From August 14 to 25, faculty and students from the Professional Degree Education Center(PDEC) of USSTBS, led by Che Liping, the director of the MPA program, and Kang Zhen, the Brand Promotion Manager of PDEC, embarked on a 12-day study tour to Finland, Estonia, and Sweden. Centered on the theme of Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Education, the study tour aimed to deepen participants' understanding of Nordic innovation ecosystems, foster interdisciplinary innovation capabilities, and inspire entrepreneurial vision.
At the University of Oulu, Finland, Jason Brower, Distinguished Professor and renowned entrepreneur, delivered a lecture titled “Future-Oriented Entrepreneurship and Business Model Innovation.” Drawing from his two decades of transnational entrepreneurial experience, he emphasized the importance of creating win-win business models that align user and corporate value. His pragmatic framework focus on real-world problems, validate solutions, build differentiated advantages, and iterate continuously resonated deeply with attendees. In Tallinn, Estonia, Dr. Mark Kanchukov from the University of Tartu led a seminar on Financial Innovation and Fintech analyzing Estonia’s economic structure and entrepreneurial ecosystem. His insights into the synergy between policy design and innovation provided valuable perspectives on leveraging institutional frameworks for business growth.
At Fingersoft, a leading Finnish game company in Oulu, producer Daniel Fischer shared how the studio achieved global success with games like Hill Climb Racing, highlighting core values such as proactive experimentation, mutual respect, and collaboration as key drivers of team efficiency. The delegation visited Estonia's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to explore the nation's digital governance practices, witnessing firsthand the transformative role of digital technologies in public administration. The visit underscored concepts like digital inclusion and innovative governance. Participants also engaged with Finnish innovation hubs such as Oulu Startup Station and Maria 01, gaining insights into the region's dynamic startup culture and collaborative ecosystems.
The delegation immersed themselves in Nordic creative and cultural heritage through visits to the Design Museum Helsinki, The National Library of Finland, Nobel Prize Museum, Vasa Museum, and Santa Claus Village, reflecting on the interplay between design, public welfare, and cultural narratives.
This study tour not only broadened participants' global perspectives but also strengthened their resolve to integrate academic knowledge with innovative practices. Moving forward, the USST Business School will deepen international collaborations, empowering students to translate Nordic insights into practical strategies for sustainable development and socially responsible leadership.
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Oulu, Finland's fifth-largest city, serves as a northern economic, cultural, and industrial hub. Founded in 1958, the University of Oulu is a comprehensive public university and a member of LAOTSE. As one of the largest institutions of higher education in Finland, with its dynamic science and technology education environment, well-developed science and technology industry clusters, and strong innovation atmosphere, it has become a cradle for cultivating high-quality talents in Finland and even around the world.
Translated by Wei Xin
Reviewed by Liu Weiwei
