Russia

Ourense (Spain) vs. Mikkeli (Finland)

In my opinion Mikkeli is a quiet city. It looks more like a little town. You can't see too many people in the street.

People are polite and most of them speak English quite well. Sometimes you could find someone that doesn't speak English, but if you try to speak with them, they use to find someone that can act like translator or that can help you.

The nightlife is a bit boring. There are some places where to go, but I didn't find much variety. The best of nightlife occurs in MOAS. It is the best place for party with the other Erasmus.

The weather is colder than Ourense. It rains much less, but in Mikkeli snows a lot. Temperatures can be lower than -20ºC in winter.

Impressions from a UVIGO student (Spain)

At this moment, there are three UVIGO students in MAMK university, so each of us can explain his/her own opinions about the differences between our home institution and the receiving one, but I think that this are the main points for every one.

As the UMA student said in other post, the reasons for going abroad are long and every person is who really knows their own motivation for becoming an ERASMUS student. In my case, there are only three main reasons:

-Pass the difficult courses of my home institution.

-Improve my English level.

-Start a new life far away from my house, parents, friends and check how can I survive alone in a foreign country with people from all countries in Europe, in other words: COEXISTENCE !!

UVIGO UNIVERSITY, Ourense (Spain)

• Fields of studies

When I star to compare both universities, first of all I have to explain that in my campus, you will not study IT or Telecommunications (as its known in Spain the IT degree) our field of studies is Computer Engineering so don´t expect anything related with mobile telecommunications, radio waves or antennas... (at least in the tecnical degree which is 3 years length).

Instead of that, you will have lots of courses connected with programming enviroments (java, C++, C, C#, php, ajax...), network world, operating systems, designing and testing your own programmes, how to make the correct documentation of you software (all during the three years and specially in the last one) mixed with business fields like maths (in the first year), statistical methods (during the first and the secon year) and accounting (the second year).

• EEES

Nowadays, our home institution is trying so hard to adapt to the EEES, changing the old fashion and boring way of teaching; with the lecturer sitting on the chair and reading the book or the notes he has where you have to study all the material two or three weeks before the final exam by heart, with the new and more dynamic European appearance, with online exams, practical issues, assigments...

Of course we have all the courses with the ECTS credits correspondence, but it depends on the lecturer the decision of making it more "European" or "traditional".

• Courses

We have a large number of different courses avaliable and practically related with all fields of Computer Engineering. As I mentioned before (and all in ECTS credits): prgramming, designing, testing sotware, networks world, electronics, artificial inteligente, robotics, web page designing, animations, accounting...The level of the courses compared with MAMK is normally higher but if you work a little bit every day and ask the teachers issues you don´t know is easy to have a satisfactory end of period.

Usually you have theory lessons in the morning (about one or two hours each, and every morning 2 different courses more less), practical in the afternoon (2 hours each and 1 per afternoon) and free day on friday, which is important because the student nigth is on thursdays ;)

Important: the languages which most of the teachers usually use for communicate are Spanish or Galego,  I don't  know if for ERASMUS students there are available courses only in English, you should ask the ERASMUS coordinator.


And the examns...it depends...most of the courses have a theory and practical exam at the end or you have to do small exams during the period. The resist exams are in september or december, at the end of the academic year.

• Lecturers
  

All our lecturer staff is young and sometimes you can see them on thursday nigths having fun like and even more than the students they teach on the same morning...most of them know english and you can communicate more less like you do with your partners if you have something to ask..but don´t mistake yourselves: they are lecturers and as lecturers they have the control, you have to respect them.

Our ERASMUS coordinator is a good fount of information if you have some trouble or you need help, because he can speak many languajes (spanish, german, english bilingual and som french and portuguese) but he´s always a little bit bussy.

• Campus life

UVIGO is a full of life place to study an live!!people from all the parts of Galicia and also ERASMUS students are there to help you in what you need and making new friends is easy if you are not shy. Living expenses are cheaper if you share a flat with other students than in a students residence and as far as I know the university doesn´t provide you help to find accomodation, ERASMUS organization is which helps you.

In summary, courses are different, way of teaching is different, chances of finding accomodation are different and the amount of ECTS credits you get for every course is higher in Ourense but not complicated so if you really want to come to Spain and know a different culture from the rest of Europe here it is the link to our university:

http://www.ei.uvigo.es

or

http://www.esei.uvigo.es

the info of our ERASMUS coordinator:
E-mail: formella@ei.uvigo.es
Phone: +34988387030

and if yo need information about paperwork and formalities directly to the International Organization:

E-mail: ori@uvigo.es

Shopping in Ourense (Spain) vs Finland

Like my Spanish friends used to say...Finland is expensive if you compare it with Spain, but much more expensive than Ourense. Here I write several examples so I can prove it:

- A regular loaf of bread = 0.65 €

- A can of beer (Estrella Galicia) = 0.45 €

- 1kg of oranges =  €

-1kg of potatoes=0.40 €

-Alcoholic drinks in a disco=5€

.....

What we have at home but here is not any:

-All kinds of seafood.

-legume and pulse (there are, but so expensive and difficult to find).

and of course all mentioned by my Spanish partners...

........


What we have here but not in Spain:

-Glögi.

-Reindeer meet.

-All kind of sauces...

