The TalTech representatives this time were Alina Kruglova, Annaliisa Niidas, Ariadna Nikulina, Arina Tishuk, Carmela Del Rosario, Janne Emilie Lasson, Marta Mia Lepland, Sauda Faroquei and Tamar Mamulashvili. Three of the participants – Annaliisa, Sauda and Tamar – reflected on the experience and shared what they had learned from an intensive week of international teamwork, strategic decision-making and life beyond the classroom. 

 

What motivated you to take part in the programme, and did the experience meet your expectations?

Sauda: I’ve always wanted to take part in an exchange programme, but a long-term exchange can feel quite exhausting and nerve-wracking when you consider all the factors involved. When this opportunity came along, it felt like the perfect chance to finally experience studying abroad without committing to a full exchange semester.

I researched the University of Vaasa and the city, and it seemed like a peaceful environment for me personally while still offering a good academic challenge. I expected the programme to be mostly academic, and I was honestly a little nervous about meeting new people and being in a completely new environment.

However, I came back with so much more than academic experience. I gained new perspectives, friendships, confidence and memories that I genuinely don’t think I could have gained from a classroom alone.

Annaliisa: I was initially motivated by the 6 EAP I could earn from the course, but I also wanted to dip my toes into the world of student exchanges. At the moment, I don’t feel ready to commit to a full exchange semester, so this seemed like a good opportunity to try it on a smaller scale. I expected to meet many people from different backgrounds, and that expectation was definitely fulfilled.

Tamar: I first learned about the BIP in International Entrepreneurship through our programme director, Marianne Kallaste, and a student who had participated the previous year. Both spoke very highly of the experience and emphasised how engaging and worthwhile it was. Encouraged by their recommendations, I enrolled with high expectations – all of which were thoroughly met and fulfilled.

How was the programme structured, and how did the online sessions prepare you for the intensive week in Vaasa?

Sauda: The programme was very well organised, especially with the guidance and support provided by the host university. The online sessions were particularly helpful for answering practical questions about transportation, accommodation, classes and other essential information before arriving. The organisers were also very responsive to emails and messages, which made the preparation much less stressful and gave me confidence that I could easily ask for help whenever I needed it.

Tamar: The programme was well structured and logically organised. The initial online sessions helped us become comfortable and familiar with the lecturers and students from other countries before arriving at the University of Vaasa. The lecturers were also remarkably warm and welcoming, bringing extensive knowledge and broad practical experience to the classes.

What business idea or international business plan did your team develop, and what was your role?

Sauda: Students from the participating universities were deliberately mixed into teams, meaning that we weren’t grouped with people from our own university. Each team therefore brought together students from different countries, universities and backgrounds, making the collaboration international from the very beginning.

My team developed a portable electric pod that attaches to a conventional bicycle and provides pedal assistance whenever the customer needs it. We decided to launch it in the Dutch market, where cycling is an important part of everyday life. Our target customers were people who regularly cycle longer or more demanding routes but don’t necessarily want to pay the much higher price of a fully electric bicycle.

My main responsibility was market analysis. I explored when, where, how and at what price it would make sense to introduce our product in the Dutch market.

Annaliisa: My team developed a product called FreshCart, a mobile cart with a solar-powered refrigeration system. Our idea was to market it to street vendors in India and East Asia. We planned to begin by piloting FreshCart with approximately 30 vendors, who would repay the cost gradually. I was the team’s marketing manager, although the roles did not matter that much in practice because we worked on and discussed everything together.

Tamar: My primary role was Head of Operations, although every team member actively contributed to discussions throughout the different phases of the project. My team developed an international business plan for residential parcel delivery lockers aimed at the United States market. Designed to combat porch theft and protect delivered goods, these secure outdoor units would provide a reliable drop-off point for carriers such as UPS, FedEx, Amazon and USPS. The product combined security, durability and ease of use with modern residential aesthetics and privacy protection.

The programme included a business simulation in which you had to make rapid decisions. What was the simulation like, and what did it teach you?

Annaliisa: The simulation took place over 6 quarters, where we had to successfully sell different types of bikes. It included making marketing decisions, looking over the market research, financial decisions, etc. I learned that I should definitely buy market research; we could have become so much more successful faster if we had bought it after the first quarter.

Sauda: We had to make quick decisions as a team and immediately see the consequences of those decisions. It taught me that in business, you rarely have complete information or unlimited time to decide. Sometimes you simply have to trust your team, make the best decision with what you know, and be ready to adapt when things don’t go according to plan. 

Tamar: Participating in the business simulation was one of the most engaging components of the course. Our group collaborated closely, evaluating key metrics and making strategic decisions to maximize our product's market success.

What was the most challenging part of the programme, and how did you handle it?

Sauda: The most challenging part was definitely how intensive the programme was. As the name suggests, a Blended Intensive Programme was always going to have a very packed schedule, but having so much to accomplish in just five days was still quite demanding. There were lectures, teamwork, projects, presentations and the simulation, so managing the limited time while still trying to enjoy the experience was definitely a challenge.

I also gave some feedback to the Summer School organisers that it would be helpful to have certain practical details communicated from the very beginning, for example, exactly what materials needed to be submitted, how much time we would have for the final presentation, and what was expected from each part of the project. The teachers were always very responsive whenever we had questions, so it was never a problem of not being able to get information; having some of those details earlier would simply make planning easier. I also think some of the lecture sessions could be slightly more interactive. The practical parts, especially the simulation and business pitch, were already very engaging, so bringing a little more of that into the lectures could make the experience even better.

