If you would be interested in joining StartUP Challenge when the course starts again in September start forming a team around a business idea and sign up to StartUP Challenge’s 2012 Launch Page.

We are living in a capitalist economic system which is build around creating surplus for your household, company or nation.
The value of the materials on our planet do not grow in the same manner as long as nobody starts printing money. Printing money leads to inflation and we are back at the same or even a worse point.

Profit against Ethic?

There are ways of doing profits and doing something good but as organisations like Fair Trade show – you can not satisfy and help everybody. Even so companies help to improve the living standards in 2nd or 3rd world countries by shifting their production there or sourcing raw materials – they do not help the organic development or might even destroy it completely.

Fair trade is an organisation exporting and importing products that are grown under human and environmental friendly conditions. The consumers pay more for these products and at least part of this added price reaches the actual producer and allows them to support themselves by their work. Other farmer who might not be able to join get less as they always have but the farmer getting more will start producing more and at one point the conventional farmer might not be able to sell at all.

A big cooperation that shifts to another country to cut costs in their home country hurts the domestic economy because of less paid wages and hence the purchasing power might decrease. They are in need for new markets. Within their new host country they increase the level of money floating but they have less expenses. Within the host country domestic industry might be destroyed, social differences might grow or the economic power will intrude with the political power as you can see with the BP company in Namibia. What will happen when the oil is gone?

How to behave ethical?

First of all: following rules and regulations is a companies duty and does not make them ethical. Extending them to benefit others than the company or setting up total new, free and ethical guidelines or rules might make a company ethical. But the critical point is: executing them, no matter what the situation is. This might lead to the bankruptcy of the company which again is bad for the economic environment. So, what should companies do?

Greenwashing!

Greenwashing is not a solution. This trend is about promising environmental aware costumers that they do something good in buying your products but in reality the things being done are nothing. Best example here is Krombachers campaign to save 1m² of rainforest with every crate of beer. In the end they did not save much at all because 1 m² is nothing compared to the total amount of destroyed rain forest. After the public got aware of this they had to change their strategy and started an own organisation protecting the environment with more financial aid from the company.
Their campaign worked out for a while but green is not ethical and greenwashing a bad try to pretend to do something good.

Change something!

Is up to your and the next generations. the way we have been raised with environmental awareness and a small sense for ethical behaviour as well as classes about how to be an ethical company should enable us to change something in the future. I am not saying that currently the companies do not try to do something and some have really promising approaches but it seems like we all still have a long way to go.

Finnish people are crazy.

Want to know more? Nobody can remain silent like the Finns and nobody can stand so much cold and darkness. Even more weird: you need 6 weeks to get friend with a Finn, if he is not drunken.
If he is drunken you might feel like his friend soon and he will forget soon.

One more word about drinking and Finns: they use every single occasion to drink, in public and private. And they can stand it. It takes quite a while until they start getting hangovers or reeling. Even so alcohol is so expensive they seem to practise since teenage years. They even learn how to import the cheaper beer and cider from Tallinn and stick to this tradition until they go to grave. Drinking seems to be a massive part of living in Finland but they still manage to work. Finland is one of the few countries in the EU without debts.

After all and 10 month of living here, I have to say: I like it. I like that Finns do not expect you to be friends with them after 15 minutes in a bar. I like that they like nature. I like sauna and I can even cope with their drinking habits: nobody pressures you to join them.

The only thing I will never go along is: Finnish sausages! There are more or less bread. I can eat it but do not call it meat (13 % meat, 47 % similar tasting products, 40% other unnamed stuff).

I can even arrange myself with the languages – as long as I do not have to speak it. You have to believe me, I tried really hard to learn but it still takes me  minutes to build one sentence, I can not understand simple sentences spoken by Finns and I barely manage to read some words. I failed totally.

But hey, I am still alive. The spring semester is (nearly) over and Finland should prepare itself for the next round of exchange students.

Finns are crazy. But it makes them special. And NOT  all of them are the same.

STUDY TRIP. Since Friday April 20^th, Marko took the burden to watch over 40 Finnish students while traveling 7 cities in order to visit the partner universities of Metropolia Business School. Despite a pretty tight schedule (!) the first delays already happened during the first longer ride from Stockholm to Maribo, but luckily all students made it back into the bus –even though Marko expressed prior that leaving about two students per bus stop, would be fine with him

What we have been most afraid of?

