Exploring Finland: Study Tour to Kokkola

Bachelor's students visit Centria University of Applied Sciences

At the end of January, 26 of our students joined the Study Tour and travelled to Kokkola, Finland, to visit one of our partner Universities, the Centria University of Applied Sciences.

The students got their first real taste of Finland already on day one, when they had to conquer a 30-minute walk over a frozen sidewalk to reach Centria, demanding their utmost caution. Nevertheless, all of them reached the University safe and sound and filled with anticipation.

At Centria, they were introduced to Finnish culture, the town of Kokkola and the University, followed by a laboratory tour through campus. As Centria houses different study and research programs with different specializations, the laboratories were as diverse as they were sophisticated: from chemical reactors to 3D-printing to metallurgy, our students were intrigued.

The next two days were excursion days. First destination: the Kokkola Industrial Park. Here the students had the chance to get to know two companies better: Boliden Group and Hycamite TCD Technologies Ltd.. The former is the biggest company in the Park and has a plant specialized in the refinement of zinc, while the latter astounds with its innovative approach to producing hydrogen and carbon, a definitive highlight for our students.

The following morning, the excursion continued. This time, the destination was the Alholmen Industrial Park, about 40km South of Kokkola, and two company visits were scheduled. Walki Group Oy, a company specialized in paper production, lamination and printing, was the first one. The students got a fascinating factory and laboratory tour. Soon after, they made their way to Nautor Swan srl, a company thriving in a completely different field: navigation. Nautor Swan srl is known for constructing high-end sailing yachts. The impressive craftmanship behind these luxury boats fascinated the students. In true Finnish fashion, the day was concluded with a spontaneous ice-bathing and sauna trip. A cultural immersion indeed!

Thursday was spent back at Centria, filled with lectures on different topics focused on the future: Energy to Gas, Renewable Energy and Efficiency, Batteries in Inorganic Chemistry Research and Plastic Composites and SD-Printing. The students were especially intrigued by the first lecture, held by Einar Nystedt, who supervised the whole study tour. Divided into groups, they assembled a model of a hydrogen-powered car, gaining valuable and detailed knowledge about the concept of hydrogen as an energy source and storage solution. Grateful for the insights of the day, the students gathered together in the evening for a fun game-night.

On the morning of the last day, the students were greeted by perfect weather and fresh snow, ideal conditions for the planned outdoor activity. They drove to the coast. The sea was frozen solid with an ice-layer thick enough to walk over, so that’s what they did. One student describes the walk on the frozen sea during sunrise as an incredible experience. The breathtaking scenery and the feeling of walking above the sea something they’ll surely never forget. On their way back, they gathered branches, that they then used to grill some sausages over the flames of a firepit. To end this once in a lifetime outdoor experience in Finnish tradition, they warmed up in the sauna, before heading back to the accommodation to prepare for the farewell dinner organized and sponsored by Centria – a perfect opportunity to reflect on the trip and celebrate together the amazing past days spent in Finland.

Now we at the Department of Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering are excited to welcome our Finnish colleagues and friends here at MCI in April, when the Study Tour goes into round two of the exchange: bringing Centria students to Innsbruck for a week.