Students innovate for sport organisations
Five SEAMK students of international business had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a BIP, a blended intensive programme set up and hosted by Windesheim university of applied sciences which is located in the city of Zwolle, the Netherlands. Windesheim UAS is a trustworthy and ingenious partner of SEAMK with a campus of 27 000 students. The city of Zwolle with its ca 130 000 inhabitants is a beautiful Hanseatic city with a medieval centre. The significant characteristic of this city, quite as the whole country, is the extent of locals riding their bikes everywhere.
Expanding social impact
Sports organisations today may have a social impact while they, for example, promote health and well-being, equality, social inclusion, youth empowerment, civic engagement, economic development, security, violence prevention as well as environmental sustainability. The local football club, PEC Zwolle and its foundation, Regio Zwolle United, work to make a social impact through various projects in Zwolle and the surrounding area. The BIP students were invited to innovate and develop ideas on how they could expand the social impact in the region.
The implementation of the BIP included two online working sessions before an intensive week in Zwolle. A third online session was set up after everyone returned home from Zwolle. The week was kicked off by going to a football game where PEC Zwolle was playing against Ajax Amsterdam.
The following morning we returned to the stadium where PEC Zwolle representatives welcomed all students as the actual task was introduced. The students worked in pre-assigned international teams developing ideas and figuring out how to pitch them throughout the week. At the end of the week all ideas were pitched in front of PEC Zwolle board members, who were delighted by the number of ideas they can actually work with.
Key takeaways
As a participating lecturer observing SEAMK students collaborate with peers across the globe, I must say I am proud of them. Seeing the commitment, diligence and joy they took while exploring the ideas and possibilities of the given task was just delightful. Naturally a team of five different personalities, nationalities, cultures and motivations is not always a bed of roses. Facing the challenges and finding solutions just might be the most valuable lesson a BIP can offer in terms of teamwork. The experience will certainly prepare our students for what they may expect to encounter at work in the near future.
Kaija-Liisa Kivimäki
Senior Lecturer, SEAMK