Swimming pool

Mikkeli has two swimming pools: one is in the centrum, the other is located in the surroundings. I only know the one which is in the center - it is 10 minutes from MOAS 2 on foot (Pirttiniemenkatu). The other one is 6 km far from MOAS.

General informations about the closer pool:

- 3.10EUR for entrance

- opened from 14-20 on weekdays, saturday it is closed,  sunday from  12-18

- free jakuzzi, sauna

What is MOAS?

Mikkeli Student Housing Ltd, MOAS, belongs to the group of companies of Mikkeli city and is 100 percently owned by the city of Mikkeli. It was entered into the trade register on 10.1.1975. The company's field of business according to the company's articles is as a non-profit community to build, own, administer and rent apartments and commercial premises linked with residential buildings and to own stocks. The company rents the apartments it owns and administers to students studying in educational establishments following comprehensive shcool and other young people and other special groups as apartments. The other premises linked with residential buildings the company rents primarily to social purposes. In addition the company can rent apartments to others to temporary purposes, eg. international student, researcher and youth exchange and to summer hotel action. Company can practice house managing and estate care.

In total, MOAS has over 740 apartments to offer, which means over 1100 residences.
Tel.: (015) 150 065

Fax: (015) 150 131

Email: headquarters@moas.fi

web: www.moas.fi

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shopping in Malaga (Spain) vs Finland

Finland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe and therefore if you start to compare prices between both countries it will be easy to realize amost everything is cheaper in Spain.

MISCELLANEOUS COSTS

Bus
1.00 €
Cinema
4-7 €, special prices depend on the day
Lunch in the Univ. canteen
5.00 €
Whopper at Burger King
4.50 €
Coca Cola / Beer in a bar
2.50-3.00 €
Coca Cola / Beer bought in a Supermarket
0.40 €
A Cappuccino or Café au Lait
1.10-2.00 €
A regular loaf of bread
0.75 €
1kg of oranges
1.25 €

TRANSPORT

• Bus prices

Fixed rate per trip    1.00 €
Monthly student card    21.50 €
The “monthly card” (unlimited number of trips)    32.50 €

Students can apply for a monthly student card which enables him/her to make an unlimited number of trips within the city limits which costs 21.50 €. Only students under 24 registered at the University of Málaga can apply for the student bus card. For those over this age limit, there are several other options:
The “montly card” which costs 32.50 € and allows holders to make an unlimited number of trips within the city limits.

• Taxi Prices

A taxi from the airport into town costs 12 € and a normal meal around 9 €.

AVAILABILITY

What we have at home, but here there is not any:

- Sweetened condensed milk.

- Milk shakes.

- "Real" cold cuts: cured loin of pork, iberian spiced sausage,... xD

.....

What we have here, but at home there is not any:

- Glögi.

- Sauce covered with sauce plus garnish of sauce :D

impressions from a UMA student

The international relations between MAMK and Universtity of Malaga (UMA) go back many years ago, at present as far as I know, we are three exchange students from Malaga and I would like to introduce my city and my home institution.

As a starting point I want to comment the reasons that motivate me to be an Erasmus student, I suppose much of us share the same motivations although we come from different countries:

- Knowing different countries, styles of life, traditions...

- Improving our level of English.

- Making friends from different places around the world.

- Adding an important point to our curriculum vitae.

- Having the chance to study innovative subjects related to my career that don't exist in my home institution.



AN INTRODUCTION TO MALAGA

A city with a rich historic and cultural tradition, Malaga was founded by the Phoenicians around 800 B.C. and later colonised by Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Christians. Its privileged position on the shores of the Mediterranean, its mild climate and the friendliness of its inhabitants have all meant that the capital of the Costa del Sol has, throughout its history, sustained excellent trade and cultural relations all over the world. Nowadays, Malaga is a modern, cosmopolitan and welcoming city with over 600,000 inhabitants, which has successfully developed its commercial, industrial and tourist sectors.

THE UNIVERSITY

In its 35 years of existence the University of Malaga has taken on a major role as both principal catalyst of the cultural life of the city and fundamental platform for future developments in the fields of technology and research.

The University of Malaga constitutes one of the three vertices of the so-called “productive triangle” of the city, together with the airport and the PTA or Parque Tecnológico de Andalucía (Andalusian Science and Technology Park). The latter has close ties with the University due to the constant flow of ideas, highly qualified professionals and advanced technologies.

At present the University of Malaga has two campuses, El Ejido and Teatinos, in addition to several other buildings located in different parts of the city.

The ultimate objective of the policy of the university regarding infrastructure is to eventually have all university centres and services located on the Teatinos campus.

PROGRAMMES FOR ERASMUS STUDENTS

The University of Malaga has already introduced the ECTS into all its faculties and schools. With this system 60 credits represent one year of study (in terms of workload); normally 30 credits are awarded every six months (a semester) and 20 credits every term (a trimester).

• Grading system

The grading system used by Spanish universities is based on specific attainment levels, rather than on a numerical scale. It should be noted that the grade Matrícula de Honor is rarely given.

Spanish System	ECTS Grading Scale
Matrícula de Honor (MH)	Excellent
Sobresaliente (SOB)	Very Good
Notable (NOT)	Good
Notable (NOT)	Satisfactory
Aprobado (APR)	Sufficient
Suspenso / No presentado (SUS) / (N.P.)	Fail

• Spanish credit system

The Spanish Credit System only measures different teaching loads using temporal criteria. That is to say, one Spanish credit is equivalent to 10 teaching hours, regardless of their practical or theoretical nature. As a Spanish semester has 15 weeks, an UMA six-credit module (60 hours) will have four allocated hours per week.

