RUSSIAN IT implementation survey
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The purpose of the project was to support the availability of the workforce for IT companies, support the IT companies in cross-border cooperation and business activities, and profile the university-level computer science education in Kajaani for cooperation with Russia.

Main activities

• Defining the cooperation possibilities and networking with appropriate parties such as the State universities of Petrozavodsk and St Petersburg, • Examining the level of knowledge and cooperation interest of the entrepreneurs of Petrozavodsk and the interest of IT businesses in Kajaani in participating in operations with Russia and international teaching in computer sciences, • Creating a foundation for an international Master’s degree programme, drafting a 15-study (a study week equates to approximately 40 hours of work) course ”Doing IT Business in Russia”.

Achievements

The project defined the cooperation possibilities and networked with the appropriate parties. The project helped to create a good contact network with the key people in the IT sector in the state universities of Petrozavodsk and St Petersburg and laid a good foundation for cooperation with Russia, accomplishing real cooperation at the same time. The computer science policy of Petrozavodsk State University and computer science teaching at St Petersburg University were examined, and cross-border cooperation between universities in computer sciences was researched. The level of knowledge and interest in the cooperation of the entrepreneurs of Petrozavodsk were researched, as well as the interest of IT businesses of Kajaani in participating in operations with Russia and international teaching in computer sciences. Cooperation possibilities in business activities were estimated as actualising in later projects and through the contact office of Petrozavodsk, organised training and business meetings. The project created the basis for designing an international Master's programme and was responsible for drafting a 15-study week (a study week equates to approximately 40 hours of work) course, ”Doing IT Business in Russia”. The project managed to create a dedicated agent network on the basis of university staff and entrepreneurs. Cooperation with Russia has continued in new projects and in the department's own active operations, and it has also expanded to three different education programmes at the University of Oulu and the education programme of social work at the University of Lapland. The department of computer sciences has partnered in teaching work with the universities of Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk in connection with the Barents Cross Border University project. The department has, as part of the BCBU-cooperation, designed a plan and been granted the permission to begin an international master's programme (Software and Systems Development in Global Environment) by the Ministry of Education. The Pomor State University is implementing a course in Oulu in the spring of 2009; the University of Oulu has already started the first course at Pomor State University during the autumn of 2008. Teacher exchange has also been initiated. Business cooperation is advancing in accordance with the business interests and requirements of the participating companies.