiday since this meeting was so tight and full of information (dunno if we have time for that though :( ).
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| Ahsan Nazmul, Mariliis Markna and Sara Sinervo at Haaga Campus 26.11.2013. |
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| Activities Team giving an info session. Ahsan Nazmul, Aron kovacs, Tatiana Martynova and Nina Vainio 25.11.2013 |
Alumni Team is working on with the invitations and food orders to the Alumni Event and BTF Team has started to collect all the important information to our Fair Folder as well as teach the rest of our group all the basic information we need to know about HAAGA-HELIA. Decoration Team has designed the stand's layout and features in cooperation with FairPartner.
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| Decoration Team drawing the stand's layout. Elizaveta Ragozina, Sara Sinervo and Tuyet Huynh. 8.11.2013 |
We're not having lotteries and competitions only at the actual stand but also before the fair! We gave away two tickets to Matka 2014 Nordic Travel Fair in our first Facebook lottery already on Nov 18th. People were asked to like a certain picture on our project's Facebook page and the tickets were raffled among the "likers". We are going to publish another lottery or a competition on our FB page soon..
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| Maija Turunen and Matthew Roblin executing our first FB lottery on 18.11.2013 |
torstai 21. marraskuuta 2013
Busy, busy, busy!
I knew studying in HAAGA-HELIA was going to be hectic but this tightness of the schedules has surprised me! I haven't had the chance to write about my studies for ages..
We made a studytrip to Tallinn, Estonia, between 20th and 22nd of October. Our Matka Project's Logistics team planned and organised the whole trip by themselves. They contacted the ferry and bus companies, planned and created activities and company visits and took care of all the little details during the trip. In Tallinn we visited Estravel, Carlson-Wagonlit Travel, Hotell Metropol (in which way also stayed during the trip), Sokos Hotel Viru and Kalev chocolate factory. The trip was a success and I personally learnt some new stuff about travel agencies and the travel business in Tallinn. Of course I also learned to know my classmates a bit better!
Here are some pictures from the trip!
Our Matka 2014 Project is going well. We are just a bit ahead of schedule and everything seems to go pretty smoothly (for now..). We need to get everything ready before we start our Christmas holiday on December 20th. As a Project Manager I have enjoyed this project very much. I have learnt so much about our Tobba13 group and I've also got some new perspectives on project management. I hope I'll have some more time later to tell what exactly have we been doing during these weeks..
We made a studytrip to Tallinn, Estonia, between 20th and 22nd of October. Our Matka Project's Logistics team planned and organised the whole trip by themselves. They contacted the ferry and bus companies, planned and created activities and company visits and took care of all the little details during the trip. In Tallinn we visited Estravel, Carlson-Wagonlit Travel, Hotell Metropol (in which way also stayed during the trip), Sokos Hotel Viru and Kalev chocolate factory. The trip was a success and I personally learnt some new stuff about travel agencies and the travel business in Tallinn. Of course I also learned to know my classmates a bit better!
Here are some pictures from the trip!
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| Juuli Vähäuski enjoys the sea breeze on the way to Tallinn! 20.10.2013 |
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| Company visit to Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Shoaib Ullah, Sonja Kosunen. 21.10.2013 |
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| Steve Cheng, Samuli Vahteristo and Maija Turunen in front of Carlson Wagonlit Travel office. 21.10.2013 |
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| Me and my classmates enjoying a dinner together in Hotell Metropol, Tallinn. 20.10.2013 |
sunnuntai 13. lokakuuta 2013
The Project Manager?
We were introduced to our first semester project during the first week and quickly after that we were asked to apply for the Project Manager's position. Some of us felt a bit confused about the applying and the fact that we were supposed to do it so quickly, "I just came here, I don't know what the Project Manager is supposed to do and what this project is going to be!". Some thought it was compolsory, some thought it was only for those who wanted it.
At first I wasn't so sure weather I wanted to be the Project Manager or not. It seemed like a huge responsibility and I wasn't sure if I wanted to experience that immediately at the beginning of my studies. I have lots of experience in leadership from my association background, but some how I thought maybe I should give this opportunity to someone else this time..
I applied for the position like most of my class mates and to my surprise (or not..?) got an invitation to the interview with 4 other applicants. I was pretty nervous about the interview although I was sure at that point that I seriously wanted the position. There I was in front of 3 teachers and 1 tutor answering their questions about my skills in leading a big group and dealing with social problems inside a team. I had a good feeling after the interview, at least I made them laugh!
