International Staff Training Days

The next International Staff Training Days will be held during 14th - 16th May 2025. The four tracks for May 2025 can be seen below.

The application period for May 2025 has ended. Information about the tracks for spring 2026 will be published on this webpage in autumn 2025.

International Staff Training Days at the University of Helsinki is a chance to embark on a journey of professional growth and collaboration with our highly popular staff training days. Our unique programme offers a golden opportunity for non-academic staff working across various fields at institutions of higher education to exchange knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Why Participate
  1. Diverse Perspectives: Immerse yourself in a melting pot of ideas and perspectives. Engage with professionals from other insitutions of higher education and cultures, fostering a rich environment for learning, benchmarking and innovation. 
  2. Skills Enrichment: Update your professional skills and revise your routines through workshop collaboration. Familiarise with case studies and learn best practices, strategies, and techniques that can be applied to your own work environment, enhancing your overall professional competency.  

  3. Networking Opportunities: Build lasting connections with professionals from other universities. Exchange contact information, collaborate on future projects, and establish a global network that extends beyond the Staff Exchange. 

  4. Cultural Exchange: Experience a new work culture and environment. Immerse yourself in the local community and traditions while forging connections that go beyond professional boundaries. Gain a deeper understanding of global perspectives and enhance your cultural intelligence while also having fun along the way.
How to Apply
  1. Submitting Your Application: Complete our simple online application form by telling us more about your professional background and current role and by answering the track-specific questions. The application period for May 2025 has ended.
  2. Review Process: Our selection committee will carefully review all applications. Please make sure to only apply to a track that corresponds with your current work profile.  
  3. Confirmation: Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email with detailed information about the programme, including the schedule, accommodation options, and any preparatory steps required. Applicants will receive notification of their acceptance or non-acceptance by 7th March 2025. A preparatory online meeting with accepted applicants will be held a few weeks before the staff training begins. Please note that we will not confirm any applications before the application period is over. 
The four tracks on offer in May 2025

Name of the track: Future Erasmus+ challenges

Target group: Erasmus+ institutional coordinators / Experienced Erasmus+ coordinators at central level

This track will discuss topics such as:

  • Assessment of Erasmus+ agreement portfolio
  • Simplifying Erasmus+ administration
  • Meaningful and responsible mobility

Name of the track: Research funding support for ERC and Pillar II Consortium 

Target group: Research Funding Specialists 

This track will discuss topics such as:

  • Exchanging best practices for supporting ERC and Horizon Europe Pillar II applications
  • Participants will learn from the successful strategies implemented at the University of Helsinki, as well as gain insights from other institutions
  • The aim of the day is for each attendee to acquire a deeper understanding of various methods to support applicants, be inspired by their peers, and return to their home universities equipped with new ideas and approaches

A solid knowledge of ERC and Horizon Europe programs is essential for effective participation.

Name of the track: University Marketing: Tools, Tactics, and Trends

Target group: Brand and marketing professionals

In this track we will:

  • Explore the essentials of university brand 
  • Delve into development of marketing services
  • Discuss innovative ways to engage student ambassadors in different activities
  • Cover the latest marketing tools (incl. CRM, marketing automation, analytics tools, and AI) to make data-driven decisions and drive impactful marketing campaigns

Join us to learn, share, and innovate with your peers from across Europe!

Name of the track: Understanding customer – a key factor to efficient service development

Target group: Persons developing library services or collecting and analysing user data and feedback about services at the university

This track will discuss topics such as:

  • Creating value through customer knowledge in the context of university library
  • Design and development of multi-channel services
  • Case studies of gaining customer knowledge from combination of data and customer feedback
Schedule outline for May 2025

International Staff Training Days take place on the City Centre Campus of the University of Helsinki. 

Wednesday 14th May
12-16:30 Programme (including lunch)
18-19:30 Get together reception

Thursday 15th May
9-17 Track specific sessions 
19-21 Dinner 

Friday 16th May
9-14 Programme (including lunch)

Detailed and track-specific programmes will be sent to all those who are selected to participate in the International Staff Training Days. 
Contact

Staff training days:

If you have any inquiries related to the the staff exchange event, feel free to reach out by sending an email to isew@helsinki.fi. 

Individual staff training visits:

Individual staff training visits are also possible if there is a unit at the University of Helsinki which is able to host your visit. The host unit will be responsible for the programme of your visit. In order for the receiving unit to benefit from your visit, choosing a clear topic for the visit is recommended. You can suggest a topic which your own institution is working on at the moment. You can suggest a Teams or Zoom meeting with the potential host unit first in order to decide if there are enough common interests for them to accept your visit. Benchmarking visits can include a staff exchange visitor first coming to the University of Helsinki to learn about a specific topic.

For questions related to individual staff exchange visits which are not related to the event, please contact staffexchange@helsinki.fi.