HAMK Launches the first Alumni Mentoring Programme

On 29 January 2026, HAMK kicked off its Alumni Mentoring Programme with an online event bringing together HAMK students and alumni from around the world. This is HAMK’s first time organising the programme, which enables alumni to participate regardless of their location.

The programme connects students with alumni mentors to support career development and knowledge exchange. Mentors gain new perspectives and the opportunity to give back, while students receive valuable insights into working life and career paths from experienced professionals across different fields.

“ It’s great to see alumni and students connecting from different parts of the world. The programme really shows how supportive and international the HAMK community is.”

Riikka Tuominen, HAMK Pedagogical Specialist

“Mentoring is a chance for both students and alumni to learn from each other. It’s about sharing experiences, asking questions, and building connections that can last beyond the programme.”

Katariina From, Career Guidance and Alumni Coordination Specialist at HAMK

The programme includes 19 mentor–mentee pairs and one group of three participants. While most participants are based in Finland, the open call was worldwide, and for this pilot round, alumni based in the United States also joined the programme. The bilingual kickoff event included attendees from both Finnish- and English-language degree programmes, with participants meeting each other online and learning about the programme’s structure.

Mentors and mentees will meet three times during spring time. The aim is for both parties to learn from each other and gain new perspectives, including insights from different cultures and professional backgrounds. Another key goal of the programme is to strengthen connections between HAMK alumni and students and to encourage long-lasting relationships. It is hoped that the connections formed during the programme will continue even after it ends, either through professional networking platforms or more personal forms of communication.

The programme is coordinated by Career Guidance and Alumni Coordination Specialist Katariina From and Pedagogical Specialist Riikka Tuominen, and the Alumni Mentoring Programme will be organised annually.

The Alumni Mentoring Programme is part of HAMK’s alumni activities. In collaboration with The Moment Project, it offers services and events that help alumni stay connected to the HAMK community. Through these initiatives, alumni can participate in mentoring, expand their professional networks, and access support services that promote personal and career development.

To learn more about all our alumni activities, visit: Alumni activities – HAMK