Building an Entrepreneurial Higher Education Community

Working in educational and entrepreneurial development has been a central part of my career path. I began my specialist career at Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk), where our team focused on advancing higher education-driven entrepreneurship. My responsibilities included planning and organizing innovation events, collaborating with companies, and communications. I also had the opportunity to co-design and implement Business Corner, a low-threshold development environment for entrepreneurship aimed at students and staff in the higher education community.

After Oamk, I moved on to the Management Institute of Finland (MIF), where I was involved in implementing various vocational and specialist qualifications, such as Further Qualification in First-Level Management and Specialist Vocational Qualification in Product Development. At MIF, I also gained experience with apprenticeship training, student administration, and developing learning platforms. Most recently, I worked as a Project Specialist at the Educational Consortium OSAO in the OIA Business Cluster development project. The overall goal of the project was to develop business cluster activities in North Ostrobothnia, and I was responsible for a continuous learning work package that mapped the competence needs of business clusters and how OSAO, Oamk and the University of Oulu could respond to them.

Through my work experience, I have gained a broad understanding of the development of education and entrepreneurship education at different levels of education. So far, I have been able to develop continuous learning in some way in all my work assignments. It has been a pleasure to notice how increased attention has been paid to it in educational institutions. Learning is not just a single phase in life – it’s a lifelong journey.

Entrepreneurship education is a topic that’s especially close to my heart, and I believe its importance has only grown. It doesn’t just prepare individuals for entrepreneurship as a career, but also develops a broader entrepreneurial mindset, the courage to try, the ability to solve problems, and the vision to recognize opportunities. Especially in today’s rapidly changing world of work, where new professions constantly emerge, entrepreneurship education provides people with tools to navigate uncertainty. It helps individuals identify and leverage their strengths, encourages them to seize opportunities, and builds confidence in their abilities. It also lays the foundation for a more sustainable future by promoting responsibility and collaboration.

Communication has played a key role in all my positions. There is already an impressive variety of high-quality lifelong learning opportunities and services available for entrepreneurs at every stage, from beginners to experienced professionals. Communication is essential for making these opportunities visible and accessible. I’m excited to contribute to developing communications that promote entrepreneurial culture and highlight all the excellent work being done in this field across our region.

As a counterbalance to my work, I stay active. I’ve danced my whole life, from ballet to show dance and currently focus on Caribbean show, a style that blends dance forms like reggaeton and salsa. Setting goals motivates me and I have often found myself in competitive groups. This autumn, I’ll even participate in my first World Championships. I also go for daily walks with my dog, work out at the gym, cycle and roller skate in the summer, and ski and snowboard in the winter. I enjoy DIY projects as well. I’ve built several pieces of furniture myself when I haven’t found the right fit in stores. Lately, I’ve also been learning to crochet and knit. In contrast to the often abstract nature of my work, it’s rewarding to do something concrete, something where I can immediately see the result of my own hands.

Author: Essi Kangasniemi, BBA, Communications Planner, The University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute

Photo: Maaria Tuisku