Muhammad Tareque Hasan and Anika Quayum, originally from Bangladesh, recently graduated from UEF and now work at FinVector. They speak about their journeys to Finland that have required resilience, ambition, and a deep-rooted desire to make the most of life's opportunities.
In 2019, Muhammad Tareque Hasan, an epidemiologist with a master's degree in public health from Bangladesh, received a full scholarship to pursue another master's degree at UEF. He chose Finland not only for its top-notch educational opportunities but also because it was recognised as the happiest country in the world. His studies in The Master's Degree Programme in Public Health progressed so well that he continued doing a PhD.
Three years later, Anika Quayum embarked on a similar journey. With a background in microbiology, Anika aimed to delve deeper into environmental health and technology. She secured a 70 % scholarship for her master's studies at UEF. For Anika, this was her first experience outside Bangladesh, and the practical, hands-on nature of education in Finland was a refreshing change.
“I was impressed by the high-quality resources, like the well-equipped libraries, and the empirical assignments that often included creating videos”, she recalls.
Muhammad's transition from student life to the professional world in Finland was facilitated by his proactive approach and the support of his teachers. After several applications and an internship at Medfiles, he landed a position as a Manufacturing Associate at FinVector in August 2023.
Anika started as a Quality Control Analyst in January. Her expertise in chromatography, honed during her master's thesis, proved to be a perfect fit for the job.
Embracing the Finnish work culture
Working at FinVector has been a transformative experience for them both. Muhammad has found a supportive community, likening his workplace to a family where colleagues from different nationalities come together, often enjoying activities like basketball. He also praises the Finnish working culture.
“There is a perfect work-life balance. We get proper holidays and workdays are not too long, so you have time for hobbies and relaxation.”
Anika, experiencing an international work environment for the first time, finds her Finnish colleagues to be amicable and helpful. She appreciates the clear communication, low hierarchy, and respect for personal time and opinions, which makes the work culture relaxing and efficient.
Muhammad and Anika see their current roles as stepping stones towards their future careers. With his medical background, Muhammad aims to eventually start a medical practice in Finland, which will require him to master the Finnish language. Anika, on the other hand, plans to pursue a PhD and continue exploring her field.
Reflections on Finnish life and support
Despite missing certain aspects of their home country, like food and families, both have built their own international communities in Kuopio. They fully enjoy their lives in Finland and would like to stay for longer.
“There is a good reason for Finland being called the happiest country in the world. You can plan your life here because everything is so systematic. It feels wonderful”, Muhammad sums up.
Their integration into Finnish society has been facilitated by the support from UEF, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. The university provided practical assistance with housing and even small essentials like masks. However, Muhammad and Anika believe that more affordable housing and mandatory Finnish language courses could further help international talents settle in Eastern Finland. They also highlight the need for more internship opportunities to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Tools for international students' path towards working life
The Talent Hub Eastern Finland project aims to address the needs of both students and employers with several services. An annually recurring mentoring programme helps international students learn Finnish working life and build their networks. For employers, it provides up-to-date information on students’ skills, fields of education and the future workforce.
Another example is the Future Talents team. It aims to increase cooperation with companies and find internships, student project work, workplace learning opportunities and part-time jobs. The team markets and sells its expertise and that provided by its degree programme. It can also do on-demand projects. For employer organisations, the team offers a new way to find talent.
Upcoming semester, a new bilingual online course will be launched for international students. With the course, students gain an understanding of the basics of Finnish working life and culture. They will also learn to recognise and strengthen their competencies.
Talent Hub Eastern Finland is a cooperation of UEF, Karelia, Savonia, Riveria, Sakky and YSAO. The project is co-funded by the European Union.
You can learn more about it on our website
