Laurea University of Applied Sciences has integrated the retailer entrepreneurship path in their curriculum. At present in Finland, there are 14 institutions of higher education where the retailer entrepreneurship path can be included in the study programme.
- For Kesko, it is a major advantage that students can opt for retailer entrepreneurship in their studies, says Kesko Food's Training Manager Matti Vornanen.
The retailer entrepreneurship path was created jointly by Kesko and the Finnish universities of applied sciences as a systematic study channel to become a K-retailer.
It is part of the traditional K-retailer trainee programme, modified into an optional polytechnic study module.
Introduction to retailing during studies
Matti Vornanen is happy about the new form of cooperation:
- It was time for Kesko and Laurea to start the cooperation, because they both emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship.
The retailer entrepreneurship path provides polytechnic students, especially those studying for a Bachelor's Degree in business administration or hospitality management, an opportunity to participate in an advanced study module on retail and retailer entrepreneurship.
Pentti Rauhala, President of Laurea, is interested the possibilities opened up by the retailer entrepreneurship path.
- We at Laurea teach entrepreneur oriented operating practices, regardless of the student's eventual career. Learning must include practical work, not only exams and theory.
The cooperation agreement was signed by President Pentti Rauhala of Laurea and Development Director Jarmo Salovirta of Kesko Food.
Laurea benefits from the cooperation as its students have access to current training, which materially supports the education.
- For students, the retailer entrepreneurship path opens up possibilities to enter working life and helps them identify certain characteristics typical of the trading sector, says Vornanen.
Laurea consists of seven units and four fields of study, the biggest of which are business administration, and social services and health promotion. The number of hospitality management students is also large. The total number of students is nearly 8,000.
Regular exchange of experiences
The increase in the popularity of the retailer entrepreneurship path in the educational institutions is visible in Kesko in
many ways. In September, a related event with an extensive audience of teachers from all of the 14 polytechnics was organised in Katajanokka, Helsinki.
The meeting agenda included a presentation of updates made to the study platform and an exchange of experiences. Marketing the retailer entrepreneurship path to students was discussed widely.
- In future, these meetings will be arranged on a regular basis, says Matti Vornanen.
-The best thing about the meeting were discussions among experienced and novice participants, said Esa Anttila of Oulu University of Applied Sciences and Tuula Miettinen of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.