Workshop 1: Entrepreneurial Education and Commercialisation in Multidisciplinary Teams

How do we strengthen students’ entrepreneurial capabilities and support the journey from early ideas toward real business impact? In this workshop, we will explore practical approaches to entrepreneurial education that bring students, experts, researchers, and industry partners together in multidisciplinary teams to develop, test, and commercialize new solutions.

Participants will be introduced to proven models and tools used at Savonia UAS and in regional innovation ecosystems that help students apply theory to practice and develop real business potential. Examples demonstrate how hands-on entrepreneurship education empowers learners to build prototypes, validate customer needs, collaborate across disciplines, and present their ideas to external evaluators and potential partners.

The workshop invites participants to share their own experiences and discuss how entrepreneurship education can better support creativity, experimentation, and future-ready working-life skills in higher education environments.

Key themes include:

• From idea to impact: tools and frameworks for commercialisation, practices from innovation sprints, and startup programs
• Supporting entrepreneurial mindset and confidence in students
• Multidisciplinary teamwork as a driver of innovation and learning
• Collaboration between students, experts, companies, and public sector actors

Guests are warmly welcome to reflect and contribute their own viewpoints, challenges, and success stories.

RDI Specialist Matti Laitinen

Workshop 2: Best Practices in Health Education: Work-Life Oriented Learning and Innovations in Health Education

In this workshop, health education teachers will present innovative approaches and methods used in their teaching.

• Using Digital Tools in the Clinical Internship Process in Health Education: How digital tools support student guidance and the internship placement process in health education. The process includes a personal learning blog (PLE), goal setting, reflection, feedback utilization, and virtual meetings between students and clinical supervisors.
• Gamification in Health Education – Innovative Teaching Methods in Practice: Workshop showcasing innovative teaching tools such as H5P games, interactive videos, and virtual escape rooms. Presented by Sari Oderhohwo
• Multidisciplinary Teaching Clinic OSKE – North Savo Pilot: Experience how future professionals learn together! This innovative pilot brings students from multiple health and social care disciplines into a shared teaching clinic — bridging education, research, and real-life wellbeing services. Presented by the North Savo Wellbeing Region and Savonia Tiina Mäkeläinen

Guests are warmly invited to share their own effective and creative practices as well.

Lecturer and International Coordinator, Marja Gröhn-Rissanen -Healthcare

Workshop 3: Future Skills: Shaping Business Education (or learning) with Industry Insights

The workshop focuses on the field of business and management education, connecting higher education with the evolving needs of working life. Based on feedback collected from local companies, participants will co-create ideas for new BBA modules, courses, or learning contents that equip students with the competences required in tomorrow’s business landscape. Through a hackathon-style format, participants will collaborate to translate industry insights into innovative learning solutions that strengthen future work-life readiness.

Senior Lecturer Abdelazim Hannoura, Senior Lecturer Özerk Göker, Senior Lecturer Marko Sorri, Senior Lecturer Minna Tarvainen

Workshop 4: Future-Proof Skills for a Changing World of Work            

Duration            90 – 120 minutes

Target participants: Teachers, faculty members, international partners, employers/industry representatives
Faculties involved: Natural Resources, Social Services, Nursing, Machinery and Energy
Workshop type: Panel discussion + interactive breakout sessions + group reporting
Objective: Identify key future workforce skills across disciplines and co-create ideas for integrating them into higher education curricula, focusing on international and work-life relevance.    

Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• 1. Recognize the top emerging skills relevant to their disciplines in a rapidly changing world of work.               
• 2. Compare perspectives from academia, industry, and international partners on future skill needs.               
• 3. Develop concrete, discipline-specific ideas for embedding these skills into curricula. 4. Establish initial connections for future collaboration across faculties and borders.

International Coordinator, Agnieszka Laherto

Workshop 5 (Outdoors): Experiential Exercises of Green Care Multidisciplinary Course (Please dress warmly! Layers, coat, proper boots, gloves)

This outdoor workshop introduces the concept of Green Care, which uses nature-based activities to promote well-being. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a variety of practical exercises that demonstrate how nature, snow, the outdoors and social company can support health and social inclusion from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Audience: Guests of the International Week.
Goal: Hands-on learning and immersive experience with Green Care methods in a natural setting.

Facilitation by MultiPro 2026 students guided by the Green Care Lecturers: Susanne Hämäläinen, Katriina Pylkkänen, and Hanna Ravi 

Workshop 6: Empowering Lifelong Learners for the Future of Work

This workshop explores how rapid changes in work, technology and society are reshaping lifelong learning, and what this means for educators preparing students for an uncertain future. Through a forward-looking introduction to key trends—ranging from AI to evolving skill needs—we invite participants to reflect, discuss and co-create ideas for more collaborative, human-centred and future-ready education. The session aims to offer teachers new insights, clarity and inspiration for strengthening continuous learning in partnership with working life.

Development Manager, Mikko Myllymäki -Educational Business and Continuous Learning
Lecturer, Pirjo Pehkonen-Social Services

Workshop 7: Coping with AI – Teachers’ Perspectives

Join us for a session where we explore how AI is shaping teaching practices in our universities. Discover practical examples from Savonia (e.g. AI traffic lights) and share your own best practices and success stories.

Senior Lecturer, Irene Hyrkstedt

Workshop 8: Erasmus+ Spark: From Shared Ideas to Staff Development Projects

You are invited to join an inspiring  session where we will work together to generate ideas for a new Erasmus+ project. This project aims to strengthen the competencies of higher education staff and ensure that our institutions are equipped to meet the rapidly evolving skills demands of the future.

During the workshop, we will explore key trends affecting higher education, identify emerging needs in teaching, research, and international collaboration, and discuss innovative approaches to professional development. Through guided activities and open discussion, you will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange best practices, and co-create concepts that can shape a meaningful and impactful project proposal.

Whether you are passionate about staff development, digital transformation, internationalisation, or building future-ready skills, your insights will be valuable. Together, we will map out potential project themes, partnerships, and activities that can enhance the capacity of our institutions and contribute to a stronger, more agile higher education sector.

Join us for an interactive and engaging workshop where your voice helps shape the direction of our next Erasmus+ initiative. Your participation will contribute directly to creating a project that supports higher education staff in adapting, thriving, and leading in a changing world.

Research Manager Ardita Hoxha-Jahja and Lecturer Tiina Kuiri