University-industry collaboration promotes employment prospects

Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere offer a training programme that has provided a soft landing for employees departing from Nokia by helping them polish their leadership and business skills as they pursue other career options or entrepreneurship. The leavers form a valuable talent pool for the region’s industry and businesses.

For Nokia Bridge programme, the training has offered an alternative avenue of supporting departing employees and helping them expand and commercialize their competencies. The first implementation round of the LIKE programme ended in September 2012 and was immediately followed by another. The third implementation round was launched in December 2012.

"The participants have previous work experience that has shaped them into professional team players with a hands-on approach and the knack of applying knowledge. They’re open to new possibilities and eager to explore diverse options," says Development Manager Ulla-Maria Varkoi from the Centre for Professional Development Edutech at Tampere University of Technology.

The programme helps the participants see their strengths and abilities from a new perspective and tap into their full potential as they embark on a new career. Among others, the participants complete development assignments in selected partner companies, enabling mutual sharing of knowledge and expertise.

"The programme included assignments and discussions with key personnel from the partner company. They offered both a unique glimpse into the management and particular challenges of SMEs and excellent opportunities for networking and putting the theories we’d learned into practice," says Mikko Aro. He found the experience useful, as it allowed him to deepen his leadership skills and gain access to the latest business and management knowledge.

The LIKE programme provides a solid foundation for pursuing entrepreneurship. It helped Kari Oinonen, who has recently established his own company, refine his business concept and erase any lingering reservations about the viability of his business idea and his entrepreneurial skills.
"Peer support from the others was essential. It felt good to share thoughts with the group, as we were all taking a leap into the unknown."

The purpose of the LIKE programme is to support re-employment and entrepreneurship among job-seekers. It has been developed by the Centre for Professional Development Edutech at Tampere University of Technology and the Research and Education Centre Synergos at the University of Tampere.

The programme is part of the Spirit ICT Future project and implemented in cooperation with the regional Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) and Tampere Employment and Economic Development Office. The ELY centre sponsors the companies participating in the programme. The second and third implementation rounds are supported by the European Social Fund.