For the fourth time, students of Haaga-Helia and Erasmus Hogeschool Brussels combined their creative and intellectual strengths to collaborate on a company-assigned task in international corporate communications. The objective of the project course Mission Goes Global edition 2024 was to offer the students building blocks for their intercultural communication skills as well as a genuine real-life experience of international teamwork on a company-assigned task.

Developing intercultural competence and innovative thinking

The company assignment focused on anonymous recruitment and matters related to DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and international teamwork. Anonymous recruiting is a hiring approach designed to reduce unconscious bias in the recruitment process. The aim is to ensure that candidates are evaluated based on their skills, experience, and qualifications rather than personal characteristics.

The hands-on and practical learning opportunity included presentations, brainstorming and interviews conducted at the hiring company and a final assignment. The aim was to help students broaden their perspectives and develop their intercultural competence and innovative thinking. The students’ contributed with proposals for new and innovative additions to the company’s selection methods. According to the students, this was a unique and enriching experience.

The HR Officer at one of the most prominent HR and talent acquisition agencies in Belgium received and assessed the student groups’ contributions during a formal round of presentations in Brussels. The company’s response was highly favourable.

New experiences increase confidence

The Erasmus Short Individual Mobility with one-week sessions in both Helsinki and Brussels requires the students to step outside of their comfort zones collaborating for a joint objective with students representing various backgrounds and cultures. It is wonderful to see how, in such a short time, the students become more confident in themselves and their presentation and communication skills, and how ambitiously they work towards a shared real-life objective.

How rewarding for us teachers to see a timid student suddenly finding their voice and confidence in front of a corporate representative assessing the student group’s presentation on a real-life assignment for the company. This in a foreign language, in a foreign country and in an unfamiliar institution.

When students collaborate with new partners, they find new ways of thinking and better cultural understanding, as well as gain networks for their future careers. Their professional identities become stronger. This helps them grow into confident and active participants in society.

For the educational institution, international student Erasmus projects, based on a long-term collaboration with an international partner institution, offer a unique way to maintain European-level skills and knowledge pool and to increase our understanding of intercultural collaboration via intercultural communication. Collaboration is easy and effective with a trusted and familiar partner. We can learn from each other and learn by doing.

International experience enhances the skills and competences we all need in the world of work. There is so much to gain: Finland’s image remains positive, businesses improve their competitiveness and earnings, as well as profit from important benchmarking opportunities that enhance quality.

We are now about to embark on a new, updated edition of Mission Goes Global 2025 – students are welcome to join!

Picture: Shutterstock