Survey: Students’ Tolerance and Employability Skills Increased Significantly in International Learning Opportunities
Students’ appreciation of other cultures and experiences of improved employability and work-life skills have increased significantly in international RUN European University studies. Nearly all respondents reported an increased appreciation of other cultures, and almost 80% said their chances of getting job had improved. This is revealed by a survey answered by over 500 students from HAMK and other RUN-EU higher education institutions.
Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is part of RUN-Europe University (RUN-EU), which brings together ten regional higher education institutions from Spain, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Their aim is to create high-quality education and research that meets the needs of the future. The alliance has recently expanded with two universities.
During 2024 and 2025, more than 80 joint learning opportunities have been organised by RUN-EU, most of which included short-term mobility of about a week in a RUN-EU country. Over the past two years, more than 2,400 students have participated in RUN-EU learning opportunities.
The Learner Experience Survey, targeted at students, is conducted after each learning opportunity.
“We gain both real-time and long-term information on how we should develop our pedagogical solutions. The responses to the survey can also be used as research material,” says HAMK’s Principal Research Scientist Telle Hailikari.
Tolerance and Work-Life Readiness Have Increased Significantly in RUN-EU Studies
This year, nearly all students (95%) who responded to the RUN Learner Experience Survey felt that their appreciation of other cultures had increased significantly (54% of respondents) or somewhat extent (41%). In addition, 86% of students felt their attachment to Europe had grown as a result of participating in a RUN-EU learning opportunity.
As many as 77% of students stated that their chances of getting a job had improved somewhat or significantly through the RUN-EU learning experience. Furthermore, 85% of the respondents reported gaining knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in the future world of work.
This year, nearly 570 university students from across Europe have responded to the survey. Over two years, a total of 770 students have participated in the survey, including 117 from Finland, 124 from Belgium, 166 from Portugal, 110 from the Netherlands, 66 from Ireland, and 119 from Spain.
“Overall, the students found the RUN-EU learning opportunities very interesting and had strong confidence in their own ability to succeed in them. Students also felt that the learning opportunities supported their learning well and brought new perspectives,” Hailikari summarises.
High-Quality Learning and Wellbeing at the Heart of Collaboration
HAMK leads the pedagogical development of RUN-Europe University (European Programmes Academy, RUN-EPA), through which RUN-EU higher education institutions jointly and research-based, develop innovative pedagogical models, joint educational offer, and new European joint degree programmes. The core of the collaboration is to support and promote high-quality learning and wellbeing for students in all learning opportunities.
“In RUN-EU, pedagogical development is carried out collaboratively and is simultaneously integrated into the activities of each higher education institution. The activities show strong expertise in higher education pedagogy and a commitment to developing the quality of teaching and learning,” describes Head of Development Katja Maetoloa.
In total, RUN-EU offers students and staff around 200 short-term study opportunities during the current four-year funding period.
“In addition, we are developing European joint degree programmes that build future skills and meet regional competence needs,” Maetoloa continues.
RUN-EU higher education institutions also organise various events annually for staff, students, and stakeholders. For example, last week’s Superweek at HAMK brought together nearly seventy education professionals from across Europe to develop RUN European University’s pedagogy and education.
RUN European University
We are part of RUN European University, which brings together ten European higher education institutions from nine countries committed to a common vision.
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