DEGREE COURSES

These are the degree courses in the University of Málaga:

Faculties of Sciences (Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Chemical Engineering); Educational Sciences (Pedagogy, Psycho pedagogy, Hearing & Language Education, Special Education, Physical Education, Pre-school, Musical Education, Primary School, Foreign Language); Journalism, Audio-visual Communication; Economics and Business Studies (Administration & Business Management, Economics, Management & Public Administration, Actuarial & Financial Sciences); Law, Humanities (English, Spanish & Classical Philology, History, History of Art, Geography, Philosophy, Translation and Interpreting -English, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Greek); Medicine, Psychology, Higher Technical Schools of Industrial Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Informatics and Computer Science, School of Tourism, Architecture, Nursing, and Labour Relations.

For more detailed information about the university’s different degree courses, consult the UMA website: http://www.uma.es

ACCOMMODATION

Universidad de Málaga doesn’t book accommodation for students. Nevertheless you can consult a broad selection of accommodation in Málaga through our “Accommodation Office” in the following link, where you will find information about hostel, residence halls and flats in Málaga.

http://www.uma.es/ficha.php?id=158

Students who wish to share a flat will have to find provisional accommodation for few days, particularly in February due to the affluence of students. To this end the city’s pensions and hostels are a cheap and safe option.

TRAVEL EXPENSES

To cover all eventualities it is a good idea to travel with about 30 € in cash. A taxi from the airport into town costs 12 € and a normal meal around 9 €.
Students who wish to take a bus into town should obtain some small change at the airport as the drivers will not accept anything larger than a 5 € .
The bus from the airport into town costs 1 € and the train approximately 1.15-1.25 €.

BANKING

In Malaga, as in many other cities, it is not a good idea to keep large amounts of cash on one’s person or at home. Therefore, students are advised to open a bank account on arrival.
Banks are generally open from 9:00 am to 14:00 pm weekdays. On Saturday, some of them open only from October to April.

In addition, many banks have 24-hour automatic teller machines that give you access to most bank services.

HEALTH INSURANCE

European Students only need the European Insurance Card. Students may also wish to take out additional insurance to cover liability and personal belongings during their stay in Malaga. The University of Malaga will not be held responsible for the loss of personal belongings.

VACCINATIONS AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES

No special vaccinations are required or recommended before travelling to Spain. Students following a course of treatment should bring enough prescription drugs with them to last them their stay.

WEATHER/CLOTHING

Malaga is a Mediterranean city with a very mild climate. Winter temperatures very rarely drop below 10ºC and in autumn and spring the average temperature is about 20ºC, although evenings can be a lot cooler. Average rainfall for the region is normally quite low, nevertheless it can rain torrentially during the autumn and spring months.

SHOPPING HOURS

Normal opening hours: 9.30-13.30 and 17.00-20.30.
There are several Shopping Centres open from 10.00 to 22.00, like, for instance, El Corte Inglés (up market department store), Centro Larios and Centro Rosaleda.
Although shops are usually closed on Sundays, there are a number of small grocer’s and delicatessens to be found in the city centre.

CHEMISTS

Most chemist’s open from 9.30-13.30 and 17.00-20.30. Nevertheless, some establishments open from 10.00 to 22.00 and others 24 hours a day. When in doubt, consult the local newspaper or the list displayed in all establishments.

WEEKEND FUN

Always a must when travelling abroad, Malaga has an exciting and varied nightlife. When the city centre’s shops close its numerous bars offer foreigners the chance to get to know the locals.

ARRIVAL IN MALAGA

For people arriving at the international airport “Pablo Ruiz Picasso”, there are three ways was travelling into town:
•    A taxi costs between 12 €, depending on the destination, and takes roughly about 15 minutes to reach the city. The rank is located directly outside the arrivals terminal.
•    There is a bus into town every 30 minutes, and a ticket costs 1 €. The stop is located directly outside the arrivals terminal.
•    Trains leave the station connected by a pedestrian walkway to the departure terminal on the second floor every 15 minutes, and a ticket costs between 1.15-1.25 € (Sundays).

FREE SPANISH COURSE

There is a free Spanish Language Course for all Erasmus students, which is given at the “CURSO DE ESPAÑOL PARA EXTRANJEROS” language school located at the following address:

Avenida de Andalucía, 24
E-29080 Malaga
Telephone: +34 952 278211
Fax: +34 952 279712
E-mail: cursoext@uma.es

LIBRARIES

To use the university libraries Erasmus students must present the UMA card.

General Library

The University of Malaga has a General Library located on the Teatinos campus, and other smaller libraries located in different schools and faculties of the University. The fundamental objective of all these libraries is to ensure that the university community has access to scientific information contained in published material in order to meet study, research and teaching needs. General library services available to the academic community include reading rooms, with seating room for 8,000 persons, direct access to books and periodicals, check out system, bulletins (Boletín de Sumarios) summarizing the contents of the latest issues or volumes available, the Information and Reference Service (Servicio de Información y Referencia), providing access to dictionaries, guides, catalogues, etc., located in the general library via data bases, interlibrary loans and photographic documentation (Préstamo Interbibliotecario y Fotodocumentación); and lastly, user training programmes. The library's opening hours are from 8.30 a.m. to 20.45 p.m., Monday to Friday.

