I’m Jenni Honkanen and I work as Project Controller in University of Helsinki.
I work in project management financial services in Viikki campus local service team and I'm responsible for a research funding from financial services projects throughout the project life cycle. My tasks include: project budgeting, financial reporting and analysis of the implementation phase, forecasts for PI, reports to the financier and audits.
What motivated you to participate in the Live My Life programme?
The main motivator was building my own professional career and professional development. I want to learn new things and I need to test my ability to work outside my comfort area.
What was the most captivating or interesting moment of the week?
Meetings were the best part of my week. In the meetings, I discussed much more than just the content of the work. I got an idea of how work is done at UCD and how everyday life is going in Dublin. I found out that one of the ladies has a similar approach to life as me, even though our backgrounds are completely different.
Tell us something new you have learnt during your days in the partner institution that you didn’t know before.
I learned a lot of new things in the meetings. Like there is a new grant system in UCD. I heard how it was created and what the problems were in getting it up and running. I now can do the same steps in my own project.
What words / expressions did you learn in the language of the host country during your stay abroad?
Maidin mhaith! = Hyvää huomenta! / Good Morning Dia dhuit = Hei / hello Baile Átha Cliath = Aidatun kahlaamon kaupunki = Dublin And I learned that chips are like our French potatoes. And crisps are like our chips.
Tell us about your Una Europa partner and what you learnt or found interesting about them.
The funniest thing was to hear that Stephen knows our Fiskars scissors and garden tools. And I learnt about the cultural differences between British and Irish people.
What lessons or experiences have you taken home with you?
The walks by the lake in the lunch break. All the UCD people don’t do it, but you might find it as some luxury between meetings. Small details like: I want to put the projects ‘on hold’ for a while when there is something wrong in the reporting. We cannot do that now in UH.
Would you recommend that others take part in Live My Life? If so, why?
It is always good to learn new things. And you cannot learn if you don’t challenge yourself. Everyone can host a UnaEuropa partner in own University, it’s fun and takes a perspective out of your daily work. You will find a new things about your own University when you are hosting your partner
