In 2018 and 2019, the number of projects carried out with companies increased (Figure 1). Information Technology and Restoration were the degree programmes with the highest number of projects. Each programme carried out 56 co-operation projects, their extent ranging from 1 to 15 credits. The number of participants on each project varied from one to 78 students.
The Emma Gala and Housing Fair as learning environments
The Emma Gala in Helsinki and the Housing Fair in Kouvola were the most important events in 2019 with respect to co-peration with companies. Approximately 100 students contributed to the arrangements of each event, working on various projects.
The Xamk Duuni service has helped students to find work placements and employment. In 2019, there were 603 companies registered in the service already.
A recruitment event on all campuses in November
In November 2019, we arranged a marketing and recruitment event targeted at companies on all Xamk campuses (Kouvola, Kotka, Mikkeli and Savonlinna). Altogether 55 companies participated in the event. Some of them were present on all four campuses.
The event provided companies with the opportunity to introduce themselves to students and create contacts with future employees, Xamk’s personnel and the other participating companies. At the same time, a Xamk education marketing event was held for upper secondary level students, so that they also had the opportunity to participate in the recruitment event.
Campus info screens advertise co-operation with companies
In 2019, we promoted the visibility of local companies on campuses in many ways. For instance, each campus has an info screen showing the logos of Xamk’s partners. This will be developed so that, in the future, current news of the companies and completed collaboration projects are also shown on the screens.
We improve the visibility of our partner companies by naming classrooms after these organisations. The first agreement on a named classroom was signed in January 2020 between the Kotka campus and CTS Engtec. Our goal in 2020 is to have a named classroom on every campus.
Xamk’s alumni network grows and evolves
At year-end 2019, Xamk’s alumni register included 6,224 alumni and the alumni Facebook group had 1,439 members. Since summer 2019, we have been sending newsletters to the registered alumni once a month. Degree programmes have also kept in touch with their respective alumni.
Xamk’s first meeting for all alumni was held in February 2019 in connection with the Emma Gala. Altogether 50 alumni from different fields of study came to the event.
Xamk awarded the Alumni of the Year for the second time in December 2019. The award was given to Tiina Henttonen, an entrepreneur who graduated from the degree programme in Design.
Xamk publishes alumni stories on its website. Alumni also have the opportunity to talk about their work and life on Xamk’s Instagram Story.
We have been planning to establish an alumni portal through which they can update their contact information. The portal is expected to be launched in 2020. The alumni working group has also been building an active alumni team and developing a model for its activities.