1. HANSA NOVA: Managing a multicultural workforce in the Baltic Sea Region
Co-financed by:

2. Rationale
The countries in the Baltic Sea Region are clearly dependent on the economic and social relations between them
Of all the Baltic States´ foreign trade, more than half takes place with other countries that surround the Baltic Sea
Cooperation in the region grows
The companies in the region increasingly need to work with a multicultural workforce, either on a permanent basis or in shorter-term projects

3. Aims of the HANSA NOVA network
1. to increase the knowledge of cultural differences in business organizations in the Baltic Sea Region
2. to develop and deliver a European Module supporting multicultural management with modern ICT-tools in the Region.
In the first phase of the product, materials for the Module will be developed. The development takes place in Communities of Practice where HEIs and companies interact. Supervised students’ research on ICT-based multicultural projects is an important part of the development work.
In the second phase, the Module will be implemented in HEIs’ degree programmes. The Module will be delivered both in classrooms and on-line (blended learning) by the HANSA NOVA

4. Network structure
The HANSA NOVA network consists of local and regional expertise in the Nordic and Baltic countries and in Northwest Russia. Higher educational institutions (HEIs) and companies interact in dynamic Communities of Practice
Each network partner contributes with his/her expertise in business culture and management and shares this knowledge with the other network members.
For the participating institutions, the network provides a clear knowledge and resource advantage compared to each institution developing multicultural courses individually

5. HANSA NOVA network’s founding members:
Higher Education Institutions
Denmark: Tietgen Business College, Odense
Estonia: Tartu University, Tallinn Technical University
Finland: Arcada – a University of Applied Sciences , Helsinki
Lithuania: Vilnius University and Vilnius College in Higher Education
Norway: Buskerud University College, Hönefoss
Russia: St. Petersburg State University and St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute
Trade Union
Tradenomiliitto TRAL, Finland (association for business graduates)

6. Different roles of participating companies
Provide practical input in different forms:
Give presentations at network’s seminars
Receive students/researchers for interviews
Provide feed-back on students’ and researchers work
Comment on the final Module’s content and suitability for companies
Disseminate information about Hansa Nova in own organisation and networks

7. Time-table for project activities (2006)
5 – 7 October Introductory seminar in Helsinki. Representatives of HEIs, companies, and NGOs will participate. The programme will include topics such as business culture, multicultural management, and leadership of international projects. Workshops are conducted on the use of ICTs in international projects.
October – December Lectures in management of multicultural workshops in home institutions. Students research the actual situation in their country and collect material for writing cases

8. Time-table (spring 2007)
January Mid-term reporting using ICTs, such as learning management systems (e.g. WebCt) and video-conferences. Mid-term reports will be written by students of the HEIs and made available for network members.
February - March Work will continue in the home institutions and cases finalised.
26 – 28 April Summarizing seminar (place to be decided) (3 days) Results of the case studies will be presented. Plans for the further activities of the network will be made.
May – June Writing of handbook (in electronic and paper form) summarizing the knowledge gathered and developed. The handbook will contain reflections about theory, practical experience, cases, and learning material for the use of ICTs in international projects.

9. Time-table academic year 2007-2008
Course materials will be tested and evaluated (Sept – Oct 2007)
Module integrated in HEIs programmes
(Nov 2007 – April 2008) and total evaluation of project’s activities
Concluding seminar (May 2008)
Final reporting (August-Sept 2008)

10. Dissemination
The network will disseminate its results through a variety of channels, e.g.
project’s web-site
seminars arranged by the HEIs and NGOs
through participating companies’ networks
through HEIs national and international networks
International business education organisations web-sites (such as SPACE, EDEN, ISBE)

11. Evaluation
In the project, both processes and products will be evaluated.
1. Processes will be followed by the management team, on the basis of monthly reporting from each participating HEI. In addition, on-line questionnaires will be used for process evaluation that can be accessed by all network members. The following process evaluation areas are under consideration and will be decided upon during the introductory seminar:
- overall success in relation to the listed aims of the network
- partner involvement and co-operation
- pedagogical, organisational and technological factors
- students’ actual learning vs. planned learning outcomes
- dissemination activities
2. Products will be evaluated by the external evaluator. The external evaluator will be assisted by personnel in the participating HEI especially during editing and production of material and testing of the Module. The external evaluator will suggest research instrument for evaluation of the products, and is also responsible for analysing the material gathered. The results of the evaluation of both processes and products will be sent to the network participants and to network’s stakeholders.

12. On-going cooperation
The network is established to correspond to the management knowledge needed in the Baltic Sea region. Members join the network with a long-term approach to cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The material developed by the network will be updated on an on-going basis and distributed to the network actors
After the first year of activities, the network participants will jointly decide about the specific programme for the following academic year.

13. Responsible co-ordinator
Ms. Eija Källström
Assistant Head of Department of Business, Media,
and Technology
Arcada – a University of Applied Sciences
Jan-Magnus Janssons plats 1
FI Helsinki, Finland
Tel  207 699 528
Fax  207 699 644

14. This project has been carried out with the support of the European Community and in the framework of the Nordplus and SOCRATES programmes. The content of this project does not necessarily reflect the position of Nordplus or the European Community, nor does it involve any responsibility on the part of Nordplus or the European Community.