Catherine Prewett-Schrempf and Andrew Pullen both recently participated in Erasmus+ programs in Helsinki.
While Catherine Prewett-Schrempf completed a teaching mobility week in early December, working with Finnish colleagues and students at Laurea University of Applied Sciences, in November Andrew Pullen took part in an International Week at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Both were deeply impressed by the hospitality and welcome extended by both universities and were both able to gain valuable insights into how Finland has won its stellar reputation as an “education powerhouse”.
Catherine Prewett-Schrempf’s teaching assignments were held in classes with both Finnish and international students of Hospitality Management and Service Design, where there is a very visible focus on holistic, competence-based learning as well as student well-being. The Laurea Campus boasts various Living Learning Labs, including the BarLaurea teaching restaurant, the Circular Economy Living Lab as well as the Event Living Lab, among others, where creativity and diverse learning are promoted.
In addition to giving lectures to Haaga-Helia students on Intercultural Communication, Andrew Pullens’s week offered a valuable platform for networking with teachers from all over the world, workshops on innovative teaching methods and knowledge sharing. There was also time for a rich cultural program including history, art, and of course, the sauna!