Entrepreneurship at Gradia
At Gradia, every student can develop entrepreneurial skills, regardless of their field of study. Entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business. It is also about creativity, initiative, problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to turn ideas into action.
Our award-winning entrepreneurship learning model, recognised among the best in Europe in 2019, helps students build an entrepreneurial mindset and develop the skills needed to succeed in working life, market their expertise, and explore business opportunities.
Students can choose entrepreneurship studies within their own field, participate in multidisciplinary courses, and benefit from studies offered in cooperation with JAMK University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jyväskylä.
Learn by doing
Entrepreneurship studies combine practical projects, teamwork, and online learning. Students can develop and test business ideas, gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience, and learn how to transform ideas into products, services, and business opportunities.
Through entrepreneurship courses, students learn about business planning, marketing, sales, customer understanding, networking, and business development in a supportive learning environment.
Students and entrepreneurs can also deepen their expertise through vocational and further vocational qualifications in entrepreneurship and business development.
Part of the Jyväskylä Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Gradia is an active partner in the Jyväskylä Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, also known as the Jyväskylä Model. The ecosystem connects educational institutions, higher education, businesses, and entrepreneurship support services to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional growth.
Support for future entrepreneurs
After graduation, students who wish to start a business can continue to receive support through Keski-Suomen Yritysidea, a start-up advisory service provided by Gradia. As part of Finland’s national Enterprise Agency network, Yritysidea helps new entrepreneurs take their first steps in establishing and developing a business.
Customized programmes for international partners
In addition to degree-based education, Gradia offers customised entrepreneurship training programmes for international partners, educational institutions, educators, students, and business communities.
Programmes are tailored to participants’ needs and may include topics such as entrepreneurial mindset, innovation, start-up development, business planning, entrepreneurial pedagogy, work-based learning, and entrepreneurship ecosystem collaboration.