Interview Kimmo Ahonen 08.10.14:

1. Can you describe the whole process of the exchange program? What is your role in that?

Kimmo: It was very hard to implement the exchange program to the UC Pori. The actual process is arranged between the two universities Turku and Tampere and with Erasmus. It means the contracts are made with Tampere University of Technology and Turku school of Economics. The whole process is very fresh at the UC Pori, the first group of exchange students came in 2013. Now it is the third group of exchange students. I’m happy that we could raise the offered English courses every year. There is a lot of effort with organizing teacher, guest-teacher, making schedules and get financial support for that. The schedules are normally planned for the degree students because the courses are also part of their program. I’m responsible for the whole exchange process at the UC Pori, the contracts are made between the other universities but we have to organize the orientation program (Pointer and student organisations) and take care for the foreign students.

2. Do you have to follow some guidelines that Erasmus gives to the process?

Kimmo: Erasmus gives the framework for the exchange program. The Learning Agreements are the main part of this framework. The Application process and contracts are made between the universities. The rest is our part.

3. How does the university benefits from exchange students? Are there also some monetary benefits for the university?

Kimmo: The main benefit is sending the students abroad to get international experience. It is very useful part of their studies. Erasmus is there only on program, but maybe the most convenient because of their large network. The most students at the UC Pori are making their Master degree, so they are not interested to go abroad. The most of them combine working and studying. The Turku school has a lot of students who are making their Bachelor degree. They have a lot of students who go abroad.

The funding comes from the education ministry from a central distribution. If we get more exchange students the grant will increase but there is also a lot of effort if there are more exchange students. We need special lecturer and more money for organization.

To create a brand for the university and make it more famous is also a benefit for us. It is also important for the city and the politicians are interested in the exchange program.

4. How important is the exchange program for the UC Pori? Is the future’s goal to get more exchange students to study here in Pori?

Kimmo: Our future goal is definitely to increase the amount of exchange students. We already increase it the last terms. But we always have to consider the amounts of resources. I hope there are more exchange students for the next period.

5. Are you satisfied with the existing process? How would you like to change it? Are there any changing plans in the future?

Kimmo: I’m satisfied with the current process. It is a very young process and I think we can improve it every time a little bit more. We are planning an evaluation for the next term to get a response from the exchange students. Your questionnaire could be a very good possibility for us to get an overview about current state. We have to improve the cooperation between the university units, not just between

Economics and Engineering. I would be good to offer more courses in the future. We planned to organize events together with the SAMK University, e.g. the get together. It was not possible to participate this term because it was on a Tuesday, on this day there are the most offered English speaking courses at the UC Pori for exchange students. We made also a survey for the last year students. The last autumn students were very satisfied with their exchange, the last spring students were mostly satisfied.

6. Do you think that the current process is organized in customer’s point of view? If it’s not, how should it be changed so that it serves more a final customer (exchange student)?

Kimmo: At first I like to say: Students are not customers, they are students. But if we suppose they are customers, I think the exchange program is not organized in customer’s point of view, it is recognized in a way like it is possible for everyone. But we can do it better.

7. In our questionnaire for the exchange students we got feedback as follows:a. There isn’t always enough material in English!b. Exchange students should live in the same building!c. Course offering should be broader!d. There should be organized team sport offerings!e. There should be more arranged typical Finnish culture events!

Do you agree with these points? How could we solve these issues in the future?

Kimmo: a) I think the most and important material is in English. I know that the homepage of the university has some parts which are not translated, but we shouldn’t forget that the pages are essentially for the degree students. I’m not happy with the information from the housing company; there should be a clear knowledge for everyone. There was a problem with guaranteed wireless Lan connection.

b) Unfortunately there was no offering for more apartments in Peräsimentie. It is difficult to realize that. I hope YH-Assunot can offer more apartments in future. But I think It’s important to have furniture and some stuff in the apartments and YH-Assunot is the only possible company who offers such a proposal.

c) We should work especially on the balance between autumn and spring. Maybe we can put more courses from spring to autumn, because there are more exchange students in autumn. We like to offer more courses when more exchange students are coming to pori.

d) There are some organized courses. But the most are arranged in free time by sudents. I will discuss that with Pointer (Student Association) but normally the students should organize the courses by themselves.

e) I agree that would be a good idea. I will think about that in the next period.

8. Do you think the orientation period should be improved related to the pre-service? For example using live-meetings, video-meetings and so on.

Kimmo: Yes, the things should be improved every period, especially the administration process and the application time. We have the framework but have to work on details. Using live-meetings is a very good approach; we have to work on it.

9. Do you have some end-discussions with exchange students after the exchange period/just before exchange period ends to get some feedback?

Kimmo: Yes, I planned a meeting at the beginning of December. There will be also a web-based questionnaire. It would be also good If I could have a look on your results from the questionnaire.