SPORTS

University Sports Centre
The University of Malaga offers a wide range of interesting sports activities for sports enthusiast of all levels. To take part in such activities or to use the university’s sports facilities (or those belonging to those clubs that have signed agreements with the university), apart from being enrolled at the university, students only have to obtain a pass from the Sports Vice-rectorate.
Furthermore, teams from the university are now taking part in federated competitions, national university leagues and the University Games.
It is located on the Teatinos campus and consists of a series of modern sports facilities.
The installations cover an area of more than 76,000 square meters, at the centre of which is the multiple sports area, where different state-of-the-art sport units and equipment are located. The building also includes a swimming pool and a sports track, along with squash courts, bodybuilding room, gymnasium, dressing rooms and offices.

CULTURE

Cultural activities
The activities organised by the Culture and Sports Vice-rectorate in the last few years have transformed the University of Malaga into a cultural centre of great importance at both a local and national level. Besides sponsoring different citizens' and university projects, it is geared towards the plastic arts (with numerous exhibitions inside and outside the university and a regular programme at the University Art Gallery located in the Plaza de la Merced), cinema (weekly programmes, “Fantastic Film Festival,” “Summer Cinema,” among others) and drama (regular theatre courses, work shops, etc., activities which have led to the establishment of the Andalusian Theatre Centre in Malaga), music (the Musicology Chair R. Mitjana and the Flamenco Chair, the Contemporary Music Workshop, the Jazz Lecture Room, the University Choral Society, alternative music cycles including singer/songwriters, youth jazz, church organ concerts, historical and religious polyphony, etc.), and literature (the Creative Literature Workshop, Literature for Children, etc.).

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT MALAGA UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY

• UMA

Málaga University: www.uma.es
Academic calendar: www.infouma.uma.es/calendario/calendario.php
Campus map:
www.uma.es/menu.php?idm=3&id=35&f=2&PHPSESSID=0b7fe4794979b522ed53f6b7e004f075
Faculties and Schools:
www.uma.es/menu.php?clase=t&idm=79&id=30&tipo=t&HPSESSID=350bd2b753c1ae9ecf2c85527765fd61
University Services:
www.uma.es/menu.php?clase=i&idm=12&id=8&tipo=s&PHPSESSID=0b7fe4794979b522ed53f6b7e004f075
Culture: externos.uma.es/cultura/index.htm
Sport: www.uma.es/ficha.php?id=155
Programas de Movilidad:
www.uma.es/ficha.php?id=3966&PHPSESSID=0b7fe4794979b522ed53f6b7e004f075

• MALAGA

Málaga City Council: www.ayto-malaga.es
Culture: www.ayto-malaga.es/A_cultura/default.html
A to Z: callejero.lanetro.com/apps/lanetro/index.asp and www.ayto-malaga.es/util_calle.html
General information: www.malagaturismo.com and www.webmalaga.com
Consulates: : www.webmalaga.com/organismos/consulados/
Buses: www.emtsam.es
Airport: www.aena.es
Train: www.renfe.es

Eyen Optikkoliike

Optikko Cazze

Red Hair Hairdresser

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KB Bar & Pub

[caption id="attachment_428" align="aligncenter" width="467" caption="Click on the picture to see it´s location in Google Maps"][/caption]

Bike store

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Bike store located relatively closely to the MOAS building. The shop is open from Mondays to Fridays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Inter Sport

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H&M

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Fida

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Fida is a second hand store. It is especially useful for buying for example winter outfits for a relatively low price. The shop is open Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays until 2 p.m.

To Mikkeli from Malaga (Spain)

Moi xD

I come from Malaga and I wanted to tell you which in my opinion are the best ways to get to Mikkeli, dividing the issue into two categories: The Cheapest and The Fastest.

On the one hand, nowadays the cheapest way to travel by plane to Finland is by the airline Ryanair, this company often provides very cheap flights between Spain-Germany and Germany-Finland. Specially, the idea is based on making a stop in Germany (the best choices are Bremen or Frankfurt) and then taking a flight to Tampere (instead of Helsinki). That city is one of the main towns of Finland and although the distance to Mikkeli is higher from Tampere (332 km) than from Helsinki (230 km), it is worth the trouble. The problem of this approach is the difficulty to find and synchronize both flights for the same date but with a pinch of luck, the total price may be:

~ Flight (Malaga-Bremen) = 30 €

~ Flight (Bremen-Tampere) = 18 €

~ Train (Tampere-Mikkeli) = 22 € (with the student discount 50%)

Total = 70 €

On the other hand, the faster way (with a reasonable price) to fly to Finland is via one of the following Finnish airlines: Air Finland or Finnair. The length of a direct flight (Malaga-Helsinki) is about 4 hours 25 minutes and the price is usually around 200 €, so the total may be:

~ Flight (Malaga-Helsinki) = 200 €

~ Train (Helsinki-Mikkeli) = 19 € (with the student discount 50%)

Total = 219 €

That is all, have a nice trip and do not forget to notify your arriving date to the international office, they will pick you up from the railway station with a smile in their faces.

Prisma Supermarket

The Prisma Supermarket is the biggest store in Mikkeli. The range of products goes from food over newspapers, books and small electronics to household items and clothing. The Prisma Market is located in the Graani area of Mikkeli on the opposite of the harbour lake. This fact is the biggest disadvantage because of its distance to the Moas bulidings. It is recommended to have a bike or better car available if you plan to go to shopping  there.

