CLIL4ALL Project Blog : An Intensive Week in Joensuu
February 2025 marked an incredible collaborative adventure as students from France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland gathered in Joensuu for an unforgettable intensive week project. Our multinational team, comprising both business and IT students, worked together at the beautiful Wärtsilä TAO campus of Karelia University.
Braving the Finnish Winter
Stepping off the plane in Finland felt like entering another world ! The landscape was blanketed in pristine white snow, with temperatures that had us bundling up in every layer we packed. Despite the cold (or perhaps because of it), there was something magical about experiencing authentic Finnish winter. Walking across the frozen campus with snowflakes gently falling around us created memories that will last a lifetime.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
What made this experience truly special was the way our diverse backgrounds complemented each other. The business students brought their marketing insights and user experience knowledge, while the IT students contributed their technical expertise. This combination of skills proved perfect for our ambitious project goal. Working with students from different countries and therefore different cultures can be difficult but we learned to communicate and to work together. Everyone brought something special to the project. Moreover, various activities prepared by the organizers around the culture helped us to break the ice from day one ! And the organizers were there to support us throughout the week.
Our Project : A Gamified Campus Discovery App
Our task for the week was to create an interactive application that would help newcomers discover the campus, the city of Joensuu, and Finnish culture. We developed a gamified app (meaning we incorporated game elements like points, achievements, and challenges to make the experience more engaging and fun) that guides users through important locations while teaching them about local customs and history.
The app features :
- Interactive campus tours with knowledge checkpoints
- City exploration challenges
- Cultural mini games to learn Finnish traditions
- Achievement badges for completing different paths
Beyond the Classroom
The week wasn’t all work ! We enjoyed traditional Finnish saunas, tried local cuisine, and even ventured out for some winter activities. The evenings spent socializing with our international teammates were filled with laughter and cultural exchange.
Final Thoughts
This intensive week at Karelia University was absolutely fantastic and something we would recommend to any student given the opportunity. Despite the chilly weather (or perhaps because of it !), the warmth of the experience, the friendships formed, and the skills developed made this a highlight of our academic journey.
The CLIL4ALL project proved that when students from different countries and disciplines come together, we can create something truly innovative. We can’t wait to see how our app will help future visitors discover the beauty of Joensuu and its wonderful campus !
Authors : Romane Gallay ; Tiphaine Chalton; Marie-Adeline Grenier ; Martin Petit (UJM)
