Riihimäki internship pilot turns student expertise into practical ideas

The City of Riihimäki and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) have successfully completed their internship pilot programme, which was launched in May with ten students from HAMK’s English-taught degree programmes.

The aim of the pilot was to create a collaborative development initiative in which students gained practical experience of Finnish working life, while the city benefited from international expertise and fresh perspectives on its services. The students analyzed existing services, identified strengths and areas for improvement, and developed concrete enhancement proposals and future action plans based on their findings. The project also incorporated service design methods and strengthened collaboration across different sectors of the city organization.

The students were supported through weekly meetings, service design workshops, and Finnish language instruction provided in cooperation with HAMK and International House Riihimäki.

The results of the pilot were presented on August 18 at Antonin talo in Riihimäki. Students and city representatives shared their findings, practical development proposals, and ideas for how the work could be continued in the future.

“From the City of Riihimäki’s perspective, this pilot was a success. The solutions and responses provided by the international students to the development challenges were highly professional, and the city intends to make use of them going forward,” says Juha Hiltunen, Head of International House Riihimäki.

During the three-month pilot, the students worked with the city’s Technical Services and Vitality Services divisions, as well as DEFINE (Defence Innovation Network Finland) and Business Riihimäki. Their assignments were based on the organizations’ own development needs and focused on areas such as map services, public transportation, sports facilities, service pathways, and business development models.

“This was a successful joint experiment that we hope will continue. The interns brought valuable new perspectives, actively contacted companies in Riihimäki and across Southern Finland, and helped strengthen networking between local businesses and students. I believe the interns gained valuable insight into how everyday work is carried out in a Finnish company, which will support them in their job search after graduation. At the same time, the use of English as a working language brought a refreshing boost to our staff,” says Samuel Koivisto, CEO of Business Riihimäki.

The students themselves also considered the internship experience highly successful. According to the feedback survey, they particularly appreciated the opportunity to work on real projects where they could apply and develop the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies. The students felt trusted and valued, and that their work had a meaningful impact.

“Building strong professional relationships with key stakeholders and participating in the organization of our business event significantly strengthened my confidence and enhanced my professional skills,” said one of the survey respondents.

Retaining graduating international talent is important for Riihimäki’s vitality and future growth. For this reason, building connections between students, educational institutions, the city, and working life is essential already during studies. The experiences gained from the pilot support the development of a longer-term collaboration model between HAMK and the City of Riihimäki.