Annaliisa: The most difficult part was time management. I felt like if we had skipped the repetitive lectures and instead had more time to be more hands-on, we could have gotten even better results and made more of the time we had. On one of the evenings, we had a social activity in the Vaasa University Arcade. We stressed about the simulation the whole time because we did not have time to finish it before, and we had to do it on our own terms during the social event. 

Tamar: The most challenging aspect of the programme was collaborating within a diverse team composed of individuals with varied backgrounds and viewpoints. Reaching a consensus on problem-solving strategies occasionally proved difficult due to differing opinions. Ultimately, this experience taught me the value of navigating diverse perspectives and reinforced the importance of humility and open-mindedness in teamwork.

What was it like to work in such an international and multicultural environment?

Sauda: The international and multicultural environment was my favourite part of the whole programme. There is something really exciting about being surrounded by people whose ideas, experiences and ways of thinking you simply cannot predict. Maybe it’s just because my chaotic extroverted energy comes out around people who match it, but I genuinely loved working with people who had experiences and perspectives that I didn’t have.

It also taught me how valuable diversity can be in a team. You realise very quickly that there isn’t always one “correct” way to approach a problem. Someone might look at the same situation completely differently because of their culture, education or previous experience, and suddenly you have a perspective you wouldn’t have considered yourself. My favourite thing has always been learning from people and not textbooks, and this programme gave me exactly that.
 
Annaliisa: It was very interesting working with different people. I had a girl from Czech, a guy from India and another guy from France. Since I mostly worked with them, I am basing my answer on that. Since we all came from different backgrounds, it was so much more interesting to brainstorm business ideas, and thanks to the guy from India, we came to the awesome idea of FreshCart. I felt like the teachers were also really inspired by it. 

Tamar: The process significantly broadened my global perspective and fostered both my personal and professional growth. Above all, the opportunity to connect with such a talented, diverse group of individuals was the most rewarding aspect of the entire programme.

Which knowledge, skills or insights gained during the programme will be most useful to you in your future studies or career?

Sauda: I think the biggest thing I gained was learning how to approach a business problem from more than one perspective. Through the market analysis, business simulation and pitching, I learned that having an idea is not enough, you have to understand the customer, the market, the competition, the financial side and whether the idea actually makes sense in practice.

Tamar: Participating in the programme equipped me with essential competencies in cross-cultural collaboration, high-intensity time management and practical strategic planning. Furthermore, balancing two major projects—a comprehensive International Business Plan and a dynamic Business Simulation—alongside rigorous coursework within a dense five-day period significantly honed my ability to prioritise critical tasks under strict deadlines without sacrificing quality. 

What was the most memorable moment of the intensive week in Vaasa, either academically or outside the classroom?

Sauda: There were plenty of fun moments outside the classroom, from the Game Night at Start-up Arcades, which was extremely fun, to experiencing the City of Vaasa Night of the Arts, which was genuinely beautiful.

But honestly, the moments I remember most are the less organised ones: exploring the city after classes, staying out late, having unexpectedly deep conversations, sitting by the water and just enjoying how peaceful Vaasa was. At the end of the day, I think it’s the random, stupid and funny memories you make, and the people you share them with, that stay with you. Not necessarily how intelligent you sounded in a classroom, how successful you became, or how impressive you looked to the rest of the world, but how much you actually lived, and the memories you left with.

Annaliisa: My roommate Marta Mia and I had a very interesting experience in our accommodation. We were already in our pyjamas, and I had a face mask on when the fire alarm went off. We put on some longer pants and took our jackets to run outside. We first thought it was our apartment, but turns out a vape shop next to us set the alarm off. Instead of freezing outside for 30 minutes, we decided to go to the Irish pub next to us and get a drink instead.

Tamar: The most memorable moment of the intensive week was experiencing Vaasa's Cultural Night. Initially, I anticipated a quiet, low-population town with limited activity. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the city come alive as streets, cafés, and restaurants filled with people. Cultural venues, museums, and art exhibitions offered engaging events throughout the evening. Strolling through the vibrant streets while enjoying live music and local dance performances provided a delightful and unforgettable immersion into the community.

Why would you recommend the programme to other TalTech students, and what advice would you give to someone considering taking part next year?

Sauda: It’s not every day that you get to be outside at midnight with six friends from six different countries, in a city and country where nobody knows you or your history. There was something really freeing about that. You get to meet people without any previous expectations and, in a way, just be authentically yourself.

And if you’re nervous about applying, do it anyway. If you’re worried you won’t meet the right people, do it anyway. If you’re thinking you’re not experienced enough, do it anyway. I was nervous too, and I came back realising that some of the experiences I was most afraid of were exactly the ones I ended up being most grateful for. So my advice is quite simple: go for it, and do it anyway. Don’t let your fear keep you away from experiences that your heart will thank you for.

Annaliisa: I would recommend it to others. If they’re too afraid to go on a full exchange semester, I’d suggest they go and try this first. The week was enough to show if I could get by by myself, if I was someone who could get along with strangers, if I was social enough and if I could work under stress.

Tamar: I would really recommend this programme to fellow TalTech students. It equips you with practical, career-defining knowledge while connecting you with international lecturers from the UK, US and France, whose direct feedback on our projects was invaluable. Beyond the classroom, it provides an enriching opportunity to live abroad and network with wonderful peers from across the globe. However, prospective students should keep in mind that the programme lives up to its "intensive" name—the workload during the week in Vaasa is demanding, so stay organized and be prepared to hit the ground running!

Would you like to gain international experience and put your business knowledge into practice? Come and study International Business Administration at TalTech School of Business and Governance!