GVL wants to create new kinds of young professionals who see the world from a slightly different perspective. Therefore, GVL has offered two minor subjects, Technology Business and Service Business, for students who have a background in something other than economics. These study programmes have managed to change the mindset of many, and after attending the studies, some students even say that they want to change the world. Pretty big words, but after reading the following testimonials you'll believe that GVL is up to something good!

Let's begin by hearing what Aki Soudunsaari, a former GVL student and co-founder of Pedasport, has to say on this. Aki chose to minor in GVL studies because a friend of his said they were excellent and emphasized a new way of thinking. "This came close to my own interests in entrepreneurship and doing things in my own way," says Aki, who thought that Live Cases were an excellent way of doing courses: "With them I had the chance to really DO things and not just read about them in books."

In Aki's opinion, GVL tries to bring academic studying and everyday actions together by combining theory and live cases. In working life, theory and science have their role, but cannot be the main point, Aki says. When it comes to his own personal development, Aki says it to be enormous, especially in the field of economics. He describes a totally new world opening up for him during the studies and, perhaps surprisingly, found qualities in himself suitable for the world of business.

Aki is one example of how students can make the most of their newly gained skills and knowledge and prove themselves capable of rising to new challenges – whether taking on a new project or applying for a job. Moreover, he is definitely not the only student who has experienced and acknowledged the benefits of the courses and studying methods at GVL. On the contrary, a great many feel that they have gained a lot and learned essential new skills that will be useful in life outside university.

Niina Pitkänen was among the first students who were accepted to study service business at GVL during the academic year 2008–2009. Majoring in speech communication, she thought that a deeper understanding of business would both be interesting and smooth her way when applying for a job. She expected to gain an overall understanding of business and the processes in it; also marketing and leadership were of great interest to her.

Her expectations were met: she had the opportunity to choose courses based on her interests and even though (and understandably so) it was not possible to gain a thorough knowledge of business in only one year, she felt that the secrets of business opened up to her sufficiently. Niina focused particularly on marketing, as it was a suitable combination with her major, and was excited over working on live cases commissioned by companies that really interested her professionally.

The studies enabled her to perceive business processes as a whole, which is useful in her current job. Without the studies, Niina says, her manner of examining companies' way of doing business would be more limited, but now she is able to better comment on things such as marketing, management or entrepreneurship. Also her view of her own skills and knowledge evolved during the studies: Niina feels she got a more comprehensive picture of her own know-how and was therefore better prepared for working life.

NIINA PITKÄNEN: “Studies with GVL are a fun way to get
introduced to business. It has been the most important
minor subject for me and has also widened my perspective
and reinforced my know-how. I recommend this kind of
learning to everyone!”

When asked what kinds of skills or competences the courses have provided or developed, students mention for instance the following set: skills in project management and planning, team work and cooperation skills, ability to tolerate pressure and to work independently, understanding and appreciating different viewpoints. All these can be described as improving competences that are required in the working life.

What makes the GVL courses special is their "learning by doing" attitude, brought forward with the method of working with Live Cases: working on actual cases, real issues, straight from business life. For many students, this is the first, and sometimes a very eye-opening, opportunity to directly apply their theoretical knowledge into practice in a hands-on, concrete way.

This concretion is something that the students at GVL value highly. Why? Simply because it bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge gained at the university and the reality and requirements of working life. Students feel that the courses have given them concrete skills and models for solving challenges they might face in working life. In short, they have learnt how to turn their knowledge into actions.

How to apply the know-how of one's major subject in creative businesses; learning to understand the various mechanisms and aspects of the business world; appreciating the importance of networks; discovering one's own entrepreneurial spirit... These are just some areas where GVL students, who come from highly diverse backgrounds, have discovered new ways of thinking and acting. In other words, the positive effects are not limited to improving skills and competences, but can in fact really open the student's eyes to a completely new way of looking at the world.

Naturally, a new way of seeing, doing and thinking is also a personal challenge. Further challenges come in the form of multidisciplinary teams and the "messiness" of working with real-life cases: unwanted surprises or changes come along, what needs to be done may not be clear from the get-go, everything may seem chaotic – things do not always go smoothly. However, things don't always go smoothly in working life either, and the GVL courses are a useful testing ground for the future. In the words of one student, the studies offer "the chance to grow as a person", and as we know, one can't make an omelet without breaking the eggs…

When asked of the overall use and importance of their studies with GVL, several students answer that it has been the most useful minor subject they have taken at the university, especially in terms of their professional development. Student feedback, such as "it has been a significant signpost towards my future career", "I can't even imagine how much I would've missed, had I not applied for the program", "It changed my life", or "GVL studies turned me into a future entrepreneur", does not leave much room for doubt. A choice few even explicitly state that they want to become growth entrepreneurs! In one way or another, the studies have made a lasting impression on, or even changed the course of life of several students and future professionals.