1) Proakatemia is a degree program at Tampere University of Applied Sciences that focuses on entrepreneurship and team leadership. Students form companies of about 20 students to complete projects over 2.5 years. 2) Students attend weekly training sessions and complete book essays to develop their skills and share knowledge. They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their student company but have a coach to support their development. 3) The goal of Proakatemia is to develop ambitious, courageous entrepreneurs and increase the number of students who continue entrepreneurship after graduation. Over 35% of graduates start businesses directly after completing the program.

1. The
Proakatemia way
Antti Vuento
Team Coach
TAMK Proakatemia
antti.vuento@tamk.fi

2. Vision 2019
Tampere University of
Applied Sciences
gives keys to success
by creating new and
international know-how
20 902 applicants (2015)
12 585 students (2015)
2 093 qualified (2015)
6 fields of studies
nearly 50 degree-programmes
350 cooperation universities
in 50 different countries
428 exchange students (2015)
864 goes to exchange (2015)

3. Degree programmes
Entrepreneurship
Services

4. Tampere University of Applied Sciences
”Tampere University of Applied Imagination”

5. Proakatemia
How do I make myself the best I can be?
Degree-programme of entrepreneurship and team-leadership
TAMK - Proakatemia

6. “Are you sick and tired of cramming for exams –
How about a trip around the world?”
Proakatemia was founded September 6th in 1999.
The first team was founded by 20 courageous students and it was called Villivisio.
Nowadays it’s the third biggest advertising company in Tampere.
The number of graduated teams is now already 28overall!
During the past 17 years our alumni-network has grown to over 400 members!

7. Team-entrepreneurs
• Establish a company of about 20 students when they beging their studies in
Proakatemia.
• They don’t know eachother beforehand
• Challenge of combining interests, motivations and personalities
• Eventa (travel, tourism) & Motive (physiotherapy & sociology) are continuous teams
• Each team chooses a business leader
• Team completes ~100 projects on average during the 2,5 year journey
• Dialogue in training sessions is the main way of sharing knowledge
• Learning from mistakes is highly supported and even encouraged

8. Study contents (60+150 ECTS credits)
+min 15 ECTS credits
worth of complementing
studies, university level
Before graduation
Thesis, 24h & Final Camp
(the only courses with
grading)

9. Training sessions ( 2 x 4 hours every week)
• Training sessions transform and
develop with the team
• Dialogue, Interaction
• Short introductions
money
innovatingvisual
facilitation
books
thesis
event
organizing
performing
sales
commitment
projects
coding
leadership
start-ups

10. Book essays
• 24% of studies involve literature
• One of the most important parts
of the learning process
• knowledge projects
• Knowledge is shared in the team

11. Typical week
in
Proakatemia

12. Tools for learning
LEARNING CONTRACT
BY IAN CUNNINGHAM
The aim of the learning contract is to structure
thoughts, add self- awareness, create goals for
learning and to work as a tool for the team to
set their common goal and to create trust.
Learning contract answers the following:
WHERE HAVE I BEEN, WHAT HAVE I DONE
PREVIOUSLY?
WHERE AM I NOW?
WHAT DO I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?
HOW WILL I DO IT?
HOW DO I KNOW THAT I HAVE REACHED MY GOALS?
MOTOROLA MODEL
QUICK TOOL FOR COLLECTING
FEEDBACK
What went well?
What can I/we do better next time?
What did I learn?
What will I take into practice?

13. Responsibilities of a team coach
Coaches aren’t responsible for the
projects or the results of the projects.
They are not teachers, they don’t give
straight answers, they make students think
by themselves, individually and together.
They observe and support the
development of the team and
challenge and motivate the invididuals.
Coaches are in no way a part of the
company or legally connected to the
student companies (nor is the university).
Coach is an expert of the learning process.

14. • Student-driven community development
• Group who specializes in leadership and management
• Responsible for day-to-day activities and improvements
The board of Proakatemia
Business Leaders
of each team
Head of International relations
Head of Marketing
Assistant Coach
Head Coach

15. • Network of contacts
• Partners for projects
• Graduates of Proakatemia
• Contact details from the Alumni-Gallery
• Supporting the teams
• Sharing knowledge, networks and resources with the teampreneurs
Community

16. Statistics
Our goal is to increase the revenue by 20% every year
About 37% of graduting students continue as entrepreneurs
directly after graduation. Almost 50% in the next three years after
graduation.
In 2016, the total turnover of companies was approximately
763.000€

17. Vision for 2019
TRUST
Proakatemia is the most inspiring
Finnish entrepreneurship community
drawing in various business life forces.
COURAGE
At Proakatemia we are willing to grow:
we challenge one another to surpass
ourselves and take advantage of global
possibilities.
DEEDS
At Proakatemia we are agile to scan
new entrepreneurship ideas, put
digital possibilities into practice, and
raise tough entrepreneurs who want to
succeed.
LEARNING
Proakatemia is a role model in learning
and working together and in
professional development.

18. Vision for 2019
Success
Proakatemia is the best source of knowledge
and competence for entrepreneurs building
the world of 2020s.

19. From our graduates
’’I would recommend Proakatemia for an ambitious
person with sense of direction.’’
’’Proakatemia doesn’t fit everyone. You have to have a
personality of certain kind to fit in.’’
’’I probably would’ve left my studies, if there was no
Proakatemia.’’

20. "Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn."
- Benjamin Franklin

21. Find us online and in social media:
www.proakatemia.fi
/proakatemia @Proafi@Proafi
#proakatemia #unelmienkoulu