Well, at one point starting the trip without our travel supervisor, because getting up in the morning (at 6 am) was just not bearable for him and his lifestyle. Fortunately sleeping in the bus in not only the best way for students to spend the bus ri

des (apart from the infrequent parties being thrown), but also for Marko. Luckily, he and the driver started employing some students as travel assistants and bookkeepers to ensure travel safety.

Inside the European Parliament

But what is actually the purpose of the trip?

Even though having a fun time traveling Europe, the idea behind this trip is rather academically. When students have to decide where to go for an exchange year reading the reports and talking to former students going to those places might not be the best and most informative option. Traveling to the university, experiencing their culture – at least a little, and seeing it oneself can give students a better insight and might ease the decision-making process later on.

Secondly the trip was organized in corporation with the course Introduction to European Markets taught by Marko. The students should have had the chance to see how the different countries and institutions work in an integrated and international environment. To make this experience more vivid, Marko had scheduled a visit to the European Parliamentin Brussels.

Luckily, we did not only had an introduction about the history and the working of the EU institutions, but we were able to visit the plenary hall in form of listening to a key-note panel about the “Regional Actors as the Vectors of Peace” – What role for the EU? At last an MP of the European Parliament, Mitro Repo from Finland, took the time to speak to us and express and share his visions and ideas.

What schools have we been to?

The first partner university welcomed us in Amsterdam –Diemen. We have been guests at the Hogeschool Inholland, which explained their programs and invited us to take a look at the student accommodations. I would like to use one of the nicknames the students gave to their housing “the prison”. If you might wonder why, the city is actually building a new prison in the vicinity and the housing is made of metal containers stacked up and connected by stairwells. Whoever wants to complain about HOAS again, and the noise you can hear from the neighbors, start living in the prison and HOAS will be like paradise.

Then the tour took us to Utrecht, the University City. Whoever wants to go there, make sure you have older students mapping out the area! I have never seen so many different wings, stairs leading up and down. Otherwise having everything close by is very convenient.

The last university the study trip has been to was the Berlin School of Economics and Law in Berlin. After listening to the presentation about the university and the study opportunities, students were given the possibility to look at the premises before heading to lunch and a walk up to the Reichstag’s glass dome. The afternoon then has been free for everybody to explore the city or to take the opportunity to shop.

After all, we spend about 4,000 km on the road (or on ferries), stayed in 4 hostels and one hotel and had the pleasure of five ferry rides during the 10 days duration of the Euro Trip 2012.

Can you decide where to go now???

All are welcome

If you would be interested in joining StartUP Challenge when the course starts again in September start forming a team around a business idea and sign up to StartUP Challenge’s 2012 Launch Page.

Despite his fear of the coming questions, he was brave enough to stay and take on the challenge of answering – not matter what the questions were related to. Being a storyteller – or not? – he promised to be as honest as he can.

Interested in his answers? Do you want to know why he considers himself a storyteller? Or why he was born in Beirut?

Sign up for MBS newsletter NOW to get the interview.

As every year Metropolia gives 75 bright and determined students to chance to make their way through 7 or 8 semesters of schooling, to eventually become one of the leaders of our future.

After two days and 400 students getting tested on their skills and abilities, it is up to the lecturers and administrative staff to decide on those lucky 75 students who will have to pleasure to study at Metropolia.

This year, the Metropolia Blog team had the opportunity to be among the tutors and to get a look behind the scenes. Even though we did not have to get through this process (thanks for being an exchange student), participating in the event was one of the most amazing experiences.

Welcome words before the Exams

Spending about 20 hours with the actual working in Hämeenkylä Kartano, takes almost a year to prepare. The premise has to be booked, the schedule has to be written, teachers informed, exams and material written, and finally putting everything together.

What was waiting for the many applicants?