Päämaja Pub

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Black Out Pub

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K-SUPERMARKET

The K-Supermarket is the big version of the K-Extra.It offers a wide range of products and foodstuff on the normal finnish pricelevel.
Mikkelis K-Supermarket is located in the Carlson building in the citycentre. It is opened on mondays to fridays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

[caption id="attachment_323" align="aligncenter" width="467" caption="Click on the picture to see it´s location in Google Maps"][/caption]

Zic-Zac Club

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The ZicZac and Roller Bar is located in Maaherrankatu near the marketplace. The club is separated into a Bar and a Disco floor. The bar area on the groundfloor has a more rock and metal music oriented appearance, also offering the possiblity of playing a round of pool billiard. The disco area in the basement consists of two areas. The style of music is mainly Hip Hop, Dance and RnB. The ZicZac and Roller Bar also hosts live music events in different styles of music, for example Rock or Hip Hop. A Beer cost 3,80 Euros. It is possible to get a Clubcard for the price of 5 Euros which allows you to get a 50% reduction on the prices for entry and drinks.

The ZicZac is opened Monday to Saturday from 8.p.m. to 3a.m. The recommended day for going to ZicZac and Roller Bar is Saturday.

Alko Shop

Possibly one of the most important stores for everyone who is thinking about having a party and does not only want to drink beer.
According to finnish law all beverages with more than 4.7% alocohol are not allowed to be sold at normal stores but have to be purchased at the government owned Alko stores.
Alko stores offer a wide variety of wines, beers and spirits.
In Mikkeli, Alko stores are located in the shopping centre opposite the policestation and in the Prisma market. The opening times are from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. on workingdays and until 6 p.m. on Saturdays

[caption id="attachment_371" align="aligncenter" width="378" caption="Click on the picture to see it´s location in Google Maps"][/caption]

Pharmacy (Apteekki)

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Vaakuna Disco

[caption id="attachment_413" align="aligncenter" width="467" caption="Click on the picture to see it´s location in Google Maps"][/caption]

Wilhem Club & Bar

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Market

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The Market or Kaupahalli in finnish language is right in the city centre of Mikkeli. In the building are for example a bakery and a butcher shop. The Kaupahalli is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Amarillo

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The Amarillo is a Tex-Mex style Restaurant and Bar located in downtown Mikkeli between the Marketplace and the Kharma Club. The REstaurants services are available on workdays between 12 p.m. and 12 a.m.; on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. and on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m.

More Information can be found on the website http://www.amarillo.fi/index.html

K-EXTRA Market

Small grocery stores that offer everyday basic food and household items. Good for buying the most needed items, especially useful after arrival. The closest K-Extra to the Moas buildings is located in Savilahdenkatu and is opened monday - friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

[caption id="attachment_336" align="aligncenter" width="467" caption="Click on the picture to see it´s location in Google Maps"][/caption]

S-Market

Like the K-Market the S-Market chain sells all kinds of stuff for food and drink as well as household items and other products. Mikkelis S-Market is located in the Sokos building in the city centre near the marketplace. It is opened from mondays til fridays 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is also occasionally opened on sundays for example in december during advent and in the summer holidays in august normally with more limited opening hours.

The small version of the S-Market is called S-ExtraMarket while the bigger version is called Prisma.

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Police Station

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Hospital

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Shopping Gallery

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Carlson

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The Carlson building is a two floor shopping center in Mikkeli. The upper floor contains mostly clothes while in the basement you can get sport equipment, electronics, games, DvDs and other things. The building also has a K-Supermarket on the groundfloor. The Carlson store is open on working days from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Groove Style Hairdresser

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Hong Kong

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Post Office

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Mikkelis post office is open from Mondays to Fridays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. A letter or postcard for example to Germany cost 70 cent

Sokos

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Football Pitch

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Ekotori

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ANTILLA

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Antilla is a shopping centre located next to the marketplace in Mikkelis citycentre. It is opened Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the summer holidays and the advent time Antilla is also ocassionally opened on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Horse Race Track

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Photocopies, Fax, and others

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Lidl

The happiest place on Earth...:). You can find here eveything you need, prices are fair, with one kickback, it's very far from MOAS (5 minutes further than the university): Setrikatu 3 50100, Mikkeli, Finland.

in hungarian way

The most important: clean and quiet.

People are quiet and keep quite big distance, but always helpful and the chance of meet a person who knows english is almost 100%.

Big streets, wide spaces and drivers let you to pass the pedestrian crossing.

impressions from a BME student

Basically we had/have very hard times to get throught the semesters at home. Comparing MAMK to BME, studying here is easy, more practice then theorem, but rather general. It can be because we are foreigners here, studying in english, but who knows... I'm not complaining, studying here is refreshing, it's like a long vacation:):).

shopping in Hungary vs Finland

So, the prices are lower in Hungary.

Just rounding up:

- 1kg bread: 1E

- 1l milk: 0.7E

- 1l beer: 1E

.....

What we have at home, but here there is not any:

- hot kechup:)

- clotted cream

- more canned stuff

.....

What we have here, but at home there is not any:

- this amount of sausage:)

.....

Who is Ulla Vuorinen?

In one word, your "master" here. With everything you need or need to do, she will help you, just ask!

