Faculty exchange strengthens collaboration between SeAMK and University of Missouri-St. Louis

For more than ten years, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, SeAMK, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis and UMSL have nurtured a fruitful partnership through reciprocal faculty exchanges. This autumn, SeAMK welcomed Perry Drake, a UMSL lecturer who taught an intensive three-day course on Digital Marketing Strategies as part of SeAMK’s International Business Management Master’s degree programme. Next week, SeAMK lecturer Elisa Kannasto is visiting UMSL to teach her intensive course as part of the Global Master School.

A reciprocal exchange

Elisa’s visit is her first time to UMSL. Still, she has stepped into a well-established relationship between the two institutions.

“We have this great network that has operated for 11 years now”, Elisa explains, referring to the Global Master School, established by Anne-Maria Aho. It links students and educators across continents, combining innovation and interchanging cultural perspectives.

Elisa’s main priority is continuing this legacy while teaching a course on social media strategies. Travelling with SeAMK students and another lecturer, the visit underlines the collaborative spirit of the degree programme.

Precious opportunities for students

The Global Master School provides the students with unique international experiences as enabled by Erasmus+ grants.

“We can offer our students the opportunity to spend intensive weeks abroad both at the Bachelor and Master levels, like in this case, a couple days abroad”, Elisa says.

German IBM students Clarissa Kämpf and Isabella Merz, who attended Perry Drake’s recent course at SeAMK, highlighted the value of such programmes.

Both students praised its hands-on approach, focusing on tools like Google Analytics, paid advertising, and organic strategies.

“These tools were familiar to us from work, but this course provided more in-depth knowledge and practical applications”, they say.

“The groups were very international, allowing us to share insights and approaches from different countries. This diversity brought a valuable new dimension to the learning process”, they observe.

“Having native speakers like Perry Drake adds extra value: different teaching styles and worldly experience. It’s also a great way to gain cultural and linguistic insights”, they mention.

Perry Drake himself highlighted the students’ strong performance in his course.

“In their final presentations, they could convey what we discussed in three days. I was very pleased with their progress”, he says.

Cultural exchange and collaboration

Elisa’s visit to Missouri underlines the importance of international collaboration among students and educators. Although her course will deal with social media strategies, the more significant message is to inculcate a sense of cooperation.

“This programme is about the international spirit and bringing people closer together,” Elisa says.

The programme also involves Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences, further enriching the exchange.

“International collaboration brings innovations, networks, and new possibilities”, Elisa emphasises.

Perry Drake reflected on his experience teaching at SeAMK and the differences in education systems.

“While the ultimate goal of education in both countries is the same – helping students apply their knowledge makes the teaching approaches different – each system has its strengths, and I find these differences fascinating”, he explains.

“This is my sixth visit to SeAMK. I’m drawn back by Finland’s welcoming atmosphere and nature. Teaching here is always a rewarding experience”, he adds.

Getting ready for globalisation

Elisa believes such exchanges are vital for preparing students for today’s interconnected world.

“It’s not just about language skills, attitude, and approach. Understanding that the world isn’t just here in Finland, opens incredible opportunities”, she says.

For students, the programmes are the source of special memories.

“If they’ve participated in this programme, it’s often the highlight of their Master’s studies. This is because courses with a tiny and, therefore, intensive cohort spur both professional and personal growth”, she says.

Looking ahead

Such faculty exchanges, like Perry Drake’s and Elisa Kannasto’s, further solidify the partnership between SeAMK and UMSL. The Global Master School prepares students for a highly interconnected world through cultural exchange, academic rigour, and professional development.