Our teachers revealed their selection in front of our class on the following Monday. They said that the selection was very easy: they had all voted for the same person "and the person is, Emma Raivio!". My heart made and extra bounce when I heard my name! I was stunned, maybe even shocked. "Wow! Me, a Project Manager? And I've just started here!". I was flattered but I also knew it meant long days and a huge responsibility..
During that Monday we divided our group into teams. The teams were Marketing, Sponsorship, Decoration, Activies, Logistics, Alumni Event and Business Travel Forum and they all have a Team Leader. I think at this point it would be a good moment to tell what this whole project is about! (We were at that moment still a bit confused so I thought it would be more realistic to hide "the core" from this blog post too until this moment..).
The project is called "Matka 2014 Nordic Travel Fair". We international tourism students are supposed to set up HAAGA-HELIA's stand for the Matka Fair in Helsinki Convention Center. HAAGA-HELIA is taking part on the fair for 12th time and it takes place between 16th and 19th of January 2014. There is going to be a public stand available for everyone and a smaller stand at the Business Travel Forum, which is available only for "business people".
My duty as the Project Manager is to supervise teams' work and take care of the "overall" picture. I'm giving reports to our teachers and delivering their messages to the teams. I have a weekly meeting with the Team Leaders and a Check Point meeting with the whole group every other week (or as often as needed). I'm also a member of the Business Travel Forum team because I'm representing HAAGA-HELIA mainly on that stand and I'm supposet to give a speech at the forum too.
I've enjoyed being the Project Manager and I feel like I've done a good job so far. I've received nothing but positive feed back on my working from our teachers and from my class mates. My stress level hasn't risen very high yet (thanks to our active and efficient teams!) but I know the forth coming weeks are going to be more and more stressful when the "actual" working begins.. Sometimes I've been so consentrated on the project that some of my other courses (like maths and Swedish) have been left behind and that has caused unfinished assignments. I hope I manage to fix my own schedules before the stress level rises higher..
At first I wasn't so sure weather I wanted to be the Project Manager or not. It seemed like a huge responsibility and I wasn't sure if I wanted to experience that immediately at the beginning of my studies. I have lots of experience in leadership from my association background, but some how I thought maybe I should give this opportunity to someone else this time..
I applied for the position like most of my class mates and to my surprise (or not..?) got an invitation to the interview with 4 other applicants. I was pretty nervous about the interview although I was sure at that point that I seriously wanted the position. There I was in front of 3 teachers and 1 tutor answering their questions about my skills in leading a big group and dealing with social problems inside a team. I had a good feeling after the interview, at least I made them laugh!
Our teachers revealed their selection in front of our class on the following Monday. They said that the selection was very easy: they had all voted for the same person "and the person is, Emma Raivio!". My heart made and extra bounce when I heard my name! I was stunned, maybe even shocked. "Wow! Me, a Project Manager? And I've just started here!". I was flattered but I also knew it meant long days and a huge responsibility..
During that Monday we divided our group into teams. The teams were Marketing, Sponsorship, Decoration, Activies, Logistics, Alumni Event and Business Travel Forum and they all have a Team Leader. I think at this point it would be a good moment to tell what this whole project is about! (We were at that moment still a bit confused so I thought it would be more realistic to hide "the core" from this blog post too until this moment..).
The project is called "Matka 2014 Nordic Travel Fair". We international tourism students are supposed to set up HAAGA-HELIA's stand for the Matka Fair in Helsinki Convention Center. HAAGA-HELIA is taking part on the fair for 12th time and it takes place between 16th and 19th of January 2014. There is going to be a public stand available for everyone and a smaller stand at the Business Travel Forum, which is available only for "business people".
My duty as the Project Manager is to supervise teams' work and take care of the "overall" picture. I'm giving reports to our teachers and delivering their messages to the teams. I have a weekly meeting with the Team Leaders and a Check Point meeting with the whole group every other week (or as often as needed). I'm also a member of the Business Travel Forum team because I'm representing HAAGA-HELIA mainly on that stand and I'm supposet to give a speech at the forum too.
