From Kempele in Northern Finland to work in Barcelona or Innsbruck? All doors are open for 16-year-old Adele Kurkela, who is in the middle of her first study year at OSAO. She is working on a Vocational Qualification degree in Business Management, which offers graduates excellent job opportunities in international sales and marketing.
Some people figure out their career path in their twenties, some find their true calling already in comprehensive school. The latter applies to Adele, who enjoys language studies, traveling and meeting new people. Sales and customer service are something she finds inspiring as well.
“I knew at an early age that I wanted to forge my career in sales and marketing. I like getting to know new people and things, and languages and cultures interest me as well. Ever since I was a young girl, I had hobbies that got me out and about and ‘in with the crowd’”, Adele says with a smile.
For Adele, vocational education and training (VET) was a clear-cut choice. She briefly considered attending upper secondary school but soon realized that vocational competence would give her quicker access to the job market. Based on her interests and goals, Adele chose Educational Consortium OSAO and its English-language study programme Vocational Qualification in Business.
”What I found especially interesting in this English study programme was that it offers a good deal of language studies and a great opportunity for a cultural exchange abroad. My dream is to complete my work-based learning in Austria.”
Entrepreneurship ever since comprehensive school
While in comprehensive school, Adele studied at the so-called entrepreneurship class in her hometown of Kempele. That’s where she got acquainted with sales and marketing studies and training for entrepreneurship.
”We founded our own companies that were registered with the actual Trade Register. Together with two of my classmates, I set up a gymnastics school that we ran. It was fantastic!”
In Adele’s view, studying sales and marketing requires an open mind, interest in languages and cultures, and flexibility. In order to successfully complete the English-language Vocational Qualification in Business, a good grasp of English at the comprehensive school level is enough.
“In OSAO’s study programme, all subjects except Swedish and Finnish are taught in English, and at times business terminology was a bit problematic. However, the most important thing is language comprehension – you learn the rest along the way and through experience.”
Aiming at international workplace training and education
OSAO’s internationally focused business studies include study modules from the
International Baccalaureate Career–related Programme (IBCP). This provides the students with excellent readiness for further studies both in Finland and abroad. The programme contains two IB-level subjects: English and Business Management, which both enhance the student’s professional skills in business.
”My goal is to continue studying at some later time at a university of applied sciences – or at a traditional university, which was what my sister did,” Adele describes her plans for the future.
In their studies, the students learn about customer service and different types of interaction, draw up marketing budgets and master the terminology of the field in English, Swedish and Finnish. When it is time for the work-based learning, they can apply for an Erasmus grant that helps cover the expenses of training abroad.
Adele herself takes part in raising funds for the cultural exchange. She earns money by teaching the basics of English to relatives and friends who are eager to learn. Farm work is in her sights as well, so the future sales expert has a lot going on.
“I haven’t decided yet about my life and career after the studies, but at some point I’d like to found my own enterprise. I’d like to bring about a positive change in the world through my work,” Adele concludes.
