My name is Elisa, and I’m a Belgian student studying for a double degree in marketing and international business. This year, I’m lucky enough to be living a unique experience in Finland, as part of my studies at SAMK (Satakunta University of Applied Sciences), in Rauma. This adventure not only allows me to discover a new culture, but also to immerse myself in an exciting professional world.
I did my internship at SAMK’s Maritime Logistics Research Center, a forward-looking center that strives to integrate sustainability principles into every one of its projects. My main objective during this internship was to highlight the center’s sustainable commitments and explore ways of improving them.
To do this, I carried out a real investigation: I analyzed their communications (website, social networks), observed their working environment, and above all, I had the chance to talk directly with some of the researchers. These interviews were particularly enriching. I discovered the challenges they face – particularly in terms of the transition to cleaner fuels, the adaptation of port infrastructures, and the importance of digitalization to better measure and reduce emissions.
The result is a comprehensive report structured around the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and futuristic. In it, I also put forward concrete ideas for raising the profile of the center’s sustainable actions, through communications media such as social networks, flyers, and specialized events.
Among my tasks, I was also asked to consider the center’s participation in Baltic Sea Day, a key event in the region. I proposed that the center organize interactive mini-conferences on this occasion, in order to present in a dynamic way the advances of its research linked to maritime sustainability. The idea is to create a space for exchange with the public, but also to raise awareness of the importance of applied research in preserving the Baltic Sea.
This internship has given me a better understanding of how sustainability can (and must) be integrated into maritime logistics, a key sector that is still too often lagging behind on these issues. It has also enabled me to develop my skills in research, strategic communication, and critical analysis, while contributing to a mission that is close to my heart: to participate, in my own way, in a more responsible future.
Text: Elisa Tinel, a double degree student in marketing and international business
Photo: Minna Keinänen-Toivola