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'Mentoring is inspiring and fun' - Aalto International Talent Program offers a meaningful way to support international students

Published: 6.6.2022

This year the group mentoring initiative brought together over 180 international students and 17 companies.

The companies participating in Aalto International Talent Program 2022 were ABB, CGI, Digitalist Group, Elisa, Fiskars Group, Kemira, KONE, Konecranes, Lindström Group, Murata, Nokia, Okmetic, OP Financial Group, Stora Enso, UPM, WithSecure and Wärtsilä.

Kemira's mentoring group was led by Application and Marketing Director Reetta Strengell together with IP Management Director Virpi Tognetty. The two alumni were happy to connect with students of their alma mater.

´Mentoring was a great way to support students and collaborate with Aalto University', Strengell and Tognetty said.

Virpi Tognetty Kemira — Director, IP Management, R&D Technology Virpi Tognetty found Aalto International Talent Program to be a great way to collaborate with Aalto University.

During the Program, they organized virtual sessions with the students, introducing them to the world of chemical industry. The students also had the opportunity to meet with Kemira's experts and HR to learn about careers and career opportunities at Kemira. With the pandemic taking a turn for the better, a visit to the company's facilities was organized in March.

'A visit to our Espoo R&D Center with a lab tour and R&D highlights completed the journey.'

Many company representatives and alumni participating find the Program to be a rewarding way to engage with international students.

'Mentoring is inspiring and fun', Strengell and Tognetty confirmed.

For students, the Program provides a unique chance to build their network in Finland and learn about Finnish working life and industry. According to the Program feedback survey, many value the opportunity to connect with industry representatives directly and talk to them in an informal setting.

'It was a unique chance to ask questions about the mentor company, its expectations from potential employees, the work environment and other topics that you cannot learn from anywhere else', doctoral student Ulviyya Quliyeva said.

She enjoyed the group talks with her mentoring company Murata's HR and engineering representatives.

'They were really enthusiastic to lend their advice to us on any subject ranging from making a good professional CV to actual work conditions. The environment in the sessions was really open and friendly", Quliyeva concluded.

The Aalto International Talent Program is part of Aalto Career Design Lab. The Program will continue in the spring of 2023.