During the course of the day, all the applicants had a chance to show their qualities and talents to not only the teachers but also to the tutors. Both parties had the opportunity to spend time with the prospectus future students and determine whether they are suited for the studies ahead of them. Overall the participants had to present their skills and abilities during a written assignment, individual interviews, group exercises and impromptu presentations. Even though the situation might have been uncomfortable to many, coming to one place and then being “shipped” to another, can be intimidating. But finding your way in the chaos and managing an unusual situation is exactly the moment in which to show your first ability. How flexible are you? It is not only about pure knowledge, those exams are also a test on the personality of the participants. Who is willing to take on the situation? Only those who combine knowledge, creativity, flexibility and personal strength in every way, can become on of ours.

Surely, no one knows yet who will among them, but everyone can be very hopeful. I want to believe that every single one showed us their best demeanour and presented themselves to the best of their abilities.

We can only hope, those being accepted will appreciate the opportunity given. To all the others we wish the best for their future.

The reason for the charity is the simple evidence that “Education can change everything“.

In sub-Saharan Africa, 24 million girls can’t afford to go to school. A girl may marry as young as 13 and has a one in 22 chance of dying in childbirth. One in six of her children will die before the age of five. Research shows if you educate a girl she’ll:

- Earn up to 25 percent more and reinvest 90 percent in her family.
- Be three times less likely to become HIV-positive.
- Have fewer, healthier children who are 40 percent more likely to live past the age of five.

Since 1993, Camfed has fought poverty and AIDS by educating girls and empowering young women. More than 1,451,600 children in impoverished areas of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana and Malawi have benefited from our innovative education programs.

The organizers want to contribute to empower women in Africa as they believe what United Nations Development Administrator, Helen Clark, said: “Development cannot be achieved if fifty per cent of the population is excluded from the opportunities it brings”. In this sense we think that the work that Camfed is doing is essential to end poverty.

With regards to this, everyone can be lucky for being granted access to education. In this sense Party for Charity wants to increase the awareness that the student community has towards this issue.

The place to party? Helsinki Club (Yliopistonkatu 8, Helsinki) on 12 April 2012

For further information, check out the event.

Almost two weeks ago, all the people attending the Metropolia World Week had the chance to win prizes. Either you had participated as a cooking team, at one of the three campuses,  and have been voted best by all the people trying your food. Or you send in your photo or video for the Erasmus Photo Competition, and either got announced winner by the jury or the students. But there was also the chance to be the lucky winner for just filling out a piece of paper, the spectators prize.

The International Office teams got together before Easter and counted all the votes. Thank you for taking up that task. And now we can proudly present you the names of the winners of the three categories.

Cooking competition

Leppävaara: Vietnam

Myyrmäki: Spain

Bulevardi: Russia

Erasmus 25 years photo / video competition

Jury selection:  “What I Learned” by Anne Julkunen

Many congratulations Anne for handing in such a nice piece of art and we hope you have lots of fun with your new iPodTouch.

Student vote: ”One Day in Helsinki – Exchange Students’ Experiences” by Jeremy Gotto

Spectator Prize

Henri Sihvonen

Congratulations to all the winners. If you haven’t yet picked up your price, you better get to the International Office at your campus quickly to do so.

For all the others, hopefully you aren’t too sad you aren’t among the winners. At least you had tasty food and fun during Metropolia World Week that is equally important. And maybe this is an incentive for you to do better next time.

Tagged: Competition, Finland, International Student Exchange, Metropolia World Week, Student ]]> http://metropoliablog.fi/2012/04/09/congratulation-to-the-winners/feed/ 0 tiniexplorestheworld Congrats.jpeg http://metropoliablog.fi/2012/04/06/what-is-going-on-in-rwanda-today/ http://metropoliablog.fi/2012/04/06/what-is-going-on-in-rwanda-today/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:41:35 +0000 Emma http://metropoliablog.fi/?p=4726 ]]> Today it will be 18 years after the genocide but the country only started recovering from the impact of this violent bloody conflict. Lets go one step back to the events of 1994 in Rwanda.
Trigger of the 100 days lasting genocide was the shoot down of the airplane bringing the current president of Rwanda back to the capital, Kigali, after negotiations with rebels.

