Tag Archives: laurea

Feeling Proud of Students

Laurea UAS Digital Business students global studies graduation

Today we finished our Digital Business -studies at Laurea UAS. Our students totally exceeded all my expectations. These young talents will bring us a great future, I can tell you that!

This video shows what this is all about. It is done by Digital Coaches, senior students in Laurea. Thanks coaches! 🙂

We made it global

Many thanks to South-Korean, Spanish, Belgium, and Mexican students and professors who were involved in this. We made it global together. I am so much looking forward to our next course as we will deepen all this international cooperation into the next level. Boh!

Thanks to the companies and guest lecturers

We had the extreme delight to have dozens of guest lecturers directly from worklife to visit us. I am so grateful to you – we really brought working life and young students together. Many thanks to all the guest lecturers and companies who were involved.

Selected blogs & vlogs of our students

Please see some selected blogs by our students. These are the talents who made it to the “blog of the week” during the course. Aren’t they good or what!?

Taru Hellman – Living Life and Learning
Melissa Laitila – Diggin It
Elina Karhapää – Digi-Diary
Miikka Leppihalme – Digital Business
Mariam Nurminen – DigiFeels
Jenni Palander – Digijenni
Teemu Reunila – Digital Business
Sini Siltanen – Digi Sini
Maija Vakkilainen – Digital Business 2016

Congratulations to each an every student who took part in the course, digi coaches, and my colleague Anna. I am very proud of you and grateful that I have had the chance to work with you. Remember, life is very much about who you decide to spend your time with.

Tasks done, goals reached, now it is time to celebrate. Enjoy and live life to the max guys! 🙂

Lecturing in Cross-Cultural Business Conference at Austria

Last week was simply amazing. I had the honor to present my first scientific paper in Austria at Cross-Cultural Business Conference 2015. I am very pleased with the whole week. I had the courage to take the path less travelled.

Digital Humanism Combines Rhetoric and Modern Marketing

Abstract: “In this paper I propose that there is a similarity between the rhetoric theory by Aristotle and modern marketing communication. Aristotle formulated the art of rhetoric into three simple devices: logos, pathos, and ethos. Speakers needed to be logical, emotional, and morally credible in order to influence others. Kotler, Kartajaya and Setiawan have stated that in the modern digital era marketers should see and target consumer as a whole human who consists of mind, heart, and spirit. Consumers expect digital marketing communication to be rationally appealing, increasingly personalized and ethical. We operate in a highly digitalized world that is connected across cultures. When the Internet makes all communication global, brands are being evaluated by consumer experience. Businesses should focus on quality and operate with testimonials. The similarities in classic rhetoric theory and the principles of modern marketing can be combined with digital humanism.”

Full paper: Kurkela Ilkka – Digital Humanism Combines Rhetoric and Modern Marketing

Presentation:

Guest lecturer at the International Week

During the week I met more than 100 people from around 30 countries including many professors of business education. I believe that sharing ideas with new people is the best way to learn. Especially if you can interact with people who come from different background than you. In this case the fact that people came from Canada, USA, China, Japan, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Finland – you name it! It was a unique possibility to develop understanding around education, learning, business, and life.

Additionally, I had the delight to be a guest lecturer to young enthusiastic students at the International week of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, School of Management. Thank you all, it was a pleasure!

When you travel far away, you get the perspective. Who you are? Where do you come from? What are your dreams?

Finally, I want to show my deepest gratitude to the organizers and Laurea for making this possible. Thank you!

Memorable moments from Cross-Cultural Business Conference 2015

Laurea among the top5 most popular Universities in Finland

According to the latest statistics my workplace Laurea University of Applied Sciences has been ranked among the top 5 most popular Universities in Finland. The statistics include both Universities of Applied Sciences (ammattikorkeakoulut) and Universities (yliopistot).

I feel extremely good and proud about this. Last september I started to work here and I am totally enjoying it. Brilliant students, great colleagues and innovative atmosphere. Have a great weekend everyone!

Digital Workshop for Start-ups

Yesterday I had a great opportunity to facilitate a Digital Workshop for start-up companies at EnterpriseEspoo (YritysEspoo). I am grateful for this opportunity to be able to help start-ups. Thanks everyone! In this 3-hour-session We focused on these themes and tools:

1. Digital Strategy and Digital Tools

2. Sales and Marketing Integration

3. Search Engine Optimization

The most important tools:

Thanks everyone! Please find the slides & photos of this Digital Workshop for Startups below (in Finnish)

Feelings from the workshop

Digital Business Models Course

What happens when you combine a group of innovative students, two passionate lecturers, and tons of crazy ideas? Digital Business Models -course at Laurea. The first implementation is now completed. It was awesome!

Why Digital Business Models?

Over 3 billion people will have access to internet in 2015 and the number of smartphone users worldwide will surpass 2 billion in 2016. An average US adult spends 11 hours per day with digital media. Digitally skilled people are needed. This is why we defined the learning-goals for the course like this…

… Understand what does Digital Strategy mean for businesses
… Learn how to develop personal online presence
… Understand the importance of (digital) sales for businesses
… Learn about the new media landscape
… Get familiar with important digital business tools

As a final assignment the students wrote a blog or recorded a short video about their learnings. Please find highlights of their work below. Thanks again students – amazing job!

Videos by students

Sishir Shakya – Understanding Digital Business and Marketing

Lisa Eboigbodin – Digital Marketing

Arman Nuri – Digital Marketing – a New Frontier

Jabed Kaisar – Digital Business Model Project

Duong Phan Hong Thao – Digital Business Model

Al-Amin Bhuiyan – Digital Business Models

Faysal Hasan – Digital Business Model

Blogposts by students

Anna Ikonen and Ilkka Kurkela are Senior Lecturers at Laurea University of Applied Sciences

“Thanks everyone – you students did a great job and we indeed had fun! :)”
Senior Lecturers Anna Ikonen and Ilkka Kurkela at Laurea Campus.
Photograph by Faysal Hasan.