A new mentoring programme brings together HAMK’s international students and professionals from the City of Riihimäki
A new joint mentoring programme by Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) and the City of Riihimäki offers HAMK’s international degree students a unique opportunity to explore Finnish workplaces, build professional networks, and receive guidance from experienced experts across various fields. The programme will launch on October 1 at the Riihimäki campus.
This is a pilot project in which experienced professionals support students by sharing knowledge, career insights, and experiences from Finnish working life. At the same time, mentors benefit from the fresh perspectives brought by international students.
A total of 37 students are participating in the programme. They represent various fields of study, including social services, technology, business, agriculture, and engineering. Students were selected through group interviews based on their interests, skills, and commitment.
From the City of Riihimäki, 17 employees from different sectors signed up as mentors. Mentors work in pairs, with each pair mentoring five students from different degree programmes. This creates eight multidisciplinary teams.
Mentors participate during working hours, and students can include their participation in their studies. Each team will meet four times in person between October and December. Students prepare for the meetings with pre-assigned questions and tasks.
Mutual benefits
From the City of Riihimäki’s perspective, the mentoring programme aligns closely with the city’s internationalization action plan. The city aims to engage young students in the region—not only during their studies, but also afterwards. Mentoring enables meaningful interactions that support students’ integration, professional growth, and staying in Riihimäki.
“I am very pleased that as many as 17 city employees were enthusiastic about becoming mentors. This shows that we have the willingness and heart to welcome international students—and to demonstrate that Riihimäki is a great place to live and build a career,” says Päivi Ojanen, Personnel Development Manager at the City of Riihimäki.
According to Kati Heikkinen, Head of International Affairs at HAMK, professional networks are crucial for employment in Finland. Skilled individuals who move to Finland often struggle to find work without networks, and establishing contacts with Finns can feel challenging for many students.
“Our mentoring programme with the City of Riihimäki provides opportunities to create these networks, explore different career paths, and learn about the ways various workplaces operate. Participating employees gain insight into how higher education currently prepares students for tasks in their field and can deepen their own expertise in language-aware and diversity-promoting practices in the workplace,” Heikkinen notes.
Kickoff event
Wednesday, October 1 | 12:00–16:00 | HAMK Riihimäki Campus
12:00 – Welcome speeches from HAMK and the City of Riihimäki; icebreaker activity
12:30–13:30 – Parallel sessions for students and mentors (career paths, strengths, programme orientation)
13:30–14:00 – Joint session: mentors and students meet, plan future meetings, participate in a shared activity
14:00–14:30 – Coffee and networking break
14:30–16:00 – Student guidance and preparation for upcoming mentoring meetings
Further information
Päivi Ojanen
Human Resources Development Manager
City of Riihimäki
paivi.ojanen@riihimaki.fi +358505397383