The International IT Seminar is a collaborative initiative launched in 2006 by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Its current members include HES-SO in Switzerland, Universidad Europea (UEM) in Madrid, and FH Joanneum in Graz, Austria (to join the Seminar for the first time). Operating on a simple yet incredibly powerful premise—that students learn best when they are responsible for teaching others—this long-running annual seminar rotates its hosting campus among the three countries each year.

During the intensive seminar week, around ten IT students from each institution gather to form cross-cultural, multinational teams. Each university takes charge of a specific theme day dedicated to tackling pressing, real-world technological challenges, ranging from the ethical utilization of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations to cutting-edge developments in robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity.

This collaborative framework does far more than just expand students’ technical horizons; it immerses them in an authentic, high-stakes international workplace environment. Beyond classroom peer-teaching and collaborative problem-solving, the participants tour local IT enterprises, gaining insight into the diverse corporate landscapes of Helsinki, Sierre, and Madrid.

Over its decades-long history, the seminar has weathered funding gaps and global pandemics to return stronger each time, reinforcing how crucial intercultural communication and adaptability are for the next generation of tech leaders. By combining specialized computer science skills with global team dynamics, the joint initiative between Haaga-Helia, HES-SO, UEM and FH Joanneum remains a hallmark experiential learning opportunity that profoundly shapes its graduates’ global CVs.

Join us for Seminar Edition XIX in Helsinki, 2027!