Developing new skills by working as a student assistant at an international event
SEAMK organised the International Days on 10.−14.2.2025. More than 60 teachers and staff members from 30 countries and from 13 international partner universities participated in the event. Also, members of SEAMK’s own staff attended and five SEAMK students from different study fields worked as assistants at the event. Three of them, Mariia Kashinskaia, Roman Rayamajhi and Saija Tuuri, shared their experience and thoughts about the event. In their opinion, this was a good chance for them to learn and develop their communication and problem-solving skills and the participation enhanced their opportunities to build a network.
Mariia Kashinskaia, who is currently studying International Business at SEAMK, has passionate about global markets, cross-cultural communication and all business-related issues. She is always looking for ways to get involved in different projects and events, which was a reason for her to apply for a position of student assistant at the International Days. She described her feelings after the event as following:
“The memories of working as an assistant during the International Days are with me forever! From the welcome for the visitors to the arrangements behind the scenes, I learned invaluable teamwork, communication, and flexibility skills. The highlight? Being in that energetic environment and meeting individuals all over the world. Despite the tiredness at some points, the new friends and sense of achievement made it even more rewarding. Just be prepared to be on your feet and make the most out of each second! I would do it all over again and highly recommend it!”
She also gave some advice for those who would like to become an assistant in the other events in the future:
”Go for it! It’s an amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with people. Be proactive, stay organized, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Oh, and wear comfortable shoes—trust me, you’ll be walking a lot! Most importantly, enjoy the experience and make the most of every moment. You’ll come out of it with new skills, new friends, and a ton of great memories”.
According to Roman Rayamajhi, a second-year International Business student at SEAMK, being an assistant was an amazing experience:
“I assisted visitors to the event, helped coordinate the event, and developed skills related to teamwork and networking. Perhaps the best part was meeting the international visitors, and having a team who worked well together was a bonus. I felt much more confident, as I was nervous at first, but I was pleased that we accomplished the tasks we set out to do. I would do it again in a heartbeat, and I would encourage assistants to have a positive attitude, speak intently, and take advantage of the opportunity!”
Roman also has some tips for other students planning on working as an assistant in the future:
“My advice would be to be positive, polite, and always ready to assist where assistance is required. Work with colleagues to communicate clearly and never hesitate to ask for clarification if you are confused. Be ready and flexible to respond to whatever situation comes. Most importantly, enjoy yourself, learn from it, and make profitable connections with guests and colleagues.”
Saija Tuuri is studying social work at SEAMK and she was excited to get the opportunity to join the SEAMK International team as a student assistant. She described her duties and experience as follows:
“My responsibilities included welcoming guests, providing guidance, taking photos, and escorting visitors to Kampustalo. I worked hard to foster a positive team spirit, which made our collaboration smooth and efficient.
The team was great, and the number of student assistants felt just right. We worked well together, supported each other, and handled unexpected situations, like assisting a guest with directions to a meeting room.
I enjoyed meeting new people, having coffee breaks with the team, and learning how universities organize events. By the end, I felt accomplished, and I would definitely do it again!”
Saija also gave some tips for new student assistants: “As a student assistant, be prepared for anything and adopt an attitude of service. You may need to improvise in certain situations. Remember, the guests are relying on you to guide them to various parts of the university. They may not be familiar with Seinäjoki or the campus, so feel free to share information with them and always listen if they have any questions.”
In conclusion, the opportunity to work as a student assistant in an international event was a good experience. Students got some basic knowledge of the event management and got experienced in teamwork in an international group. They got chance to develop their communication and customer service skills, and the event created an excellent opportunity for them to network.