“Studies are quite similar here, but our education is more theoretical. We have practical lessons at school, but during the internship we were able to practise our skills,” the students explained.

At their school in Istanbul, the students had access to smaller and older aircraft for practical training. At REDU, they were able to further develop their skills and learn new things from Finnish teachers and other students. 

“People here were very polite, helpful and good to us. They taught us so many things. We learned the theory in Turkey and practised it here.”

Kaan and Ömer made new friends both at school and in their dormitory. They particularly appreciated the friendly atmosphere and the support they received from Finnish students and teachers.

“The Finnish students were polite and the teachers were very helpful. They taught us so much. We owe them a really big thank you for treating us so well.”

The students also enjoyed exploring the Finnish landscape during their stay.

For Kaan and Ömer, the internship was an opportunity to strengthen their professional skills while experiencing a new country, meeting new people and learning about another education system. Their visit also highlighted the value of international cooperation in vocational education and the opportunities it can create for students on both sides.

Kaan and Ömer appreciated the help and friendliness of the Finnish students.

New collaboration gets off to a promising start

REDU’s aircraft maintenance program has recently started a collaboration with the French school Lycée Tristan Corbière. This exchange period in Finland for the French students is the first concrete step in the new cooperation.

- The new cooperation has started off well. Early next year we will visit France in return, and we're planning when our own students will go there on exchange,” says aircraft maintenance teacher Harri Mikkonen.

The goal of the cooperation is also to create work-based learning opportunities for REDU students in local aircraft maintenance companies in France.

- Aircraft maintenance training in France is very similar to the program in Lapland. Here, the boys have done the same tasks as our own students. Additionally, we have given them some slightly more special assignments on a type of aircraft that isn’t available at their home school, Mikkonen adds.

Learning new skills at the core of the exchange

Sacha Grendon and Sacha Dayot describe the exchange experience as unique in many ways.

- We are in our third year of aircraft maintenance studies in Morlaix. At our school we have a lot of aircraft for practice, but here the machines are high quality, newer, and operational. They are much more realistic – at our school, the aircraft don’t even necessarily have engines.

In Rovaniemi, the students were able to try tasks they had not done before.

- We learned new things about mechanics. For example, repairing landing gear was something completely new to us.

First time in Finland — Experiencing cold Lapland

In their free time, the students wanted to experience as much of northern life as possible. They visited an ice hockey game, went skiing, and enjoyed watching the northern lights.

- Life here is different — quite peaceful and calm. And cold! We’ve never been in such freezing conditions before. At first it was impressive, but later it started to feel a bit uncomfortable. We are still lucky to have snow here!

The three-week period left the students with a lot to share when they return home.

- When we go back to our own school, we’ll tell our classmates about what we learned here. We gained new skills and experiences that will definitely be useful later.