I've enjoyed being the Project Manager and I feel like I've done a good job so far. I've received nothing but positive feed back on my working from our teachers and from my class mates. My stress level hasn't risen very high yet (thanks to our active and efficient teams!) but I know the forth coming weeks are going to be more and more stressful when the "actual" working begins.. Sometimes I've been so consentrated on the project that some of my other courses (like maths and Swedish) have been left behind and that has caused unfinished assignments. I hope I manage to fix my own schedules before the stress level rises higher..
sunnuntai 29. syyskuuta 2013
First days at the Campus
The first two weeks of our studies were like a huge information avalanche coming right on us. There we were, lost and confused TOBBA13 (our group name) freshmen, trying to remember everything that was said and somehow make sense of it..
Our studies started with 3 orientation days. During those days we were introduced to the campus, to our studies and practical issues such as course enrollments, schedules and interactive platforms used in our studies, but most of all, to our group. Our beloved tutors were our guides during those confusing orientation days and they organized fun "get-to-know-each-other-games" for every day. The highlight of the orientation days was our first Campus Goes Wild -party with the tutors and other Porvoo freshmen.
HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences has its own Student Union called HELGA and Porvoo Campus has its own local Student Association called HePo ry which is a part of HELGA. HePo ry is responsible of the student trusteeship at Porvoo Campus and it organizes all kinds of activites for students such as Campus Does Sports -sports evenings and Campus Goes Wild -student parties. HELGA's maybe the most visible feature at the Campus are the tutors: they're all dressed up in tutor T-shirts and petrol blue coveralls filled with coverall patches. Among shy and nervous freshmen they didn't seem just the most visible people but also the most loud people in the crowd..
For a lost freshman tutors are like the saving angels. They give you all the information needed on how to become a HAAGA-HELIA student and how to navigate in the information jungle. The whole campus may seem like a jungle although Porvoo Campus is very transparent; all "class room" walls are made of glass! (More info about our Campus' innovative design can be found from the "Encounters" video at the bottom of the page.) Tutors are always there when you need them and at least to my opinion all our tutors are awesome! :)
After the first days at Porvoo Campus I felt like I was at home. Tutors and our teachers weren't just some faceless "authorities" or "information guys", they were humans, personalities and there just for us. The warm welcome to our new working community gave me the feeling that I am in the right place. It also made me motivated towards my studies and towards our group's common success. I felt like a part of a big family, HAAGA-HELIA family. :)
Our studies started with 3 orientation days. During those days we were introduced to the campus, to our studies and practical issues such as course enrollments, schedules and interactive platforms used in our studies, but most of all, to our group. Our beloved tutors were our guides during those confusing orientation days and they organized fun "get-to-know-each-other-games" for every day. The highlight of the orientation days was our first Campus Goes Wild -party with the tutors and other Porvoo freshmen.
HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences has its own Student Union called HELGA and Porvoo Campus has its own local Student Association called HePo ry which is a part of HELGA. HePo ry is responsible of the student trusteeship at Porvoo Campus and it organizes all kinds of activites for students such as Campus Does Sports -sports evenings and Campus Goes Wild -student parties. HELGA's maybe the most visible feature at the Campus are the tutors: they're all dressed up in tutor T-shirts and petrol blue coveralls filled with coverall patches. Among shy and nervous freshmen they didn't seem just the most visible people but also the most loud people in the crowd..
For a lost freshman tutors are like the saving angels. They give you all the information needed on how to become a HAAGA-HELIA student and how to navigate in the information jungle. The whole campus may seem like a jungle although Porvoo Campus is very transparent; all "class room" walls are made of glass! (More info about our Campus' innovative design can be found from the "Encounters" video at the bottom of the page.) Tutors are always there when you need them and at least to my opinion all our tutors are awesome! :)
After the first days at Porvoo Campus I felt like I was at home. Tutors and our teachers weren't just some faceless "authorities" or "information guys", they were humans, personalities and there just for us. The warm welcome to our new working community gave me the feeling that I am in the right place. It also made me motivated towards my studies and towards our group's common success. I felt like a part of a big family, HAAGA-HELIA family. :)
lauantai 28. syyskuuta 2013
Getting started
I'm starting this blog a bit late. My studies in Porvoo have already started on 21st of August so I have about 5 weeks to catch up for this blog. No worries! There's never too much of repetition..
So, who am I and how did I end up studying in HAAGA-HELIA?
My name is Emma Raivio, I'm 24 years old, originally from Keuruu, Central Finland and I have no idea what am I going to do with my life. I have tried many different kinds of roads during my life and now it's time to try the road towards a career in the ever growing field of business, tourism.
I started my studies in HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences on August. I'm studying the Degree Programme in Tourism with 35 other students from around the world. Our studying language is English so almost all of the courses are tought in English (except Finnish for Finns abviously and some of the Swedish courses).
