International Week
Dear Partner,
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) cordially invites staff, teachers and other specialists from our partner institutions to join our traditional International Week.
The week’s theme is related to Sustainable wellbeing. More information about the arranging departments, programme and other information is available below.
There is no participation fee for the International Week but the participants are expected to cover the costs of travelling, accommodation, meals and other daily expenses. Erasmus+ teacher or staff exchange support may be available from the sending institution.
The maximum amount of participants for the week will be 50 / campus and the recommendation for the number of participants per partner is two.
You are warmly welcome to take part in the International Week!
Sustainable wellbeing
The international week will be organised on four Xamk campuses, i.e. in Kotka, Kouvola, Mikkeli and Savonlinna, on 13 – 17 March 2023
The International Week will be organised by the following four departments:
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Care
- Department of Sports and Rehabilitation
- Department of Tourism, Hospitality Management and Youth Work, and
- Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Focus Area of Sustainable Wellbeing
Themes by campuses:
- Kotka & Kouvola / Technology and Digitalisation in Social Work (Master’s studies) & Sustainable Wellbeing
- Mikkeli / Research and development activities supporting wellbeing
- Savonlinna / Sustainable wellbeing
Under the main theme, we will also focus on current related topics in different fields of welfare, such as:
- Nature, Art and Wellbeing
- Service Quality and Customer Experience
- Participation
- Digital Wellbeing Services
- Social sustainability
- Wellbeing Tourism
Enrolment
Guests are invited to give lectures on their own area of expertise or research. We would wish the lectures to be connected to the main theme or the subthemes of the International Week and hope (but not limit) the teaching to be more practical, i.e. that it would be arranged in a form of a workshop, group work or other methods.
If you wish to have lectures during the week, please, describe the way of your teaching (lecture, workshop, group work, etc.), wishes for room conditions, materials you would need as well as the preferred group size in your abstract. Our normal group size is between 20-40 students. In addition, please, describe how you wish to divide your teaching hours (e.g. 2 hours of lectures and 4 hours in a form of a workshop, group work, etc. = a total of 8 hours, which is the minimum amount in Erasmus+ teacher exchanges STA). Our lessons consist of 45-minute sessions, i.e., for instance, 1.5 hours is calculated as two full teaching hours.
You may also participate in the week’s programme without giving any lectures, for instance, through Erasmus+ staff exchange STT. In this case, you could also give lectures but there is no minimum amount of teaching hours.
Along with teaching, the International Week is a great opportunity for networking with new international partners and discussing future cooperation possibilities (research and development, projects, exchanges, development of pedagogical methods, online courses, etc.). You are also welcome to bring students (max. 15 students/group) with you to participate in the week. Also students need to enrol for the week. The deadline for enrolments is ended.
Please do not make any travel arrangements before you have received confirmation information from the contact person of the campus of your destination.
Entering Finland
It is recommended to check FINENTRY service when entering Finland.
Read also the Government’s information about Travel to and from Finland.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Kotka
In the following you can find the options for accommodation in Kotka.
We recommend using these links and contact directly the hotel and mention Xamk International Week 2023 in the reservation. Kotka city center is about 5 km from the campus, Karhula about 6 km from the campus.
- Hotel Merikotka, located in the old port in the city center
- Original Sokos Hotel Seurahuone Kotka, in the city center
- Hotelli Jokipuisto, located in Karhula
Accommodation in Mikkeli
In the following you can find the options for accommodation in Mikkeli:
- Hotelli Uusikuu, located app.at 3 km distance from Campus, near Saimaa Stadium
- Marja’s Guest House, almost on Campus
- Gasthaus Mikkeli, located app. at 1 km distance from Campus
- Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, in the centre
- Scandic Hotel Mikkeli, in the centre
Accommodation in Savonlinna
In the following you can find a few options for accommodation in Savonlinna:
- Hotel Hospitz
- Sokos Hotel Seurahuone
- Best Western Spa Hotel Casino
- Pietari Kylliäinen
- Lossiranta Lodge
- Hungerborg City Home
Nowadays, there are also several Airbnb accommodation options available in Savonlinna.
Travelling
To Kotka
Kotka is situated some 130 km from Helsinki, 270 km from St. Petersburg and 60 km from Kouvola. Depending on where you are coming from, there are different means of transport you might find convenient:
By Coach
If you are traveling via Helsinki Airport, you most likely will prefer to use a bus connection. You need to take airport train to Helsinki city center and then from Kamppi Travel Center with bus, please, check Onnibus.com bus company or Matkahuolto web-pages for the options.
By Train
For timetables and fares, please, see the website of the Finnish railways.
Useful information:
From the airport to Helsinki with Train P or I : terminal T1 arrivals floor
Helsinki – Kotka: Onnibus
Matkahuolto Travel & transport services
Kouvola – Kotka: VR railway company
You will get more detailed instructions before the event.
Travelling
To Mikkeli
Mikkeli is situated app. 260 km from Helsinki. Depending on where you are coming from, there are different means of transport you might find convenient:
By Coach
If you are traveling via Helsinki Airport, you most likely will prefer to use a bus connection, please, check Matkahuolto Travel Services or Onnibus bus company web-pages for the options.
By Train
If you are coming from Helsinki Airport through Kouvola, we recommend using train. For timetables and fares, please, see the website of the Finnish railways.
To Savonlinna
The distance from Helsinki to Savonlinna by road is 335 km. From Helsinki airport you can take either a train or coach to Savonlinna.
By Coach
There are several coach connections from Helsinki to Savonlinna every day. Depending on the route, the coach travel takes from five to eight hours. Please, check Matkahuolto Travel Services or Onnibus bus company web-pages for the options.
By Train
An express train journey from Helsinki to Savonlinna takes about 5 hours. If you take a train from the airport, you will have to change the train twice, at Tikkurila and at Parikkala. Please, note that there are two train stations in Savonlinna: Pääskylahti station and Kauppatori station (the end stop in the centre of Savonlinna). If someone is coming to pick you up from the station, please, inform at which train station you will get off. For timetables and fares, please, see the website of the Finnish railways.
By Plane
Unfortunately, the flights between Helsinki and Savonlinna are on hold for the time being.
Climate
Climate / weather
The weather in March in Finland may vary from -15°C to +10°C. It can be freezing, windy, snowy, icy and very slippery or then it can be beautiful, sunny temperatures with a nice spring breeze. Good shoes & warm clothing is recommended.
During the International Week, the participants In Mikkeli will have a chance to take part in the nature experience day. The activities will be planned and organised by students, and part of the activities will be outdoors in Finnish nature, so it is a good idea to bring some warm outdoor clothes and boots with you.
Participants in Kotka have a chance to experience Finnish nature on Tuesday afternoon / evening including Sauna & cold-water swimming possibility.
The guests in Savonlinna will be offered a possibility to have a hot tub and sauna bath as well as to try ice swimming on Tuesday evening.
Therefore we would kindly recommend you to check the weather forecast approx. one week before arrival to Finland. On the website of Finnish Meteorological Institute you can find information about the Finnish climate and check the current forecasts.
Contact information
Kotka
International Coordinator
Sari Pieviläinen
+358 44 702 8236
sari.pievilainen@xamk.fi
Mikkeli
International Coordinator
Ulla Vuorinen
+358 400 872 764
ulla.vuorinen@xamk.fi
Savonlinna
International Coordinator
Lea Reponen
+358 50 312 5072
lea.reponen@xamk.fi