Meet JYU alumni: Stella Ikonen
Stella Ikonen is a Senior Advisor in Export Education at TAMK (Tampere University of Applied Sciences). Her previous education includes a Bachelor of Commerce which she completed in China and a Double Degree Master’s in Interpretation and Translation which she earned from China and the UK. At the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, she completed her master’s degree in 2020 from the Educational Sciences (EDUMA) programme. She also does side business in translation and e-commerce.
When Stella Ikonen applied to JYU in 2016, she knew a few things about Finland to be true: good quality of life, beautiful nature, and an excellent education system. She also knew that, having completed all of her formal education in China, she wanted to experience something new and see how she’d thrive in a new country. On top of that, with the help of StudyInfo, Finland’s higher education application was simple, easy, and accessible.
As everything fell into place, Stella set off to Finland, eager to begin her new academic journey in Jyväskylä.
Engaging Professors
A warm welcome followed Stella as she began her programme in 2016. Stella remembers her first class and the very first lesson of her EDUMA master’s, a Guidance and Counseling course. Starting her lesson on a warm, sunny day in Jyväskylä, she recalls the professor commenting on the weather and remarking that a long, dark winter would be soon to follow.
To Stella’s surprise, the professor sent the students out into the sunshine to discuss their lesson in small groups, rather than continue a lecture inside.
To Stella’s surprise, the professor sent the students out into the sunshine to discuss their lesson in small groups, rather than continue a lecture inside. Not only was it surprising to be going outside during a lesson, but the experience as a whole was a refreshing change from her previous education.
This set the tone for the rest of Stella’s programme experience at JYU where professors continued to be just as nice, friendly, and professional as the first professor.
A Welcoming Atmosphere
When Stella applied to JYU, she was thinking predominantly about the programmes she was interested in. At the time, she had just finished her double degree Master’s in Interpretation and Translation and had been working for the largest private education provider in China, but she wanted to further her studies in the fields of education and pedagogy.
During her search, she came across EDUMA and saw that JYU ranked highly for their education programmes. Stella also remarks how she felt JYU’s welcoming atmosphere while browsing the website — something that came alive with real student stories and lots of information about JYU’s lively student environment.
During her search, Stella came across EDUMA and saw that JYU ranked highly for their education programmes.
As for many international students, moving far away from home to Finland did not come without its concerns for Stella. With a new culture, language, and programme to take in, it takes time to digest and adjust to new dynamics.
Upon arrival in Jyväskylä, Stella took part in JYU’s orientation programme which takes place at the beginning of each academic year for degree students and is designed for international students to get them settled in Jyväskylä and meet their peers. For Stella, her community of fellow peers, especially those in the same programme from Asia, became a place where they could share ideas and tips with each other which helped with the transition.
The winter in Finland was also a concern, not only for its cold but for the darkness that pairs with it. Luckily, JYU boasts excellent sports facilities where, on cold winter days, she went to the gym and participated in group exercises through uMove JYU, which helped her exercise and stay motivated throughout the dark months in Finland.
Study Flexibility
Besides its sports facilities, one thing Stella appreciated about JYU is the flexibility. She recalls when she had to still finish her courses and thesis while working full-time at TAMK, and how she was able to coordinate with her professors and study advisor to tailor the programme to suit her needs.
At JYU, students can create and update their own study plans as their studies progress and, with the help of programme coordinators, can make changes to meet their needs. In Stella’s case, EDUMA’s faculty worked with her to make accommodations to ensure she could keep progressing in her studies, even while she worked in Tampere.
Education Partners Worldwide
As a member of the JYU and EDUMA Alumni community, Stella now works as a Senior Advisor in Export Education at TAMK in Tampere, the same diverse and welcoming workplace where she completed her internship and master’s thesis.
In her role, Stella’s passion for business and education intersect as she exports and promotes Finnish education (such as courses, programs, expertise, and technologies) across the world, with her concentration being in Asia. Education Export allows other countries to adopt Finnish pedagogy by implementing teacher training courses, degree programs, and other Finnish resources into their own teaching, leading to Finland becoming more recognized in education.
With Stella’s expert knowledge from her previous education as well as EDUMA's comprehensive teaching of the Finnish education system and field, she works with education partners to provide educational services, solutions, and support from Finland to countries around the world.
Build Your Network
Whether you’re a prospective or current student at JYU, Stella emphasizes the importance of building your own network.
Networks can be developed in surprising ways — You never know who you’ll meet!
As a prospective student, connecting with alumni or current students can be useful as you research your programme to find out how it aligns with your interests and future goals. Whether it be attending JYU and Study in Finland webinars or chatting with current students on Unibuddy, you can receive practical advice and a glimpse into what life looks like here at JYU. This could be the start of your network here in Finland!
As for current students, especially those graduating soon, Stella notes how valuable her network was for launching her career at TAMK. In fact, she learned about TAMK through a now-current coworker that she met through a hobby course. Networks can be developed in surprising ways — You never know who you’ll meet!
Fond Memories at JYU
As an alumna, Stella looks back at her time at JYU fondly. Whenever she passes through Jyväskylä, she makes sure to stop by JYU’s Agora, a building on the Mattilanniemi campus with stunning views of Lake Jyväsjärvi.
The campus, the people, the programme, and, of course, the student restaurants (!!!) are just some aspects of what made Stella’s time at JYU memorable. From her first day as an EDUMA student to her current role as a Senior Advisor in Export Education, Stella’s journey has taken her to new and exciting roles, places, and programmes.
Where will JYU take you?