Oregon Tech faculty and students recently returned from a study abroad trip to Finland, Estonia, Sweden, and Iceland, which took place from Aug. 24 to Sept. 16. The trip brought together 25 students from 10 different majors to study international business, culture, and sustainability.
The trip was part of a Spring Term program called Experience Business Abroad and International Study Experience in Ecology/Sustainability, with a combination of three courses led by Dr. Sonja Bickford (Chair of Business Management), Dr. Nate Bickford (Interim Dean of the College of Health, Arts, and Sciences, and Associate Professor of Natural Sciences), and Dr. Jherime Kellerman (Professor of Natural Sciences).
Dr. Sonja Bickford focused on international business and entrepreneurship, while Dr. Nate Bickford and Dr. Jherime Kellermann covered environmental science. During the trip, students used what they had learned in class to explore how sustainability impacts business practices, environmental policies, and cultures across the four countries.
The program's interdisciplinary nature allowed students to study sustainability from various perspectives, creating a rich, integrated learning experience.
"During registration for the courses, we saw a strong interest from students who wanted to study abroad," said Dr. Sonja Bickford. "This program gave them a chance to learn about global sustainability while gaining real-world experience beyond what they can get in the classroom."
Oregon Tech has a long-standing partnership with Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland, which provided five students an opportunity to spend extra time abroad prior to the faculty-led trip. The students arrived three weeks earlier than the group and attended summer school at Metropolia, taking classes during the day and exploring the region in the afternoon.
“Over the course of the three weeks I was able to take classes from three professors from different universities,” said Evelyn Skiles, a Cybersecurity student. “It was very interesting to see the unique ways the professors approach teaching their subjects, especially with students from such diverse backgrounds. My favorite class was probably Introduction to Digital Forensics with Professor Isaac Nhamu from Namibia University of Science and Technology. He approached lessons with a very hands-on method and allowed us to explore the software and programs at our own pace and in our own way.”
Upon arrival of Oregon Tech’s faculty and the rest of the group, the team visited universities, museums, and local businesses. They also attended university lectures and events, allowing them to meet and network with international students and professionals.
“In most of the cities we visited in Finland, we had the opportunity to connect with the other college students outside of school hours,” said Tegan Running, an Environmental Sciences Wildlife student. “We got to join in on many activities and traditions university students over there do every year.”
Other universities in Finland, including Turku University of Applied Sciences, Tampere University, and Lapland University of Applied Sciences, hosted Oregon Tech students and provided opportunities to attend lectures and join local student events.
“During our three-week trip, we got to immerse ourselves in the cultural and academic aspects of the countries we visited,” said Jehu Morning, a Biology-Health Sciences student. “I enjoyed spending time with the Finnish students and learning about their experiences in university, as I was intrigued by both the similarities and differences between our education systems. I would definitely consider returning to Finland to take advantage of their excellent schools.”
One of the trip's highlights was experiencing a Finnish university tradition where students wear color-coded overalls decorated with patches that show their accomplishments. Oregon Tech business students wore blue overalls, and environmental science students wore gray, participating in the activities alongside Finnish students.
The trip provided students with hands-on learning opportunities while exploring global issues like sustainability. The Office of Global Engagement at Oregon Tech supported the program, allowing students to experience international travel and education.
Participating students include:
Patrick Bender, Cybersecurity
Jamie Brown, Operations Management
Benjamin Cleverley, Cybersecurity
Nolan Kirkwood, Cybersecurity
Jasmine Lundberg, Vascular Technology
Luke Rodenhauser, Business Management
Evelyn Skiles, Cybersecurity
Braydon Weider, Accounting
Angelina Setka, Environmental Sciences
Makenna Shamion, Environmental Sciences
Colton Running, Civil Engineering
Lindsey Siagian, Business Management
Aaron Luke, Renewable Energy Engineering and Environmental Sciences
Tori Leyba, Biology-Health Sciences
Natalie Arnot, Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences
Tegan Running, Environmental Sciences
Jehu Morning, Biology-Health Sciences
Drake Hartinger, Business Management
Adin Bartlett, Professional Writing
Chance Walton, Biology-Health Sciences
Mason Smith, Civil Engineering
Patrick Heaney, Environmental Sciences
Sebastian Fleschner, Mechanical Engineering
Tyler Laitinen, Environmental Sciences
Seth Rodenhauser, Biology-Health Sciences
For more information about Oregon Tech’s study abroad programs, visit https://www.oit.edu/academics/international-programs.
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