Ms Ulla Vuorinen (building A, 2nd floor to the left from the main entrance)
Education Coordinator
Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences, 50100 FI-MIKKELI, FINLAND
Tel. +358 15 355 6405, fax +358 15 355 6377
e-mail:ulla.vuorinen@mamk.fi

Mr. MOAS

Just for ladies pleasure, and boys' drinking era to be continued, Mr. Moas is elected through different tests, like short questions, pushups, style walking etc...

EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES IN MIKKELI UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences actively takes part in the most of the EU programmes in the field of education as well as in other exchange programmes. The bases for international co-operation are bilateral and multilateral agreements. The worldwide international activities take advantage of the European Union programmes such as Erasmus. Nordplus is the main instrument in the Nordic countries and the bilateral agreements outside the EU.

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences has deepened its profile as an expert in cooperation with Russia. The fields of operation in Russia include university cooperation, for example the participation in the national First student exchange programme, training and development projects and business services.

Erasmus

The Lifelong Learning programme (2007-2013) is the European community action programme. It covers all fields of education from preprimary to adult learning. Erasmus is one of the sectoral programmes of the Lifelong Learning programme. Erasmus, education and training programme, emphasises student and staff mobility and European co-operation involving higher education institutions and other key players. It supports the creation of a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) through increased mobility. In addition to students, Erasmus also targets teachers, trainers, and others involved in higher education. Erasmus supports actions in the fields of mobility (period of study or placement abroad), European projects and networks. The network of Erasmus partners of Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences consists of 124 partners.

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences has been awarded the Erasmus University Charter Extended in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme, selection year 2007. The charter entitles to participate in decentralised Erasmus activities, as well as to act as an applicant organisation in Erasmus centralised actions. Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences is committed to the fundamental principles of the Erasmus mobility and takes actively part in the student and teaching mobility, staff training and student placements.

Nordplus

The activities of Nordplus networks are funded by the Nordic Council based on applications turned in annually. Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences is a partner in Norlys, Omvårdnad, Bahvam, PBL i fysioterapi and Kalmar Vårdunion networks.

First

The aim of the First - Finnish-Russian Student Exchange Programme is to promote mobility between Finland and Russia. Projects include student and staff mobility. Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences is a coordinator of one First project. The network consists of five universities in St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics, St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering and
St. Petersburg State Academy of Theatre Arts.

North-South-South Programme

Health Africa Development Organisation is a non-governmental organisation whose main target is to promote social and health care and equality and abate poverty in Africa. Projects are financed by North-South-South programme. Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences is a partner in one project co-ordinated by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

FIELDS OF STUDY

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences has more fields of study than any other Finnish University of Applied Sciences / Polytechnic:

• Humanities and Education


• Culture


• Natural Sciences


• Natural Resources and the Environment


• Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services


• Social Services, Health and Sports


• Technology, Communication and Transport


• Social Sciences, Business and Administration.

You can choose from 20 degree programmes, three of which are in English. The annual amount of vacant student places is 766 in undergraduate education, and the total amount of students is about 4500.

SAVONNIEMI CAMPUS, SAVONLINNA

The Savonniemi Campus, which has about 900 students and 70 staff members, is situated
in the centre of Savonlinna. The Savonniemi Campus offers education in four fields of
study - Business Administration, Culture, Health Care, and Tourism - and the degree
titles achieved are Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Culture and Arts,
Bachelor of Health Care, and Bachelor of Hospitality Management.

Department of Tourism, Design and Business

There are three different degree programmes at the Department of Tourism, Design and
Business. The Degree Programme in Business Management emphasises business skills,
including international business, micro-entrepreneurship and special characteristics
of the public sector. The studies in the Degree Programme in Tourism include typical
characteristics of tourism and success factors in business. The aim of  the Degree
Programme in Design is to educate independent professionals of theatre costume and
fashion design who possess good co-operation and problem-solving skills and are
familiar with product design and manufacturing processes.

Department of Health Care

The Degree Programmes at the Department of Health Care are those in Nursing, Physio-
therapy and Podiatry. The primary goal in the Degree Programme in Nursing is to educate
health care and public health care professionals. Evidence-based practice is utilised
in the learning contexts, as well as knowledge obtained through co-operation with the
working life and various networks. The main objective in the Degree Programme in Physio-
therapy is to educate physiotherapy professionals. The teaching is based on PBL, problem-
based learning. The Degree Programme in Podiatry aims at educating professional podiatrists.
The podiatry studies focus on an interdisciplinary knowledge basis (e.g. medicine, sport
and health sciences, and education) and evidence-based practice in the field of podiatry.
The Department of Health Care has educated more podiatrists than any other Finnish univer-
sity of applied sciences.

The language of tuition in the above-mentioned degree programmes is Finnish but there are
also some modules taught in English. For further information, see: Global Health Module and
International Tourism and Business Management Studies.

Other activities

In addition to the above-mentioned degree programmes, the Savonniemi campus offers contin-
uing education, professional specialisation studies and Open University studies. The campus
also carries out different, both regional and international, projects. Furthermore, a group
of students of the Savonniemi Campus have founded a co-op OSMO, which offers services for
students in all study fields. Co-operation with the University of Joensuus is intense
especially in the field of tourism in the Puistokatu Quarter, which is situated close to
the campus. The library of the Savonniemi Campus is also located at Puistokatu 5 in the
Puistokatu Quarter.

