fTwist study trip to Graz deepened learning on responsible and international business

Participants of the joint fTwist project by the Martti Ahtisaari Institute and Oulu University of Applied Sciences travelled to Graz, Austria, on an international study trip in January. The trip offered opportunities to expand international business networks, gain insights into Austrian companies, engage in shared learning, and deepen understanding of responsible business in an international context.

Business ecosystems and international collaboration

During the study trip, participants explored the higher education and business ecosystem of the Graz and Styria region. A visit to FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences provided an overview of the institution’s activities, the regional business environment, and the role of higher education institutions in fostering business cooperation and building international networks. Discussions addressed responsibility both as a strategic choice for organisations and as an integral part of individual leadership.

Courage, learning, and women’s entrepreneurship

Learning was further strengthened through the workshop Failing Forward – The Power of Failure, which examined failure as a source of learning, development, and adaptability. The workshop highlighted the importance of experimentation, courage, and resilience, particularly in international business and rapidly changing markets.

The programme also included a Fireside Chat seminar organised in collaboration with a local startup network and entrepreneurship experts from FH JOANNEUM. The seminar emphasised women’s perspectives as company founders and leaders. The discussions featured open and honest reflections on entrepreneurial journeys, business growth, internationalisation, and the challenges and opportunities of doing business.

Responsibility as part of sustainable business

Responsible business practices were also highlighted during company visits. Participants visited a second-hand and vintage store where sustainability is a core part of the business model, a lunch café that produces functional items from recycled materials and promotes social responsibility through the employment of young people at risk of social exclusion, and Saubermacher, a company whose circular economy solutions encompass ecological, social, and economic sustainability in an international operating environment.

The study trip concluded with a visit to the Embassy of Finland in Vienna, where participants gained insights into the embassy’s activities and its role in supporting business internationalisation and promoting cooperation between countries.

International study trips are an integral part of the fTwist project’s training programmes. The project strengthens women’s managerial competence, entrepreneurial capabilities, and ability to operate within international business ecosystems. The fTwist project runs from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2026 and is co-funded by the European Union.