Under the northern lights: CEERRF’s pedagogical immersion in Finland
Last November, as the first snowfalls blanketed Finland, a CEERRF delegation travelled to Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK) to take part in an exceptional Erasmus+ experience. Alongside students from the University of Rijeka UNIRI (Croatie) et de VIKO – and Vilnius University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania), our students immersed themselves in a week of innovative teaching, stimulating scientific discussions and unforgettable moments under the Northern Lights. It was a journey where education met adventure, driven by a strong pedagogical, international, wellbeing and safety-oriented approach.
When Finland becomes the classroom
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK) hosted this Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) focused on “Evidence-Based Practice in Physiotherapy: New Trends, Challenges and Opportunities.” This ambitious theme structured an intensive week of exchanges, from Monday to Friday, across three major clinical areas: oncology, shoulder disorders and telerehabilitation.
Alice Vincent, a lecturer at CEERRF, played a dual role throughout the week — both as a trainer and as a learner. She co-facilitated several sessions, notably on healthcare simulation applied to oncology cases and on biostatistics, using an innovative socio-constructivist teaching approach. Her involvement enabled students to explore how pedagogy can be reinvented at a European level.
“Taking part in this BIP allowed me to discover new topics taught during the mobility week and to engage in discussions with experts in their respective fields,” she explains. Alice also strengthened her English-language skills by teaching and interacting in English throughout the week, turning every session into an opportunity for mutual learning.
Alongside Alice, Finnish coordinators Jutta Potila and Riku Uusi-Jaakkola, orchestrated a week of remarkable pedagogical richness. Jutta guided students through complex clinical cases, including the management of patients with Ewing sarcoma and therapeutic approaches to frozen shoulder. Riku broadened perspectives with his lecture on evidence-based practice, questioning why scientific evidence is not always fully implemented in clinical settings.
Beyond the university walls
The Seinäjoki BIP extended far beyond lecture halls. The organisers recognised that learning is also nurtured through cultural immersion and wellbeing. Each evening, students took part in activities designed to foster connection: campfire barbecues, sauna sessions by frozen lakes, Nordic walking, and forest expeditions in search of the Northern Lights.
It was during these moments that the real magic happened. Yann recalls: “The most magical moment was undoubtedly when we admired the Northern Lights. This adventure truly enriched me on a human, cultural and European level”. Marie adds: “One of my favourite moments was our expedition into the forest hoping to see the Northern Lights — which we did, for several hours”.
Virgile took the experience even further by arriving in Seinäjoki after cycling across Finland, immersing himself in Finnish nature well before the programme began. “The BIP week allowed me to immerse myself even more deeply in Finnish culture, thanks to the activities organised throughout the week”, he explains.
Skills built through collaboration
Au cœur du programme : des projets de recherche menés en petits groupes internationaux. Les étudiants ont dû formuler des questions de recherche originales autour du cancer, de l’épaule ou de la télérééducation, puis les présenter sous forme de posters. Ces travaux ont permis de développer l’esprit critique, l’analyse de la littérature scientifique et la capacité à collaborer au-delà des frontières linguistiques et culturelles.
Aurélie, participante au programme, résume bien l’expérience : « Je me suis retrouvée plusieurs fois hors de ma zone de confort, mais toujours dans un cadre bienveillant et stimulant ». Elle souligne aussi l’importance du défi linguistique : « Même si mon niveau d’anglais n’est pas très élevé, j’ai su me challenger pour communiquer avec eux, et je suis satisfaite d’y être parvenue ».
Virya offers a unique perspective on the pedagogical dimension of the mobility: “By meeting teachers and students from other countries, we were able to compare our approaches to learning and teaching”. She was particularly impressed by the Finnish infrastructure: “Being immersed in a Finnish institution was incredibly inspiring. We saw the resources dedicated to simulation and movement analysis, with realistic hospital rooms, cameras and advanced equipment. It was very impressive, and we are returning to France with many ideas to share”.
Mental health and safety at the core of mobility
In line with its strong commitment to mental health and wellbeing, CEERRF ensured that its prevention and awareness initiatives continued throughout the international mobility. All participating students (Virya, Yann, Marie, Virgile and Aurélie), as well as lecturer Alice Vincent, took part in awareness workshops on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence SGBV and the “Trusted People” programme. These essential training sessions, aimed at creating a safe and supportive environment, were fully integrated into the week’s programme. They reflect CEERRF’s ambition to train not only competent physiotherapists, but also responsible citizens who are aware of issues related to safety, respect and professional conduct in educational and clinical settings.
Acknowledgements and future perspectives
CEERRF would like to express its sincere gratitude to Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK), the organiser and host of this BIP, and in particular to Jutta Potila and Riku Uusi-Jaakkola, for the outstanding organisation of the programme. Our thanks also extend to our partner institutions — UNIRI (Croatia) and VIKO – Vilnius University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania) — for their active involvement in this collaborative initiative. Their vision of an integrative pedagogy, combining scientific rigour with a strong human dimension, created an environment in which every student was able to grow and excel.
These Erasmus+ partnerships perfectly embody CEERRF’s philosophy: training physiotherapists who are not only clinically competent, but also open-minded, curious and capable of working collaboratively in a European context. Under the Northern Lights of Seinäjoki, our students discovered that pedagogical excellence truly knows no borders.