Finnish corporations training global ambassadors for their country

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By Tommi Laitio
     
      The Helsinki metropolitan region seems lush and beautiful from the top of the 16-storey head office of elevator company Kone. Around thirty students have gathered in a conference room at the Espoo headquarters, but this gang does not wear white socks and tennis shoes. Students from the world's top universities are listening to Member of European Parliament Alexander Stubb lecture on the current state of the EU with concentrated expressions on their faces.
      Trade unions, the government, and corporations alike are currently pondering how Finland will succeed in globalisation. The Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA is attempting to stem the brain drain and polish Finland's image abroad by inviting around forty students from elite universities to Helsinki each year through its EVA Junior Fellowship Programme.
     
The goal of EVA is to create a bond between Finland and the promising young students, as well as to gain information on what factors could attract people to Finland, and what factors could make people decide to move abroad. Twenty new students join a two-year partnership programme each year. Half of the participants are Finns, and the other half are foreigners whose research involves Finland in some way. The group members include researchers of culture as well as engineers.
      Many other instances than just Finnish corporations are interested in these young talents, so only the best is brought out in front of them. In addition to Stubb, Leif Fagernäs, the Director General of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, and Antti Herlin, the Chairman and CEO of Kone, are among those influential players who have made time in their busy schedules to come speak to the elite group. On their second day, the agenda of the students included a meeting with Minister of Foreign Trade Paula Lehtomäki.
     
One pair of trendy sneakers can be picked out among the tasteful black patent leather shoes and modest heels. Philip Tidwell, who has graduated from the Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in architecture, is excited about Finland.
      "Finland has a strong position in the world of architects. I would have come to Finland even without this opportunity", enthuses Tidwell, who visited Jyväskylä and the University of Technology in Espoo before the seminar.
      The course participants hail from Europe, China, and the United States. There are two Chinese among the students. Shanghai management student Ying Zhang is in Finland for the first time. "For us a course like this is an incredible opportunity", Ying explains, with her eyes shining. She says she prepared for the meetings via the internet.
      "Earlier, all Finland was to me was Nokia."
     
The home countries of Ying Zhang and Philip Tidwell are both mentioned in the speeches, as threats and possibilities. Ying feels this is perfectly understandable.
      "There are suspicions and interest in both directions. Most of my friends at school would like to study in Europe for a year and then return to China. There is a clear impression among students that time spent abroad improves career advancement possibilities. But for the Chinese, one of the most important things is improving their language skills."
      Ying, one of the top students at Donghua University, considers Finnish corporations to be interesting as potential employers. "However, Western companies have a bit of a reputation among Chinese students that managers are always brought over from Europe", Ying observes.
      Philip Tidwell believes that there are unnecessary prejudices in the relations between Europe and the U.S. "There is definitely a need for an intellectual discussion on the transatlantic relationship. Nowadays people who do not regard the idea of working abroad as completely impossible graduate even from American universities", he laughs.
     
Finn Timo Somervuo, who studies operation management and information technology in Boston, has an impression of why Finland is concerned about its appeal. "The possibilities for entrepreneurship should be improved. Because of the wage level alone, I will need to remain abroad at least for a few years after I graduate so that I can pay back my loans."
      Somervuo reveals that he is patriotic and wants to eventually return to Finland. He chose to go abroad so that he could study both business and engineering.
      "At MIT, it is possible to combine subjects much more easily than at Finnish universities. The teaching there is also more connected to practical aspects and the corporate sector."
     
The course participants feel that the EVA project is an excellent way to improve Finland's image.
      The plans the students have for the future may come as a surprise to the organisers. Only Somervuo is aiming for a career in top management.
      Ying Zhang explains that her dreams have changed over the past few years. "For a long time I thought that I wanted to be a manager. Nowadays the more peaceful working rhythm in the academic world appeals to me."
      Tidwell's answer brings back to mind that despite the dark suits, the junior partners of EVA are regular young people.
      "I cannot really think fifteen years into the future. That is one of those questions that my parents have asked me for years. Even now they keep calling me to know when I will return from Europe to a proper job and to start paying back my loans."
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 25.8.2004


Links:
  Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA

TOMMI LAITIO / Helsingin Sanomat
tommi.laitio@sanoma.fi