The Interns (part 2)

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For the past couple of months, four interns have been working in different units of the University of Helsinki’s Education Services. For Minna, Lyra, Risto and Emmy (all university students themselves), the internship was not only an opportunity to gain relevant work experience, but it also offered a rare look into the infrastructure of the University’s academic administration and the many services it provides to students, teachers and other staff members. In this two-part series, the interns reveal some of the things they’ve learned along the way, the must-dos in Helsinki for locals and exchange students alike and more. Read on to find out what Risto and Emmy have to say about their internship so far.

 

Risto

Name: Risto Fonselius
Major: Public Policy (Social Policy)
Minors: Communications Studies and Sociology
Study Year: 6th

1. What do you do and what does your average day look like?

At the moment I’m working for the University of Helsinki as an intern. I’m part of a bigger intern program in the Education Services department. To be specific, I do work-related to education technologies.

I usually start my day somewhere around half nine and leave after four o’clock. Education services are part of the University’s central administration, so we have clients and co-workers basically everywhere around the University. That’s why I need to use a lot of email to keep in touch with people who need help or have questions concerning the technologies we provide. My main tasks are video production and being part of the support team that instructs teachers and staff how to produce videos and make the most of using videos in their own work. So a lot of guiding and instructing people in these matters.

2. How did you find out about this internship and what made you apply for it?

I found about this internship by exploring the websites of the University of Helsinki. I had heard before about this portal called Rekrynet where employers can offer different kinds of jobs. Then I visited the site and found a lot of interesting offers. Finally I applied because of the job description: a combination of technology and developing new ways of using it.

3. What are some of the highlights of your internship so far?

Definitely being able to see behind the structures that are visible to students and learning a lot about how the services are being built.

Then one thing is that I’ve met a lot of great people here. It has been nice to get to know the other interns and to talk about how they have felt working here and to hear their stories about how they ended up here. Also learning a lot everyday about teaching, producing videos, co-working with people and so on.

4. What kind of challenges have you encountered?

Even though it’s been great to learn new things and working with new technologies it has sometimes been difficult to do and learn at the same time because you don’t want to give bad results even though you might still be learning the things you do. It has been helpful to have supportive co-workers so that’s why I can’t name any specific challenges while working here. Although it did take a while to get a clear image of the bigger picture how things are organized here.

5. What are the must-dos in Helsinki?

One should borrow a bike and cycle by the sea shore because those are really inspiring views one can see. Then I would recommend visiting the street Kolmas Linja where there’s a great weekend brunch (Sandro) and the best coffee in Helsinki (Good life coffee).

Also Suvilahti area and Teurastamo area in the Kalasatama-district, as well as the old swimming hall on Yrjönkatu are worth exploring.

6. If you could go to any place in the world right now, where would you go?

As a big music fanatic I would like to visit New York city because of the endless opportunities to see and hear a lot of world-class musicians.


Emmy

Name: Emmy Pusula
Major: Human Geography
Minors: Environmental Law, Economics and Social Sciences in general
Study Year: 8th

1. What do you do and what does your average day look like?

I’m a Human Geography student working at the Education Services of the University of Helsinki. My day starts when I wake up and take a shower, eat my porridge, braid my hair and take the train to work. At work I try to learn something new every day and to enjoy my day as much as possible.

2. How did you find out about this internship and what made you apply for it?

I found out about this job from the Aarresaari network (rekrynet) and I was excited about the opportunity to work half a year at the Education Services. The internship is an obligatory part of my studies and the Education Services seemed like a good place to stay for a bit longer than the usual three months for internships.

3. What are some of the highlights of your internship so far?

My favorite day of so far has been the first day of the Helsinki Summer School’s reception. The anticipation of the students was great to follow and it felt like all of our hard work and preparation during the months before came to fruition before our eyes. My internship as a whole has been a great experience, especially the analytical conversations I have with my partner in crime (aka Lyra) on everything from what’s happening around us to what we are learning.

4. What kind of challenges have you encountered?

The time has really flown by and the greatest challenge to me has been processing everything that’s happening.

5. What are the must-dos in Helsinki?

The must-dos in Helsinki right now is to enjoy the lovely sunny and crispy days before it gets really dark and wet. There are also many interesting art displays in the city right now – and remember to eat some great comfort food (read: pizza and pasta)!

6. If you could go to any place in the world right now, where would you go?

I’m enjoying my work here and the weather isn’t that bad yet, so for the time being I like it here in Helsinki. But ask me again in a month – I’d have probably changed my mind by then and would rather be somewhere in the sun.