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When Aalto University marketing student Ilona Jääskeläinen joined the Aalto University Summer School team as a Program Assistant for summer 2023, she learned how to consider the different needs of international visiting students studying in Finland and how to make their experience at Aalto University as welcoming as possible. 

“I have lived in Finland my whole life, except last spring when I did my student exchange in Barcelona. It gave me perspective on how international students experience Finland and studying at a new university in a foreign country. It also made me realise what a fantastic opportunity the Summer School is for students who want to broaden their competencies while experiencing a new country without having to move abroad for a more extended period. Overall, the program assistant role helped me think in a new, more comprehensive way.”, Ilona comments. 

“Working as a program assistant enriched me with multicultural connections. I met participants from various countries and learned about their cultures and traditions. As an employee, I always felt like a part of the team, and my interests were welcomed with open arms. In addition to the Program Assistant tasks, I also got to develop and maintain some of the Summer School’s marketing activities and set up marketing campaigns for the autumn.”, Ilona continues.

Each year, the program assistants at Aalto University Summer School are responsible for planning and executing the social program. The social program allows students to familiarise themselves with Finnish culture and get to know each other in a more relaxed way. As students themselves, the program assistants often have a great perception of current sightseeing spots and fun things to experience around the Helsinki area. 

“We used our creativity to create unique activities that helped the participants learn more about Finland while getting to know each other better. At the events, we got to talk to all the students and see how they had started to bond with each other and become good friends in such a short amount of time. This was heartwarming to notice.”, says Ilona.

Aalto University Summer School will soon recruit Aalto degree students as Program Assistants for summer 2024. The job advertisement is published at the beginning of 2024.