Practical career skills through company projects: CERNO brings students and businesses together

Learning through real business challenges

LAB Case Club, CERNO, offers students an opportunity to develop strategic thinking, problem-solving, and business analysis skills through real company projects. International Business students Renna Karttunen and Fatemeh (Melina) Sabour joined the club to gain practical experience and become familiar with working life while still studying. 

CERNO is a student-led case club where students work in teams to solve authentic business challenges provided by companies. Students develop solutions and present their recommendations to company representatives during case night events. The aim is to strengthen participants' analytical, presentation, and teamwork skills while creating opportunities to build professional networks with businesses. 

"I wanted to make the most of my studies. CERNO immediately seemed like a place where I could apply what I had learned and collaborate with companies", says Karttunen

For Sabour, CERNO offered an opportunity to connect with the business world while still studying.

"As a student, it is not always easy to find opportunities to meet company representatives. CERNO provides a natural way to do that while also allowing you to practice skills that will be important in your future career," she explains.

From a case assignment to a real-life project

One of CERNO's first company assignments was carried out in collaboration with FC Lahti. The football club challenged students to develop ideas for increasing student engagement in matchday events and community activities.

The concept developed by Karttunen’s team, FC Lahti FUN, was selected as the winning solution. However, the project did not end with the case night. FC Lahti decided to continue developing the students' ideas in practice together with the students themselves. 

During the summer, the students participated in building the student community and planning and producing social media content alongside FC Lahti's staff.

"It was exciting to see how an idea progressed from a concept to real implementation. During your studies, you rarely get the chance to follow so closely what happens to a proposal after it has been presented", says Karttunen

According to Markus Mujunen, CEO of FC Lahti, the collaboration creates value for both students and companies.

"The idea behind CERNO is excellent. It was inspiring to see how genuinely committed the students were to working on the challenge and finding solutions. Students often bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas that can challenge established ways of thinking and inspire new approaches," Mujunen comments.

Developing professional skills through practice

According to the students, one of CERNO's greatest strengths is the chance to develop practical skills that cannot be fully learned in a classroom setting. During case night events, students pitch their solutions to company representatives and a judging panel consisting of industry experts, helping them gain confidence in public speaking and professional communication. 

"Public speaking felt intimidating at first, but with every presentation my confidence has grown. I've also learned to trust my own abilities," says Sabour. 

The collaboration between CERNO and FC Lahti has also provided valuable experience in project work, communication, and working as part of an organisation.

"We have learned a great deal about collaboration, compromise, and how to align our ideas with a company's goals and brand," Karttunen and Sabour explain. 

Taking initiative opens new opportunities

Based on their own experiences, Karttunen and Sabour believe that a significant part of learning takes place outside the lecture hall. They encourage fellow students to actively participate in projects, student organisations, and other opportunities available during their studies.

“Studying at LAB is about much more than courses and lectures. Students should actively participate in projects and student activities, as these experiences can help them discover new interests, develop their expertise, and build valuable professional connections,” says Karttunen.

"As a student, you are allowed to experiment, learn, succeed, and sometimes fail. The more actively you participate in different activities, the more opportunities may open up for your future career," adds Sabour.

CERNO Case Club has provided students with an opportunity to develop their skills through practical projects and to see how their ideas can translate into real-world development initiatives in companies. At the same time, the experience has given them valuable insight into collaboration, presentation skills, and professional networking during their studies.

Text and photo: Sara Jalonen, LAB School of Business