In English

Evolving working life and the humanities (ESR)

The Initiative ”Evolving Working Life and the Humanities” is focused, first, on the problem of incidence between post graduates in humanities and potential employers in the labour markets, and second, on the problem of globalisation effects, that is multiculturalism and internationalisation of commerce and labour markets, particularly in Eastern Finland.

The Initiative ”Evolving Working Life and the Humanities” is focused, first, on the problem of incidence between post graduates in humanities and potential employers in the labour markets, and second, on the problem of globalisation effects, that is multiculturalism and internationalisation of commerce and labour markets, particularly in Eastern Finland. By creating a network of university, employers, labour unions and employment authorities, the initiative aims at developing new kind of training of multicultural expertise in humanities to respond the problem of multiculturalisation in business, and furthermore, at better employment of post graduates to enrich the global potentiality of industry and commerce in Eastern Finland.

In details, the objectives of the initiative are as follows:
(1) Improve contacts of the students, post graduates and doctors of humanities to different companies, entrepreneurs and other employers in industry and commerce in Eastern Finland, and thus, expedite the process and progress of their employment.
(2) Develope and renew the training and the transferable skills of students/post graduates/doctors in Humanities, and furthermore, create new kind of training of multiculturalism and internationalisation in collaboration with companies, entrepreneurs and other actors in industry and commerce of Eastern Finland.
(3) Improve the abilities of companies, entrepreneurs and other employers to recognize, on one hand, problems and challenges of globalisation and internationalisation in the local multicultural trends and tendencies in Eastern Finland, and on the other hand, the opportunities based on cultural competences and language skills in their own business. In addition to this, one of the main focus group is also those companies and entrepreneurs that are acting on or aiming to international business.

The measures of the initiative are divided into four work packages:
(WP 1) The administrative WP includes two employees (project manager and assistant) who administer the initiative, coordinate the contacts with the employers and companies, organise and conduct the work of the steering group and organise the practice of all the meetings, seminars and training activities.
(WP 2) The WP of training and interactive measures given by experts on internationalisation and multiculturalism in industrial, commercial and cultural environments; a permanent pool of internship and practical training for students in humanities; network of mentoring and alumni activities with companies, employers and employment authorities.
(WP 3) The WP of elaboration and renewing of the university training of various kind of experts and scholars of cultural encounters in business, industry and commerce.
(WP 4) The WP of using TalentHub digital platform (by Business Joensuu) to encounter the students, post graduates and doctors of humanities with employers, companies and entrepreneurs, and moreover, with the mentors and alumni.

The practical results of the initiative include the following:
1. Removing the problem of incidence between post graduates in humanities and potential employers in the labour markets.
2. Creating a permanent procedure and platform for the employers to meet students and post graduates of humanities as their potential employees.
3. Offering a network of mentoring and training possibilities for students and post graduates to improve their potentiality in the labour markets.
4. Creating new information on how to face various problems of communication within globalisation and multiculturalism in industry and commerce.
5. Vitalising, diversifying and culturally enriching the labour markets and business in Eastern Finland.