I firmly believe that. I’m certainly interested in seeing more of our students experience Finland through our other partners as well.” Finlandia’s business school is looking beyond student exchanges, however. The interest is in developing deeper relations including faculty exchanges, joint-courses, shared online courses, business development projects and other cooperative activities aimed at business and education. For example, the school’s sports management concentration sees a lot of potential in collaboration with Finland in sports like hockey, basketball and volleyball. All of these are sports in which Finlandia participates competitively at the NCAA Division III level. Internships in Finland are also a priority at the university. For the past few years, Finlandia students have had summer internships at the Finnish forest equipment company Ponsse through the Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship. The student begins by working first at the company’s North American headquarters in Rhinelander, Wisconsin followed by a number of weeks at the company headquarters in Vieremä, Finland. Micah Laban, the first intern under this program, had this to say, “I greatly enjoyed my time interning with Ponsse in both Rhinelander and Finland. The internship not only gave me real world and international business experience, but also allowed me to better connect with my Finnish heritage and family.” After graduation, Laban landed a position in marketing for Ponsse in their North American headquarters. Through a partnership with the Paloheimo Foundation, Finlandia University has been able to start a unique opportunity to become a Paloheimo Fellow. This allows students to gain hands-on experience conducting independent research in any field of study or broader academic interests in Finland. Students participate in a three-credit seminar course followed by field research in Tampere. Students learn social scientific techniques to observe and describe aspects of Finnish culture and society, gain professional development skills in research, writing, multimedia documentation and intercultural communication, and have an unforgettable experience using Finland as a lens for cross-cultural understanding. Another great opportunity is one that’s available to students in FinnU’s Criminal Justice program. Through a partnership with Tampere University, about a half dozen students travel to Tampere every year. While there they attend events on campus, travel to other areas of the country to learn about the criminal justice program and learn about the culture of Finland. The culture of Finland is also kept alive in the classroom. A number of Finnish-themed courses are offered, including elementary Finnish language and History and Culture of Finland, which is a popular course that fills to capacity with students nearly every semester. By taking several of the Finnish-themed courses a student can earn a minor in Finnish Studies. FAHC is the premier home to Finnish heritage in North America When pulling up to Finlandia’s campus the first building you’ll notice is the Finnish American Heritage Center – a beautiful Finland blue and white building that is home to an art gallery, the Martha Wiljanen Community Hall and the world’s largest collection of Finnish American cultural archives. The staff at the heritage center runs a monthly newspaper named the Finnish American Reporter, hosts a Nordic Film Series during the fall, winter and spring months, is starting a new Finnish American Folk School this summer and plays a key role in putting on delightful cultural events. Those events are highlighted by the mid-winter celebration of Heikinpäivä, the mid-summer celebration of Juhannus, a celebration of the beautiful fall colors in Festival Ruska and of course the annual celebration of Finnish independence, something the university has been celebrating each and every year since the country became independent 99 years ago. Planning is already underway to make the 2017 celebration the best yet. That planning is made easier by the Finlandia University Finnish Council in America. This group of dozens from around the United States plays an active role in shaping the future of the university. The group is focusing heavily on the upcoming centennial celebration of Finland’s independence, including a unique project aimed at letting the Finnish American community congratulate Finland on the upcoming feat. More details on that project will come out early in 2017, and if you’re in the U.S., you will definitely want to be part of it! Michael H. Babcock works as Director of Marketing & Communications in Finlandia University. A photo of from Heikinpäivä in 2016 when Consul General Jukka Pietikäinen served as the grand marshal for the university’s parade through downtown Hancock. Counsul General Pietikäinen was pulled in what’s arguably the world’s largest kicksled by members of the Finlandia University baseball team. The group is focusing heavily on the upcoming centennial celebration of Finland’s independence. 24 SUOMI – USA
Suomi-USA | No1 2017
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