The Savonniemi Campus takes actively part in international affairs. The campus is a member
in various international networks and has appr. 70 foreign partner institutions and organi-
sations. In 2006, 40 students and 22 staff members of the Savonniemi Campus took part
in exchange or other international events whereas the number of exchange students on the
campus was 33 and that of visiting lecturers 14.

NIKKARILA CAMPUS, PIEKSÄMÄKI

The Campus of Forestry, Nikkarila, is located in Pieksämäki. For almost a century, the school has educated the caretakers of Finland`s most important natural resource. We work closely with various employer groups in the forestry industry. In addition to a multilateral forestry expertise, we are leaders in the fields of communication and management.

Graduates in Forestry hold the degree of Bachelor of Natural Resources (240 ECTS; 4 years). They are able to work in the fields of forestry and environmental protection, forest planning, timber procurement and timber trade. Today, emphasis of many-sided tasks of forestry is placed on the information technology, business economics, environmental protection, communication and teamwork. You can also study the degree as adult education.

Partner in further education

We work together with our customers. The educational modules are planned in cooperation with our customers, experts in Forestry, and from our own network of resources. In addition to education, we carry out research work, projects, bachelor`s theses and various forms of consultation for companies and communities.

CAMPUS OF SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH CARE, MIKKELI

Promoting health and harmony

The Campus of Social Work and Health Care is an attractive learning and development centre for nursing, social work and physiotherapy. Our objective is to promote the general well being, health and functionality of people, and the multidisciplinary and flexible means are our strengths in achieving these.

We offer four bachelor`s degree in Finnish:

• Physiotherapy leading to the degree of Bachelor of Health Care (210 ECTS; 3,5 years)


• Nursing leading to the degree of Bachelor of Health Care (210 ECTS; 3,5 years)


• Public Health Nursing leading to the degree of Bachelor of Health Care (240 ECTS; 4 years)


• Social Services leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Services (210 ECTS; 3,5 years)

We are specialised in the pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric nursing, physiotherapy and the social work. In addition, we excel in management and development-related undertakings.

Our aim is to give our students excellent professional skills as well as a good expertise of the basic theoretical and practical skills in their chosen field. We emphasise the importance of partnerships, working life orientation, internationality, entrepreneurship and environmental aspects.

The different tasks of the field require a strong ability to use the problem-solving skills. We train our students for this by utilising learning methods based on active participation, self-guidance, problem solving and teamwork. When carrying out projects and development works together with the working life and the third sector, our students are solving real problems.

International activities

We take actively part in international cooperation. We have an agreement on student and staff exchange with nearly 30 educational institutions and hospitals. Most of the agreements have been made under the EU`s Socrates programme but the school is also a member in Nordplus networks and has bilateral partners, for instance, in Uganda, Nepal and Egypt.

CAMPUS OF CULTURE AND YOUTH WORK, MIKKELI

The Campus of Culture and Youth Work is located near Mikkeli centre. The Campus of Culture and Youth Work is traditional and nationally known. The campus`s philosophy is based on the community, and the main idea is that the students are actively increasing their skills. The education methods are connected to the working life by using cooperation projects, practical training and research works.

We offer two bachelor`s degree programmes in Finnish:

• Degree Programme in Civic Activities and Youth Work leading to the degree of Bachelor of Humanities (210 ECTS, 3,5 years)


• Degree Programme in Cultural Production and Management leading to the degree of Bachelor of Culture and Arts (240 ECTS, 4 years).

Graduates holding a bachelor`s degree in civic activities and youth work are working in the field of culture, leisure time or youth work as trainers or organisers, planners, operation directors, developers and educators.

Graduates holding a bachelor`s degree in cultural services are working in the field of culture, art education and programme services as coordinators, planners, counsellors, educators and operations directors. The employer can be a municipality, the third sector, an institute, a co-operative society or an individual company. Some of the graduates will earn their living as entrepreneurs.

MAIN CAMPUS, MIKKELI

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (MAMK) Main Campus is situated in Mikkeli. Main Campus offers studies in engineering, in hospitality management and in business. The two Bachelor Degree Programmes in English are also offered in the Main Campus. Besides the departments offering education leading to a degree, the activities at the Main Campus also cover most of the common services like:

• Student Services


• Administration Centre


• Library


• International Services


• YTI Research Centre


• Business Development Centre


• Mikpoli IT Centre

Engineering education - a wide range of technical expertise

We offer six degree programmes in Finnish leading to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (4 years, 240 ECTS):

• Information Technology


• Electrical Engineering


• Building Services Engineering


• Environmental Engineering


• Environmental Technology


• Material and Surface Treatment

The programmes are mainly offered in Finnish except one of our programmes, Degree Programme in Environmental Engineering, is in English. There is also a possibility to make personal study plans for example for exchange students. They may be in the form of project works, practical training, bachelor`s thesis or a combination of these. Our offering also includes professional specialisation and further education studies, often tailor-made for the needs of the working life.

Master´s Degree

Those who have a degree from a higher education institution and three years working experience after the graduation can apply to our Master´s Degree Programme in Environmental Technology.

Research and development activities

Our modern laboratories are equipped to facilitate specialised analysing services, testing of materials, soils etc. and different kinds of measurements. We carry out research and projects works as well as diploma and training works for companies and communities at large. In addition, consultation in technical and engineering fields is readily available.

