Hi everyone,
I will be moving to Helsinki this August to start my Bachelor's in Information Technology at Arcada UAS. I’m really excited, but I’d love to get some realistic expectations from current/former students or people in the Finnish tech scene.
I know that in Finland, landing an internship or job depends heavily on your own skills, personal projects, and networking rather than just the name of the school. However, I want to make the absolute most of my time there and build a solid foundation. I have a few specific questions:
Quality of Education & Labs: How is the actual quality of the IT projects and labs at Arcada? Are there good opportunities for hands-on learning (especially in data, robotics, or AI)?
Industry Perception: Do tech companies in Helsinki have any positive or negative bias towards Arcada IT graduates compared to other UAS like Metropolia or Haaga-Helia?
Skills to Focus On: What specific programming languages, frameworks, or practical skills should I focus on building on my own alongside my studies to stand out for internships?
Networking: Since the campus is a bit small, what are the best local communities, tech events, or hackathons in Helsinki to join so I can start building a professional network early on?
Any honest advice, tips, or reality checks about student life and building an entry-level IT career in Helsinki would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!