Envisioning Happy Futures 

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM 

Certificate:

Participants who complete the programme will receive a Nordic Sustainable Business Academy Professional Certificate issued by Business College Helsinki, SYKLI Environmental College and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. 

Location:

Helsinki, Finland, with the option of a one-day excursion to Tallinn by boat across the Baltic Sea. 

Experience a unique, practice-oriented learning journey that helps international students build future skills, explore sustainable business in the Nordics and enjoy memorable experiences in the world’s happiest country. 

Overview 

This practice-oriented programme is designed for international students who want to understand what sustainable business looks like in the Nordic context. The learning journey moves from sustainable business fundamentals and digital transformation to personal wellbeing, future skills and hopeful action towards a more sustainable future. 

What you gain? 

Participants gain practical insights into sustainable business, digitalisation and the Nordic market. They also learn how to balance studies, work and personal life, build an international network and experience Finnish nature and culture first-hand. 

• Practical insights into sustainable business and how it works  
• Perspectives on how digitalisation and AI are shaping the future of business 
• Understanding of how to balance studies, work and personal life 
• Networking in an international setting – meet new people and get inspired 
• Experiences in Finnish nature 

Participants are encouraged to connect the course themes with their study and personal ambitions and to consider how sustainable business can become a possible worklife path.  

Practical details 

📍 Location: Helsinki, Finland. The programme can also include a one-day excursion to Tallinn by boat across the Baltic Sea. 

🗓️ Duration: 2-week programme + online pre-meeting and follow-up after the course 

💶 Price: EUR 1,800 + 25.5% VAT per person

Who is this course for? 

This course is designed for international higher education students from universities and universities of applied sciences. 

Learning outcomes 

During this course, you will deepen your understanding of sustainable business and digital services. You will learn how Nordic countries have built sustainable businesses and how digitalisation and AI are shaping the business environment. 

You will also explore Nordic working life and gain ideas for societal impact and a future post-carbon economy. The course will inspire you to identify your own skills and development needs and to act with hope and agency towards a sustainable future. 

 After completing this two-week immersive programme, the student can apply practical means of balancing studies, work life and leisure, and of maintaining study wellbeing. 

Learning journey 

The programme is built around four connected themes: 

Happy Student focuses on study wellbeing, the Finnish way of life and unforgettable experiences in Finnish nature. Participants explore how to improve and maintain wellbeing during studies, with a guided day in Nuuksio National Park introducing the health benefits of nature through meditation, creativity and relaxation exercises in the forest. The theme also connects wellbeing with urban environments, cultural life and happiness. 

Happy Worklife introduces social sustainability as a concept and explores frameworks and systems emerging in working life. Through dialogue-based learning, participants learn to recognise injustice, discuss different perspectives and identify practical tools for building fairer and more sustainable solutions in workplaces and communities. 

Happy Business explores sustainable business through learning experience combining lectures, a hackathon and teamwork. Participants examine what sustainability means in business, the role of companies in the green transition, circular economy business models and their contribution to planetary wellbeing. The programme includes the Circula® Circular Economy and Entrepreneurship Game, where creative teamwork helps students build ideas for responsible business, sustainable lifestyles and hopeful future solutions. 

Envisioning Happy Futures helps participants identify their strongest sustainability competences, build hope and agency, and imagine alternative futures. The learning theme combines futures literacy, green skills and green competences with student voice and examples of sustainability action from Business College Helsinki. 

Course methodology 

The course combines lectures, practical workshops, study visits, a digital learning diary and a final exercise. Participants will receive digital course materials to support their learning throughout the course. 

Registration 

Registration is open continuously and closes approximately one week before the beginning of each course. 

After registration, you will receive more information about the course and guidance on planning your trip to Finland. You will also receive an invoice according to the information provided in the registration form. 

The course will be confirmed latest three months before the start date. Please do not purchase travel tickets before you have received confirmation. 

Upcoming course dates 

30.8.-12.8.2027  

Requests

Request for tailored programs at your convenience by contacting:

Nina Mäkipää
nina.makipaa@sykli.fi or

Hilla Helasaari
hilla.helasaari@bc.fi