International activities

We take actively part in international cooperation. We have created a wide international partner institution network consisting of approximately 70 institutions of higher education. Most of the partner universities are in Europe, but there are also several partners in North and South America (USA, Canada, Chile), Australia and Asia (China, Malaysia, Thailand).

Agreements with EU-, Baltic and Eastern European countries have been made under the EU Socrates programme. Cooperation with Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland) is based on Nordplus-network, and on bilateral agreements with the countries outside Europe.

Hospitality Management

The Hospitality Management degree programme in Finnish leads to the degree of Bachelor of Hospitality Management (210 ECTS, 3,5 years). At the professional studies stage of the programme, students choose to specialise in either food services, cleaning and sanitation services or consumer services.

General aims of the Degree Programme

Good service means happy, satisfied customers. Customer satisfaction is therefore the most important indicator of your success as a service provider. The primary aim of the Hospitality Management degree Programme is to provide students with the broad-based skills needed to operate successfully in service provision and in planning, management and development tasks within the industry, or as an independent entrepreneur.

Service-industry occupations require a diversity of expertise that combines both theory and practice and includes production, technical, financial and communications know-how. The project work included in the study programme allows theory to be combined with practice and is also an excellent way of putting students in touch with people in the industry.

Bachelor of Business Administration - Expert of the future

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences currently educates approximately 650 future Bachelor of Business Administration (210 ECTS, 3,5 years) graduates who will receive an extensive expert education in the fields of business administration and information technology. The graduates possess the ability to work in the multi-faceted managerial and professional tasks in the field of business, industry, service companies and public administration both in the home country and abroad.

Graduates in business management have highly developed skills for demanding tasks in marketing, financial administration, human resources management or international trade. Graduates in business IT are qualified for tasks in programming, planning and multimedia production. In addition, the educational experience also gives a solid base for practising one´s own entrepreneurial activities.

Campuses in brief

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences serves the area of Eastern Finland with five campuses in three towns:

Mikkeli:
Main Campus
Campus of Culture and Youth Work
Campus of Social Work and Health Care

Pieksämäki:
Nikkarila Campus

Savonlinna:
Savonniemi Campus

There are also seven offices or centres for supporting services: Student Services, YTI Research Centre, IT Services/Mikpoli IT Centre, Library and Information Services, International Office, Business Development Centre and Administration Centre. These supporting services are mainly situated to the main campus in Mikkeli.

MAMK in Brief

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (MAMK)  lies at the heart of the beautiful Finnish lake district in South-Savo region. We are a modern higher education institution, offering high quality education and more fields of study than any other University of Applied Sciences in Finland. We have Degree programmes available in both Bachelor´s and Master´s levels.

Education system

The Finnish higher education system comprises of two parallel sectors: universities and universities of applied sciences / polytechnics. The universities emphasise scientific research and the teaching is based on theory. Universities of applied sciences/polytechnics are institutes of higher education based on the combination of theory and practise.

Organisation of Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences

The governing body of the Polytechnic is Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences Joint Authority. The members of the Joint Authority from 1.1.2004 onwards are Mikkeli, Pieksämäki, Pieksänmaa and Savonlinna municipalities.

Organisation Chart of Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (pdf)

Campuses

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences serves the area of Eastern Finland with five campuses in three towns:

Mikkeli:
Main Campus
Campus of Culture and Youth Work
Campus of Social Work and Health Care

Pieksämäki:
Nikkarila Campus/Department of Forestry

Savonlinna:
Savonniemi Campus/Departments of Tourism, Design, Business and Health Care

In addition Mikkeli University of Applied sciences has seven offices or centres for supporting services: Student Services, YTI Research Centre, IT Services/Mikpoli IT Centre, Library and Information Services, International Office, Business Development Centre and Administration Centre.

Fields of study

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences has more fields of study than any other Finnish university of applied sciences / polytechnic:

• humanities and education


• culture


• natural sciences;


• natural resources and the environment


• tourism, catering and domestic services


• social services, health and sports


• technology, communication and transport


• social sciences, business and administration

You can choose from 20 degree programmes, two of which are in English. There are over 760 new students starting in studies leading to a degree every year, and the total amount of  students is about 4500.

Double Degree

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences offers a possibility for the final year students coming from the partner institutions abroad to get a degree of BEng. in Information Technology or bachelor of Business Management. ThEse double degrees are based on agreements with partner institutions.

Internantionality

Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences hosts over 200 international students from more than 30 countries. In addition, we have several lecturers and experts from our partner institutions visiting Mikkeli each year, especially during the International Summer Term organised annually. we have over 200 partner universities abroad. Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences has office in St.Petersburg, Russia. We are as well very active in international projects.

Rewarded by the Finnish Ministry of Education

A convincing evidence of Mikkeli University of Applies Science’s level and commitment for internationalisation is the fact, that the Finnish Ministry of Education has rewarded Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences five times for its international activities.

Highly educated staff

There are approximately 430 staff members employed at Mikkeli University of Applied  Sciences, of which 200 are full-time lecturers. About 40 of our staff hold a doctoral or licentiate degree.

Main Campus

the medieval village

At the end of september, the medieval village opens its gates to present a flashback for a great era. Here, everyone plays its character, you can find village fool, begger, warrior, vendors and others. Feel free to participate and eat fish with heads as Benjamin likes:):). (Pursialankatu street, next to lake Kaihunlahti, but on the other side of the road)