The history of Rwanda is long with some unusual turn points. The killing was blamed on different parties for example on the Belgian colonial masters but the genocide was well planned and kicked of on purpose: in the following days over 500.000 were killed for sure and estimates talk about up to 1 million which equals nearly 20 % of the country’s population. Over 2 million people fled over the borders to Zaire (today: Republic of Congo) but the conflict was not over and did not stop at borders, aid workers were not able to separate guilty from innocent people and the situation was on the edge to escalate again every day.

Christopher Ayres, former UN lawyer and now professor at Berlin School of Economics and Law was so kind to answer some questions about Rwanda back then and today.

1. When have you been in Rwanda/ Africa?
   From 1994 to 2005.
2. What was your job there? Why have you been send there?
   I went there originally as a lawyer for the U.N. in 1994 and when the U.N. left in early 1996 I stayed on to support a shelter for genocide survivor among other things.
3. How was the normal day life before/during/after the conflict time?
   Daily life was filled with supplying basic necessities, fetching water, food, medicine, housing and protecting families and individuals threatened by ethnic and other forms of violence.
4. What could have been done better by the international society in dealing with the genocide?
   No party to the Convention on Genocide paid any attention to the obligation to intervene when it was established that a genocide was occurring. Therefore, it was more a question not of what could have been done, but what was not done in spite of member country’s voluntary earlier agreement to step in to prevent or stop a genocide.
5. How do you see the role of law during the recent development in this region? What is your evaluation about the ICTR?
   When countries don’t meet their obligations under the Convention on Genocide (requiring them to intervene) they are left only to punish. Of course by that time, the damage is done. In this case, the damage done if of historical proportions. Prosecutions, while important, may be view as one sided, i.e., targeting only Hutu killers while failing to prosecute Rwandan Patriotic Army individuals responsible human rights violations.
6. How do you see the latest UN-reports about Rwanda? Is it true that they changed the first official version because of political pressure from Rwanda?
   If you are speaking about the report on Rwanda’s activities involving human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, all sources indicate that the report – which accused post-genocide Rwanda of committing grave human rights violations including genocide – was delayed and modified owing to pressure from Rwanda. The pressure included threatening to remove Rwandan peace-keeping forces from Darfur, Sudan.
7. How does the situation in Rwanda effect neighbouring states?
   All states in the region have been drawn into conflicts in varying degrees stemming from events in Rwanda.
8. What is your opinion about movies made about the genocide (Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April, 100 days)? Do they get to the root of the conflict and how true are they?
   Sometimes in April is a credible work.
   While Hotel Rwanda helped bring attention to the genocide well after the fact to much of the world, the man at the center of the film who is said by some to have helped scores of Tutsi survive (on the one hand), and been characterized as opportunistic by Tutsi (on the other – he is Hutu). There is much controversy surrounding the film. The person who gave the film its title, one of the producers told me, “fiction is as fiction does,” indicating that the film can’t be taken, even by its makers, as a true representation of events in 1994. Sometimes in April on the other captures much of what it was and is like in Rwanda.
9. How do you see the current situation?
   The current situation is one of tight control.
10. How stable is Rwanda?
    Given its history, as you might expect it is ruled with a heavy authoritarian hand, which implies a form of imposed stability wherein the penalties for not conforming to government demands are harsh.
11. What interests does the international community have in an economically strong Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda? None of the three are anything approaching economic strength. All are very poor countries with a handful of rich citizens. The international community approach to remedying impoverishment, i.e., government to government aid and loans, World Bank and IMF loans, multinational corporation investment, have done little if anything to improve conditions. Some, including a well known African economist, argue that such aid and loans are indeed responsible for the perpetuation of poverty in the region.

These answers provide at least me with a lot of stuff to think of. First of all, why the nations who signed the convention against genocide did not react on to warnings about possible actions? After 100 days of slaughter, what can be left?

Clear is that something changed after the genocide but there is still a lot of violence and instability in this region. The borders to their neighbouring states are not respected in order to gain profit out of rare earth materials. There are still acts against humanity and different courts still try to figure out who to blame. Even 18 years afterwards most of the facts are still blurred. And some might never get clear – to many people have interest in covering up and the passing time makes this even easier. We might never know.

If you want to experience the emotional aspect I really recommend you the movie “Sometimes in April”. It covers the key points of the development and is really close to what eye witnesses saw.