HANSA NOVA: Managing a multicultural workforce in the Baltic Sea Region Co-financed by:

Rationale The countries in the Baltic Sea Region are clearly dependent on the economic and social relations between them Of all the Baltic States´ foreign trade, more than half takes place with other countries that surround the Baltic Sea Cooperation in the region grows The companies in the region increasingly need to work with a multicultural workforce, either on a permanent basis or in shorter-term projects

Aims of the HANSA NOVA network 1. to increase the knowledge of cultural differences in business organizations in the Baltic Sea Region 2. to develop and deliver a European Module supporting multicultural management with modern ICT-tools in the Region. In the first phase of the product, materials for the Module will be developed. The development takes place in Communities of Practice where HEIs and companies interact. Supervised students’ research on ICT-based multicultural projects is an important part of the development work. In the second phase, the Module will be implemented in HEIs’ degree programmes. The Module will be delivered both in classrooms and on-line (blended learning) by the HANSA NOVA

Network structure The HANSA NOVA network consists of local and regional expertise in the Nordic and Baltic countries and in Northwest Russia. Higher educational institutions (HEIs) and companies interact in dynamic Communities of Practice Each network partner contributes with his/her expertise in business culture and management and shares this knowledge with the other network members. For the participating institutions, the network provides a clear knowledge and resource advantage compared to each institution developing multicultural courses individually

HANSA NOVA network’s founding members: Higher Education Institutions Denmark: Tietgen Business College, Odense Estonia: Tartu University, Tallinn Technical University Finland: Arcada – a University of Applied Sciences , Helsinki Lithuania: Vilnius University and Vilnius College in Higher Education Norway: Buskerud University College, Hönefoss Russia: St. Petersburg State University and St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute Trade Union Tradenomiliitto TRAL, Finland (association for business graduates)

Different roles of participating companies Provide practical input in different forms: Give presentations at network’s seminars Receive students/researchers for interviews Provide feed-back on students’ and researchers work Comment on the final Module’s content and suitability for companies Disseminate information about Hansa Nova in own organisation and networks

Time-table for project activities (2006) 5 – 7 October 2006. Introductory seminar in Helsinki. Representatives of HEIs, companies, and NGOs will participate. The programme will include topics such as business culture, multicultural management, and leadership of international projects. Workshops are conducted on the use of ICTs in international projects. October – December 2006. Lectures in management of multicultural workshops in home institutions. Students research the actual situation in their country and collect material for writing cases

Time-table (spring 2007) January 2007. Mid-term reporting using ICTs, such as learning management systems (e.g. WebCt) and video-conferences. Mid-term reports will be written by students of the HEIs and made available for network members. February - March 2007. Work will continue in the home institutions and cases finalised. 26 – 28 April 2007. Summarizing seminar (place to be decided) (3 days) Results of the case studies will be presented. Plans for the further activities of the network will be made. May – June 2007. Writing of handbook (in electronic and paper form) summarizing the knowledge gathered and developed. The handbook will contain reflections about theory, practical experience, cases, and learning material for the use of ICTs in international projects.

Time-table academic year 2007-2008 Course materials will be tested and evaluated (Sept – Oct 2007) Module integrated in HEIs programmes (Nov 2007 – April 2008) and total evaluation of project’s activities Concluding seminar (May 2008) Final reporting (August-Sept 2008)

Dissemination The network will disseminate its results through a variety of channels, e.g. project’s web-site seminars arranged by the HEIs and NGOs through participating companies’ networks through HEIs national and international networks International business education organisations web-sites (such as SPACE, EDEN, ISBE)

Evaluation In the project, both processes and products will be evaluated. 1. Processes will be followed by the management team, on the basis of monthly reporting from each participating HEI. In addition, on-line questionnaires will be used for process evaluation that can be accessed by all network members. The following process evaluation areas are under consideration and will be decided upon during the introductory seminar: - overall success in relation to the listed aims of the network - partner involvement and co-operation - pedagogical, organisational and technological factors - students’ actual learning vs. planned learning outcomes - dissemination activities 2. Products will be evaluated by the external evaluator. The external evaluator will be assisted by personnel in the participating HEI especially during editing and production of material and testing of the Module. The external evaluator will suggest research instrument for evaluation of the products, and is also responsible for analysing the material gathered. The results of the evaluation of both processes and products will be sent to the network participants and to network’s stakeholders.

On-going cooperation The network is established to correspond to the management knowledge needed in the Baltic Sea region. Members join the network with a long-term approach to cooperation and knowledge sharing. The material developed by the network will be updated on an on-going basis and distributed to the network actors After the first year of activities, the network participants will jointly decide about the specific programme for the following academic year.

Responsible co-ordinator Ms. Eija Källström Assistant Head of Department of Business, Media, and Technology Arcada – a University of Applied Sciences Jan-Magnus Janssons plats 1 FI- 00550 Helsinki, Finland Tel. + 358 207 699 528 Fax. + 358 207 699 644 eija.kallstrom@arcada.fi

This project has been carried out with the support of the European Community and in the framework of the Nordplus and SOCRATES programmes. The content of this project does not necessarily reflect the position of Nordplus or the European Community, nor does it involve any responsibility on the part of Nordplus or the European Community.