TAMK celebrated graduates: “Be good colleagues and dare to ask for help”

Neea Merivirta graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Science from the Software Engineering study track.

"The teaching at TAMK has been really good, and the teachers were very supportive and interested in how the students were doing. My personal goal was to graduate six months early, and the teachers supported me in making it possible."

Merivirta does not have time to go on holiday after celebrating, as she is called by a permanent job in the same week. Merivirta got the job through her internship.

Nelli Luhtalo graduated as a nurse. For her, the most memorable things about TAMK were the lovely people and friends.

"It's been great how much I've been able to do internships through school, for example. The teachers have been competent and ready to do a lot for us. The staff here has been wonderful, and I've made good friends over the past three and a half years."

Luhtalo also has a busy summer coming.

"A month ago, I started my summer job at the surgery ward at Tays. Perioperative nursing has been my thing for the past year, and I hope to get that kind of continuation for myself."

You can be proud of your degree

TAMK's President Mika Hannula stated in his commencement speech that the quality of education, practical approach, and strong connection to working life are the reasons why TAMK receives more applicants per study place than any other university of applied sciences in Finland.

"It is also no coincidence that, according to a recent survey by Taloustutkimus, 25-year-old Finns and younger consider Tampere University of Applied Sciences to be the most respected and interesting university of applied sciences. Of course, we are a little proud of this, but above all, we are humbly grateful that so many people want to build their future together with us."

Hannula emphasised that in working life, competence alone is not enough, but interpersonal skills and perseverance are at least as important.

"You will graduate into a world that needs your expertise, but also thinking, empathy, perseverance and determination. We live in a time that is complex and constantly changing. That is why your expertise is needed now: practical professionalism, the ability to solve problems and cooperate, and the ability to understand other people."

The president thanked the international students for choosing TAMK as their place of study.

"We sincerely hope that many of you will decide to stay in Finland and join our society. We need you and your skills."

Finally, Hannula reminded the graduates of the importance of taking others into account.

"Of course, in working life, you have to know what you are doing, but it is at least as important to get along with others. You don't have to be everyone's heart friend, but if you had at least someone who is nice to say hello to every morning."

In his speech, Jarkko Hannula, the Chairman of the board of the student union Tamko, urged the graduates to be proud of themselves and dream big. Arto Vuojolainen, Vice Chairman of the board of TAMK's Support Foundation, presented their traditional greetings.

The music for the event was provided by the TAMK Music Cello Quartet, consisting of Markus Hohti, Otto Pekonen, Eero Vahtola and Kevin Zhuang. Among other things, they presented a touching Canon by Pachelbel.

The alumni speaker at the celebration was Niina Virtanen, Film Tampere's Business Advisor, who still cooperates a lot with TAMK. Virtanen graduated from TAMK with a Bachelor of Media degree in 2011 and completed a Master's degree in Culture and Arts in 2024.

Virtanen advised graduates to say yes as often as possible. Following this principle has taken Virtanen on fascinating world trips, which have included, for example, having coffee in the desert with a billionaire known as the rainbow sheikh when Virtanen was producing a documentary shot in the United Arab Emirates.

"When you think about whether I can do it, whether I am enough, whether I can take on this challenge? Say yes."

TAMK provided the skills to be part of the change

Siina Kuusela, who graduated as a nurse, shared her thoughts on the nursing field and how she ended up in the field from a student's perspective. Applying to become a nurse was not part of her career plans. However, she was interested in biology, health and working with people. During the gap year, she worked as a hospital attendant and saw for the first time what nurses do.

"At school, I noticed that the industry needs people who want change, and especially who are part of the change. I want to be that kind of person."

"As nurses and other health care professionals, we are guided to work as independently as possible. We should make independent decisions, schedule and organize our work tasks in order to achieve the results of our work as efficiently as possible. I often feel that constant independent work creates pressure to cope alone, as if asking for help is not allowed."

According to Kuusela, the nursing profession is not planned to be done alone.

"You can act independently, but not alone. Our profession is based on a community of multidisciplinary staff and patients. We are constantly learning from each other, so asking for help is not a weakness, but a way to grow."