I'm a Finn, my mothertongue is Finnish, so why am I studying in English? First of all, I love English! I started my English studies already on 1st grade at the age of 7 (thank's of that early start belongs to my teacher at that time who tought us some basic words although we were'nt supposed to start English earlier than on the 3rd grade) and since that English has been my passion and later on my true skill.
Before applying to HAAGA-HELIA I applied to Tampere and Jyväskylä Universities English translation and English teacher studies in my mind. At that point I knew I want to study something that gives me a career inside the "world of English language" but despite my eagernes towards English I didn't succeed in the entrance examinations. I said to myself "You would've bored yourself to death on those University lectures anyway..".
While spending my gap year working in a restaurant I also rehearsed English and raised my Matriculation Examination grade in English from Magna Cumlaude (3rd best) to Eximia (2nd best). At the same time my friend recommended HAAGA-HELIA's degrees to me and told me about the option to study also in English. I surfed the net and read all about HAAGA-HELIA's degrees and new immediately that I want to study in Porvoo Campus to become the Bachelor in Hospitaly and Wellness Management.
My friend is studying the same degree programme but in Finnish. I applied also to the Finnish degree but I was lucky and got accepted to the English degree. There are different specializiation areas in Finnish and English degrees: in Finnish degree you can choose between Tourism Selling/Customer Service and Research/Development and in English degree between Business Travel and Event Management.
We haven't got any information about the specialization yet but I know we are supposed to make the decision about it next Spring. I feel the Event Management to be more "my field" since I have a strong background in volnteering event managing in local associations. But you never know, after we get the infos my mind may change!
I will be posting stories about my studies every week. Until January they will be mainly about our first semester project "Matka 2014 Nordic Travel Fair" where our group is setting up HAAGA-HELIA's stands. The fair takes place in Helsinki Convention Center on 16th - 19th of January 2014. Next posting will be about my huge responsibility as the Project Manager of that project.. :)
So, who am I and how did I end up studying in HAAGA-HELIA?
My name is Emma Raivio, I'm 24 years old, originally from Keuruu, Central Finland and I have no idea what am I going to do with my life. I have tried many different kinds of roads during my life and now it's time to try the road towards a career in the ever growing field of business, tourism.
I started my studies in HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences on August. I'm studying the Degree Programme in Tourism with 35 other students from around the world. Our studying language is English so almost all of the courses are tought in English (except Finnish for Finns abviously and some of the Swedish courses).
I'm a Finn, my mothertongue is Finnish, so why am I studying in English? First of all, I love English! I started my English studies already on 1st grade at the age of 7 (thank's of that early start belongs to my teacher at that time who tought us some basic words although we were'nt supposed to start English earlier than on the 3rd grade) and since that English has been my passion and later on my true skill.
Before applying to HAAGA-HELIA I applied to Tampere and Jyväskylä Universities English translation and English teacher studies in my mind. At that point I knew I want to study something that gives me a career inside the "world of English language" but despite my eagernes towards English I didn't succeed in the entrance examinations. I said to myself "You would've bored yourself to death on those University lectures anyway..".
While spending my gap year working in a restaurant I also rehearsed English and raised my Matriculation Examination grade in English from Magna Cumlaude (3rd best) to Eximia (2nd best). At the same time my friend recommended HAAGA-HELIA's degrees to me and told me about the option to study also in English. I surfed the net and read all about HAAGA-HELIA's degrees and new immediately that I want to study in Porvoo Campus to become the Bachelor in Hospitaly and Wellness Management.
My friend is studying the same degree programme but in Finnish. I applied also to the Finnish degree but I was lucky and got accepted to the English degree. There are different specializiation areas in Finnish and English degrees: in Finnish degree you can choose between Tourism Selling/Customer Service and Research/Development and in English degree between Business Travel and Event Management.
We haven't got any information about the specialization yet but I know we are supposed to make the decision about it next Spring. I feel the Event Management to be more "my field" since I have a strong background in volnteering event managing in local associations. But you never know, after we get the infos my mind may change!
I will be posting stories about my studies every week. Until January they will be mainly about our first semester project "Matka 2014 Nordic Travel Fair" where our group is setting up HAAGA-HELIA's stands. The fair takes place in Helsinki Convention Center on 16th - 19th of January 2014. Next posting will be about my huge responsibility as the Project Manager of that project.. :)
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