Talent Sprint Challenge

Empowering future talents with right opportunities! Talent Sprint connects students and companies through real case-solving and practical collaboration. Our goal is to create a scalable pathway from education to employment, where recruitment becomes a meaningful innovation experience for organisations and emerging talent. Talent Sprint is organised in collaboration with Talent Boost and Brande.

What the Talent Sprint Event Is About: 
Talent Sprint is a co‑creation event where students and companies work together to solve real business challenges. Instead of traditional recruitment, companies bring actual problems, and student teams develop concepts, prototypes, and solutions.
It is organized by JAMK Talent Boost and Brande Oy. Other partners include: ELY-Centre, Keski-Suomen Kauppakamari, EXPA Jyväskylä, Muurame, Viitasaari and more. The event includes workshops, teamwork sessions, career trip and a final showcase. The main language of the event is English.
 
The Main Goal of the Event: 

The core goal is to create a clear pathway from studies to working life by giving students direct access to companies, real work experience, and recruitment opportunities.
The event aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, especially for international students who often lack networks and opportunities.
Talent Sprint directly addresses the problem of finding internship by connecting students with employers in a practical, hands‑on way.
Many students work during studies, but not in their field. Talent Sprint provides relevant, meaningful experience that supports career development.

How the Event Benefits You:

1. Real Work Experience
Students work on meaningful, real‑life assignments from companies.
2. Direct Access to Internships and Jobs
The event ends with opportunities for companies to recruit students immediately. Participants who perform best and are chosen by the companies based on their performance – get hired for Summer or Autumn internship by their case company via the Meet & Greet with Companies programme – unpaid (or otherwise rewarded) part-time internship mentored by Jamk.
3. Portfolio‑Building
Students create concepts, prototypes, and solutions they can showcase.
4. Professional Networking
Students meet companies and peers — building valuable connections.
5. Skill Development
Workshops teach essential employment skills and strengthen professional competence.
6. Mentoring from Experts
Brande and company professionals guide students throughout the sprint.
7. A Real Introduction to Finnish Working Life

Students gain insight into how Finnish companies operate and what they expect.

Main Aspects of the Event from a Student Perspective: 

1. Preparation Workshops
To build job‑seeking and professional skills.
2. Team‑Based Problem Solving
Students collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to solve real company challenges.
3. Mentoring & Guidance
Experts support students throughout the sprint.
4. Final Presentations
Teams pitch their solutions to companies.
5. Recruitment Opportunities
Companies can offer internships or jobs directly after the event.
6. Networking & Visibility
Students meet employers, expand their network, and gain exposure.

Important to note before you sign up:
The event consists of an introduction session, 4-5 workshops (depends on the demand), 2 Career Trips (you can choose at least 1 to attend) and a final event.
Please note that only the students who had attended at least half of the workshops, one Career Trip and the final event – are allowed to receive 5 ECTS for this event and are eligible to be chosen for the Practical Training Place by their case company.
This event grants 5 ECTS for Jamk and JYU students, the course code for Jamk students will be opened after the introduction session. JYU students will have their own credits instructions prepared for the introduction session.

Please note, you can only claim credits if:
You attend at least 3 workshops
You attend the introduction session and final event
You attend at least one Career Trip
Content of the event:
Introduction session – Student Introduction Day for Talent Sprint Challenge 9.04.2026, 14.00-15.30 Tulikari Auditorium, Rajakatu Campus

Workshops in different locations in Jyväskylä, the workshops are physical and not recorded, the workshops dates will be provided as soon as possible.
From 14.04 until 5.05.2026, all workshops are held in the afternoon from 13.00 to 16.00.
Career Trip to Muurame – 6.05.2026, 8.30-17.00
Career Trip to Viitasaari – 7.05.2026, 8.00-18.00

Event Finale – Final Presentations and Pitches, awards; 15.05.2026, afternoon.

Important to understand:
Each workshop is striving to enhance your professional skills and knowledge for better employability and performance. The workshops itself do not provide direct work or problem solving with the companies. The active problem solving and work with the companies will be held during the Career Trips. Workshops are dedicated to the following topics: networking and connections creation, self-presentation, Finnish working and office culture, basic AI and IT skills, enhancement of career related application documents.

Content of the Career Trips:
 The two career trips are targeting the active work with the companies – on each day of the career trip you will get to work with your case company solving their existing problem or task, developing a prototype, brainstorming solutions. Career trips will also include visits to the local companies and places of interest.

Please note, this event is open for all programmes. However, we do not guarantee that the content of the event will be suitable individually for you. We also do not guarantee getting an internship as a result of this programme – the companies are free to choose any amount of the students suitable for their work, students who in their opinion performed the best. By registering to this event you confirm that you have time to participate and will attend the required number of sessions in order to qualify for the potential internship and get 5 ECTS. Please note, you will be getting 5 ECTS (If you are a student of Jamk or JYU) regardless of the acceptance or non-acceptance for the internship, if you meet the conditions to receive credits (attend at least 3 workshops, introduction session, closing session and one career trip).