International Staff Training Days

The next International Staff Training Days will be held 6-8 May 2026.

On this page you can find more information on the four tracks on offer.

International Staff Training Days at the University of Helsinki is a chance to embark on a journey of professional growth and collaboration with our highly popular staff training days. Our unique programme offers a golden opportunity for non-academic staff working across various fields at institutions of higher education to exchange knowledge, skills, and experiences.
Why Participate
  1. Diverse Perspectives: Immerse yourself in a melting pot of ideas and perspectives. Engage with professionals from other insitutions of higher education and cultures, fostering a rich environment for learning, benchmarking and innovation. 
  2. Skills Enrichment: Update your professional skills and revise your routines through workshop collaboration. Familiarise with case studies and learn best practices, strategies, and techniques that can be applied to your own work environment, enhancing your overall professional competency.  

  3. Networking Opportunities: Build lasting connections with professionals from other universities. Exchange contact information, collaborate on future projects, and establish a global network that extends beyond the Staff Exchange. 

  4. Cultural Exchange: Experience a new work culture and environment. Immerse yourself in the local community and traditions while forging connections that go beyond professional boundaries. Gain a deeper understanding of global perspectives and enhance your cultural intelligence while also having fun along the way.
How to Apply
  1. Submitting Your Application: Complete our simple online application form by telling us more about your professional background and current role and by answering the track-specific questions. The application form will be open from 14 January to 13 February 2026 and the link will be posted on this webpage. Please note that only applications submitted on the online form may be considered.
  2. Review Process: Our selection committee will carefully review all applications. Please make sure to only apply to a track that corresponds with your current work profile.
  3. Confirmation: Successful applicants will receive a confirmation email with detailed information about the programme, including the schedule, accommodation options, and any preparatory steps required. A preparatory online meeting with accepted applicants will be held a few weeks before the staff training begins. Please note that we will not confirm any applications before the application period is over. 

TRACK 1: GLOBAL MOBILITY NETWORKS

Target group: Mobility colleagues working at the International offices with global, European or regional mobility networks and looking for inspiration for how to make the most of the existing cooperation 

This track will discuss topics such as:   

In addition to the European University Alliances, universities also participate in other large and small scale networks specifically focused on mobility. How can we maximize the potential of these existing mobility networks (eg. Nordplus, IROICA etc.)? What strategies can we employ to leverage networks when applying for funding? And how can we engage with these networks sustainably, especially when both time and resources are limited? 

Let’s explore innovative solutions that not only enhance our collaboration but also ensure that we make the most of every opportunity available! 

TRACK 2: COMMUNICATIONS – A TOOLKIT FOR MULTICHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS

Target group: People who work with multichannel university communications, and who have experience in one or more of the following areas: external content creation, social media, crisis communications, and intranet

This track will discuss topics such as:

  • University intranet as a tool for internal communications
  • Social media analytics – how to measure impact
  • Navigating university crisis communications
  • Organizing engaging research-based events to the general public and creating multi-channel content out of them

TRACK 3: TRANSFORMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS: A MULTI-PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO USER-CENTERED SPACE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

Target group: professionals involved in the planning, design, and development of university spaces dedicated to student learning, such as libraries and study areas

This track will discuss topics such as:  

  • Multi-Professional Collaboration in Space Design
  • Engaging Students in Space Planning
  • Strategies for Monitoring and Continuous Improvement of Learning Spaces

TRACK 4: LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION TEACHING

Target group: Language and communication teachers and other language and communication professionals, from Universities and other institutions

This track will discuss topics such as: Language and communication teaching and learning, student cooperation and well-being, pedagogigal development, different course completion methods and curriculum work. Track will also include observing Language Centre teaching. 
Contact

Staff training days:

If you have any inquiries related to the the staff exchange event, feel free to reach out by sending an email to . 

Individual staff training visits:

Individual staff training visits are also possible if there is a unit at the University of Helsinki which is able to host your visit. The host unit will be responsible for the programme of your visit. In order for the receiving unit to benefit from your visit, choosing a clear topic for the visit is recommended. You can suggest a topic which your own institution is working on at the moment. You can suggest a Teams or Zoom meeting with the potential host unit first in order to decide if there are enough common interests for them to accept your visit. Benchmarking visits can include a staff exchange visitor first coming to the University of Helsinki to learn about a specific topic.

For questions related to individual staff exchange visits which are not related to the event, please contact .